PETITIONS AVAILABLE FOR CAPE CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS

Three seats on the Cape Girardeau City Council are up for grabs next year.

The seats in Wards 3, 4 and 5 are up for election. Candidates will be elected to four-year terms when voters head to the polls in April.

Nominating petitions are available beginning today at the city manager's office at City Hall, 401 Independence. The petitions must be signed by at least 50 registered voters eligible to vote.

Councilmen Dr. Melvin Kasten, who represents Ward 4, and Melvin Gateley, who represents Ward 5, are not eligible for re-election because of term limitations.,

The seat in Ward 3 is held by Jay Purcell, who was elected in 1994 to fill an unexpired term. He will seek re-election.

Voters approved the term limitations in 1996. Council members can only be elected to two consecutive terms. Candidates must also have lived in the city for two years before filing for office. That requirement was changed from a four-year residency rule prior to 1996.

The filing period for city elections runs from Oct. 26 until Nov. 23 for candidates to return forms to City Hall. If needed, a primary election will be held in February.