COUNCIL CANDIDATES SWAP VIEWS AT FORUM

Five of six candidates for the Cape Girardeau City Council squared off Thursday in a forum sponsored by the Cape Girardeau County League of Women Voters.

The candidates discussed a wide range of subjects, including solid waste issues, term limits for the council, at-large versus ward elections, and at-large mayoral elections versus a mayor appointed from among council members.

Candidates Lawrence Godfrey, Al Spradling III, Melvin Gateley, Melvin Kasten and Loretta Schneider are seeking three, four-year terms on the council. Sprad~ling was out of town on business Thursday and was unable to attend the forum.

He's the only incumbent seeking re-election April 7. Councilmen David Barklage and Hugh White, whose seats also expire next month, are not seeking re-election.

Godfrey said Thursday he favors changes in the city's solid waste program, specifically, a return to twice weekly trash collection. He also said residents should only have to pay for the amount of trash that's collected.

Other council members said they were generally pleased with the city's recycling and solid waste efforts aimed at compliance with a new Missouri solid waste law.

"Trash pickup becomes a habit," said Kasten. "We all got in the habit of twice a week pickup, and it will take a while to get used to once a week. But as time goes by, people will find it more acceptable."

Gateley said recycling is a necessary challenge for residents, given depleted landfill space in the state.

"We're living in the '90s, and time brings change and change brings challenges," he said. "We all in the community should get involved to meet this challenge."

All of the candidates said they favor at-large elections every two years, but differed on whether the mayor should be elected at-large or appointed among the council members.

"I think it's unfair in the way we elect the mayor, where some members of the council can run for mayor and keep their seat, but others who are up for re-election can't," said Schneider. "I think maybe the mayor should be elected by the other council members."

Kasten also said he favors an appointment of the mayor by council members from among their group.

But Gateley and Godfrey said they favor current at-large mayoral elections. "I would give the privilege to the people of electing their mayor," said Gateley.

All the candidates except Godfrey said they favor limiting council members to two or three terms.

"Limiting terms would be a good idea. How many years is the question," said Kasten. "This is a four-year term, I think maybe three would be plenty."

Schneider and Gateley said they favor two-term limits. But Godfrey said there's no reason to impose term limits.

"There's a small enough political base in this town that if a person's doing a good job, he's going to be re-elected; if not, he won't be," he said.

When asked what they thought was the most pressing problem facing Cape Girardeau, the candidates gave varied answers.

Gateley said the lack of unity among city government and the community stands in the way of progress. He said the lack of cooperation prevents the city from efficiently addressing many issues that arise.

Godfrey said he thinks the new Missouri solid waste law will be a concern for years to come. He said the six Southeast Missouri counties that will make up a solid-waste district here should consider the possibility of investing in a "ceramic kiln" to burn solid waste.

Schneider said she is most concerned about the city's lack of growth in the past decade, which has "eroded our tax revenues.

"We need to set some goals for the city and get all the different groups to buy into that," she said. "There's a big potential in this town for visitors and tourism that needs to be developed."

The candidates also differed on whether to repair existing streets in the city in lieu of completion of major new street projects, such as Lexington Avenue and the north extension of Sprigg Street.

Schneider said that although she favors completion of the Lexington project, other existing streets are badly in need of repair.

She attended a recent city council meeting to ask that improvements be made to Perryville Road before more money is spent on Lexington. Perryville Road improvements this year were dropped from the city's five-year capital improvements plan because of a lack of funds.

Kasten said he thinks Lexington needs to be finished. "I think we should finish Lexington first, then go on to Perryville Road," he said.

Gateley said the city needs to strike a balance between construction of new streets and maintenance of existing one.

"Certainly we need to keep our present streets in good repair, so I would be in favor of making sure Perryville Road is in good travelling condition," he said. "But there needs to be a balance between street repairs and extending major arteries."

But all the candidates were cool to the idea of a transportation tax to fund street repairs and construction.

"I will not support any tax increase at this time," said Godfrey.

Schneider said she would rather take a closer look at the capital improvements plan and see if the projects should be "reprioritized."

Kasten said a transportation tax would be one way of funding needed street projects, but he said later that he wouldn't support such a tax without voter's approval.