Lanzotti, Schneider pick up Cape Council election petitions

Loretta Schneider and Mark Lanzotti have picked up petitions Monday, marking the official kickoff to next year's Cape Girardeau City Council election.

As of 9 a.m. Tuesday, no one else had, according to the city clerk's office.

Schneider, 74, and Lanzotti, 41, will be gathering the required 50 signatures from their respective wards in attempts to win their second consecutive terms on the council. Schneider, a retired teacher, represents Ward 4 and Lanzotti, a personal injury lawyer, represents Ward 5.

Ward 3 representative Debra Tracy has said she is not running again, although that ward's seat is also up for election.

Potential candidates may file between Oct. 25 and Nov. 22, and the petitions are available at the city manager's office at 401 Independence St.

If more than two petitions are received for any one ward position, a primary election will be held on Feb. 7. The primary election narrows the candidates to two for each ward.

Candidates must be registered voters, at least 21 years old, residents of the city for at least two years before the election and residents of their ward for 90 days before the first filing date, which is Oct. 25.