COUNTY CLERK EXPECTS HEAVIER-THAN-USUAL POLL TURNOUT

Cape Girardeau County Clerk Rodney Miller predicts a strong voter turnout in Tuesday's elections, spurred on by municipal contests, tax and revenue bond issues in Cape Girardeau, and a statewide riverboat gambling issue.

"I think we'll have a bigger turnout than normal," Miller said Saturday.

Typically, only about 25 to 29 percent of Cape County voters go to the polls in the April municipal elections, he said. But this year, turnout should be heavier -- particularly in the city of Cape Girardeau, Miller predicted.

"I think we will see a good turnout. Typically you have had as high as 50 percent (in Cape city) when you have had a mayor's race," said Miller. "In this case, it may be that high again."

Miller said the number of absentee ballots being cast by Cape Girardeau city voters is "running fairly strong."

Cape County has 33,154 registered voters, of which 18,393 reside in the city of Cape Girardeau.

On election day, polls will open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.

Cape Girardeau voters will be choosing a new mayor, replacing incumbent Gene Rhodes who did not seek re-election. The contest is between city councilmen Melvin Gateley and Al Spradling III.

Voters will also be electing the first council members under the new ward system. The contests are between James "JJ" Williamson Jr. and Frank Stoffregen in Ward 1, Tom Neumeyer and Brenda Dohogne in Ward 2, and Jay B. Knudtson and Richard L. "Butch" Eggimann in Ward 6.

Also on the city ballot are measures that would extend the existing quarter-cent sales tax for sewer and other drainage improvements, and authorize the issuance of $25 million in revenue bonds for sewer improvements.

Another election expected to draw voters' interest is in the Cape Girardeau School District, where six candidates are running for two seats on the Board of Education.

The statewide gambling issue is also expected to draw Cape Girardeau County voters to the polls, particularly because of the prospects of riverboat gambling in Cape Girardeau, Miller said.

"As I talk with people, it is an issue that is really back in importance again," he said.

Missouri voters are being asked to approve a constitutional amendment to correct legal problems regarding previously approved legislation allowing riverboat gambling.

Cape Girardeau area voters will be electing one of three candidates to the Cape Girardeau Special Road District board. The candidates are Don McAnally, John Holcomb and F.R. "Rock" Wilferth.

Jackson voters will be electing aldermen in four wards, while there's a three-way contest for two seats on the Jackson school board.

Voters in the Millersville Fire District are being asked to approve a maximum levy of 30 cents to fund the operations of the volunteer department.

Voters will decide between Dennis Koeberl and Paul Engelhart for a seat on the Fruitland fire department board of directors.

In several towns, there are no municipal contests. In Gordonville, the five candidates for the five seats on the town board are Ronnie Randol, Ron Badger, Harold Ringwald, Lloyd Brad Hutson and Ronald Eftink.

In Whitewater, candidates Doyle Eakins, Marilyn Crites and James Rex Haynes are seeking the three seats on the board of trustees.

In Allenville, two seats on the town board are to be filled, but only one candidate -- Freda Lesch -- has filed.

In Pocahontas, there are five positions to be filled on the town board, but no candidates on the ballot. The same holds true for Old Appleton.

There's no contests for seats on the Oak Ridge school board with two candidates, Richard Baer and Stephen Schonhoff, running for the two posts.

The same holds true in the Nell Holcomb School District, where Charles Roberts and Dwayne Kirchhoff are running for the two school board seats.

At Delta, Paul Evans, Beverly Hefner and Hughes Lesch are unopposed for mayor, city collector and Ward 1 alderman, respectively. No candidate filed for the Ward 2 post.

In the Delta school board race, six candidates are vying for two seats.