Dillon turns in signatures for Cape council campaign

Ellen Dillon took the next step in her Cape Girardeau City Council Ward 3 campaign Tuesday, turning in the more than 50 signatures required to run.

City Clerk Gayle Conrad confirmed that Dillon, a Southeast Missouri State University speech and communications instructor, turned in a petition with 52 signatures from those who live in the central-city ward. Conrad will turn the petition over to Cape Girardeau County Clerk Kara Clark Summers, who will then verify that those who signed are registered voters of that ward.

If that bears out, Dillon, 53, will square off against Red Letter Communications account executive Trent Summers in the April 3 election in which voters will decide who will replace Debra Tracy, who has opted not to run again.

Trent Summers' signatures have already been verified, Conrad said, as have council incumbents Mark Lanzotti and Loretta Schneider. Lanzotti, 41, represents Ward 5 and Schneider, 74, represents Ward 4. If no one files for those ward seats by the Nov. 22 filing deadline, those two will run unopposed.