ILLINOIS MAYORS FACE CHALLENGES TUESDAY

OLMSTED, Ill. -- James Burd wants another term as mayor.

"Construction of the Olmsted Dam is expected to get under way on the Ohio River here soon," said Burd, 24-year mayor of Olmsted. "I've been involved with this project from the start, and I'd like to see it through."

Burd said Olmsted, population 350, and several other Southern Illinois communities will share in an economic boom that will hit the area during the construction of the billion-dollar plus dam that will extend from just above the Olmsted boat ramp to the Kentucky shore.

"We're probably looking at a 12- to 15-year project," said Burd. "Once actual construction gets under way, we're looking at as many as 750 to 850 workers."

Burd will face challenger Elmer Rose when voters in small Illinois communities go the polls Tuesday. Burd has faced opposition the past two elections, defeating Rose in the last election.

Incumbent mayors in other small Southern Illinois communities will face opposition on Tuesday.

Frederic M. Winkler, who has been mayor at Mound City 28 years, will face challenger Sam Johnson; and Marguerite Ward, who has served as a Mounds official 12 years, nine of them as mayor, will face challenger Raymond Butler.

In other contested mayoral elections, Tamms village President Walter Pang will face Donald Holshouser; Thebes Mayor David D. McNeely will face challenger Tina Baugher; and three candidates have filed for election as mayor of Dongola, where Mayor Alan Tarpley will face former mayor Jim Etherton and current village board member Teddy Earnhart. A race for mayor has also developed in Jonesboro, where incumbent John Gardner will seek re-election. He will be challenged by David Isom.

There is no opposition in East Cape Girardeau elections. Joe Aden is unopposed for re-election as mayor and Caroline Thomas is unopposed for city clerk. Two incumbent trustees Rich Walker and Mary Abercrombie are unopposed. Incumbent Don Hileman is not running for re-election, and Leon Gibbar is unopposed to fill that vacancy.

Mayoral and aldermen elections will be held throughout Southern Illinois Tuesday. Only one aldermanic post is contested at Mounds. Incumbent David Laird will face Bill Hearst in Ward 1. Incumbents Noel Robertson and Tim Bellamy are unopposed in Wards 2 and 3 respectively. Also unopposed are city treasurer Ruth McClellan and secretary Sue Gulley.

The only alderman race at Mound City will be in Ward 1, where incumbent Oscar Edwards is not running. Two candidates have filed to fill the vacancy, Norman G. Koen and Michael Dover. Incumbents Harry C. Dover and Cleveland Forbes have no opposition. City Clerk Louise Calvin and treasurer Shirley Koen will each return to their respective positions, with no opposition.

Seven candidates have filed for three trustee positions at Tamms, including two incumbents, David Hutchison and Lester Pickett. A third incumbent, Claudi Nelson, is not running.

Other candidates at Tamms are Dorothy LaForest, Charles Hood, James Greenley, Vicki Baker and Darold Dunning.

In addition to mayor, two more races have developed at Jonesboro. Irma Kelley and Rebecca Hunter will vie for city clerk, and incumbent William Bowen Jr. faces a challenge from Michael Hepburn for alderman in Ward 2.

Incumbents Melvin Harvell and Ken Blandford are unopposed in Wards 1 and 3 respectively. Also unopposed is incumbent Judy Lyerla, the only candidate for treasurer.

Three candidates have filled for three positions on the Dongola Board of Trustees. Incumbents Gordon Holderfield and Barr George are unopposed, along with Larry George, who filed for the spot vacated by Teddy Earnhart, who is running for mayor.

Two incumbents Gary George and Irene Sauerbrun will be seeking re-election as Olmsted aldermen. Four names are on the ballot for three positions. Also on the ballot are Robert Edwards and Keith Stricker. James Bagbey, who has served on the board 24 years, is not seeking re-election.

There are no contests for aldermen at Thebes. Incumbents Linda K. Sutton, Randy D. Sutton, and Raymond Dodson are unopposed. Also unopposed is city clerk Thelma Foutch.