LATE FILING IN WARD PROMPTS CAPE COUNCIL PRIMARY RACE

Dru Reeves' 11th-hour filing for Ward 3 alderman meant a Feb. 6 primary election for the Cape Girardeau City Council this year.

The city's charter dictates there be a primary election when the number of people filing for positions is more than twice the number of positions. In this case, there is one City Council seat coming open each in Ward 3, Ward 4 and Ward 5.

Dr. Melvin Kasten is running unopposed for re-election in Ward 4, incumbent Melvin Gately and challenger Lawrence Godfrey are running in Ward 5, and Reeves, Jay Purcell and incumbent Jack Rickard are running in Ward 3.

Four entire voting precincts and parts of three others fall into Ward 3 in Cape Girardeau, and County Clerk Rodney Miller said his office wouldn't open polling places in all seven.

By combining precincts, he said, the county could see an $800 savings in the cost of paying election judges, polling place rent and other expenses.

Ward 3 covers all of Precincts 5, 6, 11 and 14. Voters in Precincts 13 and 15 will vote at Precinct 14 for the primary. Precinct 8 voters should go to Precinct 11.

Voters can look at their registration cards to be sure of their wards and precincts.

"We have done this procedure before," Miller said. "In all instances, the open precincts are close enough to the voters that it doesn't require any additional travel."

Cards instructing Ward 3 voters where to cast their votes will be sent out a week prior to the primary.

Everyone in all the wards involved in this year's City Council race should vote at their normal polling places on April 6.