DISCLOSURES REVEAL WIDE SPENDING GULF IN CAPE'S MAYORAL RACE

Al Spradling III raised and spent more than three times as much money as Melvin Gateley in his successful campaign to be elected mayor of Cape Girardeau last month, according to campaign finance disclosure reports on filed with the county clerk's office.

The reports, which state law required be filed 30 days after the April 5 election, showed Spradling with receipts of $15,484 and expenditures of $15,350. Gateley raised and spent a total of $4,484.

In the filing period reported Thursday, which covered the final seven days of the election campaign and any contributions and expenditures made after April 5, Spradling received a $600 contribution from his father, A.M. Spradling Jr., and $500 from his mother, Margaret Spradling.

Other large contributions came from the Thomas Baker Trust, 36 N. Henderson, $250, and from Jim Riley, 2030 Woodlawn, $150. Spradling also received a total of $1,653 in contributions of $100 or less each.

Gateley, on the other hand, received only one contribution in excess of $100 -- $200 from Craftsman International, 2709 Bloomfield. His individual contributions of $100 or less totalled $209 for the reporting period.

As far as expenditures, most of Spradling's bills were for advertising and printing costs. In the filing period, the mayor reported spending $2,438 with Red Letter Communications for advertising and $1,151 with KWIK Copy for printing.

Gateley's only expenses for the filing period were $523 to the Southeast Missourian for advertising and $167 to the Show Me Center for room rental.

Reports also were due Thursday for the six city council candidates who ran for three seats. Of the six council candidates, Frank Stoffregen, who unsuccessfully sought election to Ward 1, filed an exemption because he didn't raise or spend sufficient money to require disclosure.

In Ward 1, Councilman J.J. Williamson Jr. reported contributions in this period totalling $1,020, including $245 in individual contributions of $100 or less. Other money came from Nip Kelley Equipment Co., 41 N. Sprigg, $250; James and Pat Williamson, 117 Centennial Drive, $150; St. Matthews Grand Lodge of St. Louis, $150; and the Professional Men's Club of Cape Girardeau, $225.

For the entire election, Williamson reported receipts of $1,020 and expenditures of $922.16.

In Ward 2, candidate Brenda Dohogne outspent the winner, Councilman Tom Neumeyer, $2,531 to $1,918.

Dohogne reported only $100 in contributions in this reporting period. She also reported the use of $927 in "personal funds" toward her campaign. Neumeyer reported only $75 in contributions for the filing period.

In Ward 6, Councilman Richard "Butch" Eggimann outspent candidate Jay Knudtson $2,600 to $2,535.

Eggimann reported $535 in individual contributions of $100 or less for the filing period, compared to $50 for Knudtson.

Other contributors to Eggimann's campaign were Drury Southwest, 200 Farrar Drive, $250, and Nip Kelley Equipment Co., $200. Knudtson reported a $200 contribution from Danny Lynn of Lynn Enterprises Inc. in Cape Girardeau.