SOUTHERN ILLINOIS: MAYORS WILL FACE ELECTION CHALLENGES

Incumbent mayors in several small Southern Illinois communities will face opposition during April elections.

Marguerite Ward, who has served as mayor nine years at Mounds, will face challenger Raymond Butler when voters go to the polls April 20.

Ward has served as a city official 12 years.

In other contested mayoral elections, Mound City Mayor Frederic M. Winkler will face opposition from Sam Johnson; Tamms village President Walter Pang will face Donald Holshouser; Olmsted Mayor James Burd will face a challenge from Elmer Rose; and Thebes Mayor David D. McNeely will face challenger Tina Baugher.

Three candidates have filed for election as mayor of Dongola. Mayor Alan Tarpley will face former mayor Jim Etherton. Also running for mayor is 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. 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.