SPRADLING, GATELEY SQUARE OFF FOR MAYOR

Two current Cape Girardeau city councilman will square off in April in a race for the mayor's seat.

On Friday, the last day to file for the April 5 municipal election, Councilman Al Spradling III filed an election petition for mayor.

He will challenge Councilman Melvin Gateley, who filed for the mayor's seat on Nov. 10, the first day for filing.

It's Spradling's second try for mayor. First elected to the council in 1988, Spradling lost the mayor's race in 1990 to the incumbent, Gene Rhodes. Rhodes, whose second term expires in April, did not file for re-election to a third term.

Spradling, 46, said Friday it's time for a change in the way the city is governed.

"We must put a stop to continuous fee increases, provide adequate resources to fight crime, we must promote quality economic development, and most of all put aside petty controversy, and show leadership," he said.

Spradling said he hopes the campaign will be issue-based. He welcomed the prospect of several public campaign forums.

"My hope is that this campaign will be based on issues, ideas and leadership, not on who runs the slickest campaign or spends the most money," he said. "I will welcome any and all opportunities in this campaign to discuss the issues."

Spradling said voters have the right to know where the mayoral candidates stand on a variety of issues facing the city.

"In given a side-by-side comparison of my views versus my opponent, I believe a majority of the voters will elect me to implement my ideas," he said.

Spradling outlined several of his positions. One of the first things he said he would hope to accomplish as mayor is to "put aside the divisiveness of the past" to be replaced with "strong leadership" for the future.

He said he also supports charter changes that would create a "rainy day" fund in the city budget to provide fund reserves for emergencies.

Spradling also said he would support a measure to help stem ever-rising fees for city services.

"I support requiring voter approval for fee increases," he said. "We cannot allow the cost of basic services to climb out of the reach of the single parent, the elderly and the many families in our community on moderate incomes."

Spradling said he also would work as mayor to cut city bureaucracy that hampers development.

"We need to streamline red tape so that we can cut development costs for business and homeowners and increase economic development projects that will provide good-paying, quality jobs and adequate resources to fight crime."

Spradling, whose council seat expires in 1996, said he hadn't planned to run for the mayor until he was asked by many people in the community.

"I felt that I had an obligation to serve," he said. "My family and I love this town. I want to give back to the community some of what it has given me and my family."

Spradling's family has been involved in state government for many years, and his father is former Missouri senator Albert M. Spradling Jr.

The candidate was raised in Cape Girardeau, where he attended public schools. He graduated with a business administration degree from Southeast Missouri State University, then went on to the University of Missouri Law School at Kansas City, where he earned his law degree.

He is a member of the American, Missouri, Illinois and Cape County Bar Associations.

Spradling also is a member of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, Cape Central High School Boosters, and the Southeast Missouri State University Boosters, where he serves as president.

He's past president and a member of Friends of St. Francis Medical Center, the Lions Club and the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

Spradling is married to the former Pam Sheets. They have three children: Bert, 17, Brooke, 14, and Alex, 9.