FOUR CANDIDATES FILE FOR CITY COUNCIL SEATS

Four candidates filed for seats on the Cape Girardeau City Council Wednesday, and the first ward race developed for the April 7 election.

In Ward 1, incumbent James "J.J." Williamson, 45, of 117 Centennial Drive, filed for office.

He will face Frank Stoffregen, 43, of 223 Capaha Trail.

Williamson and Stoffregen squared off for the first time in 1994, the first time city voters elected council members on a ward basis, rather than from a citywide slate.

Williamson, who won office by a 15-vote margin, was the first black elected to the City Council.

Mayor Al Spradling III, 49, of 842 Karau Lane, filed for a second term as mayor.

And in Ward 6, incumbent Richard "Butch" Eggimann, 69, of 235 Hillview, filed for re-election.

Three others have taken out nominating petitions, but did not file them with the City Clerk's office Wednesday.

Ward 2 incumbent Tom Neumeyer, 48, of 25 S. Lorimier, has said he plans to seek a new term.

And in Ward 3, Jay Purcell of 315 N. Pacific and Gerald Stevens of 329 N. Pacific have both taken out nominating petitions.

The Ward 3 seat was vacated when incumbent Jack Rickard resigned from the City Council in October. Rickard defeated Purcell for the Ward 3 seat in 1994.

Interested candidates can still pick up nominating petitions at Cape Girardeau City Hall. The deadline to file for office is 5 p.m. Nov. 25.

In order to file for office, candidates must get signatures from at least 50 qualified voters. The mayor is elected on a citywide basis.

Candidates for the City Council must get signatures from registered voters residing within their respective wards.