TWO FILE FOR CITY COUNCIL ON FIRST DAY

Cape Girardeau City Councilman Al Spradling III Wednesday announced his bid for re-election to another four-year term.

Spradling and Lawrence Godfrey of 1732 Rampart were the only candidates to file election petitions Wednesday, the first day of filings. The filing deadline is Dec. 6.

Incumbent Councilman Hugh White has said he also plans to seek re-election, while Councilman David Barklage, who will end his second term in April, has said he's undecided whether to seek a third term.

Godfrey worked for 18 years as the treasurer at Riverside Building Co., and now works at Horizon Screen Printing and Marcon Specialty Advertising Co.

He is a Dexter native and a 1969 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, where he earned degrees in math and business administration.

Godfrey and his wife, Linda, have two daughters, Lori, 21, and Wendy, 19.

The candidate declined Wednesday to discuss his campaign, and said he plans to prepare an "issues statement" for release next week.

Spradling, a local attorney, was first elected to the council in 1988. He lost a campaign last year to unseat Gene Rhodes as the city's mayor.

Spradling said Wednesday he's seeking another term on the council so he can help continue the progress the city has made during the past four years.

He said the council will need to address the city's sagging sales tax receipts and how it affects the city budget.

"That's something we have to watch very closely and be ready to put in alternate sources for means of raising revenue if we see our sales tax drop off significantly," he said.

"That's going to be one of our major areas of concern."

The city council recently discussed how best to use the city's tourism fund. Motel and restaurant tax receipts are used to fund tourism and economic development in the city and the council will seek various proposals for the funds.

Spradling said he thinks it's time for the city to consider whether to use the money now earmarked primarily for the city's Convention and Visitors Bureau in other tourism and economic development areas.

Spradling said that, through his experience on the council and as a former member of the city's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, he is familiar with many of the key issues the city will face in the next four years.

He also said he hopes to continue development of the many new programs and city improvements started in the past four years.

Spradling said that during his term the city has developed new master street and sewer plans; annexed new areas into the city; developed new solid waste plans and improvements, including construction of the transfer station; proceeded with major street and sewer improvements, including the Lexington arterial project; and progress has been made to secure a new Mississippi River bridge and five-lane connecting route in the city.

"It's just been a tremendous amount of work that the council the last four years has done. I want to continue to do that."

Spradling said Tuesday's city election results are an indication that the citizens of Cape Girardeau have confidence in their leaders. Voters overwhelmingly approved new utility franchises with Union Electric and a proposal for the city to buy the water system from Union Electric issues fervently backed by the city.

"At least there's an impression that I get from 8,000 people who voted that the council and city staff seem to be working pretty harmoniously," he said. "I think that's a poignant indicator.

The success of the city issues in the same election where voters rejected Proposition B is a strong indication that people are pleased with the leadership of city government, he said.

Spradling said the water system purchase will open up new areas of opportunity for the city in terms of comprehensive planning for city expansion and development.

"We'll be able to coordinate water, sewer and street development at one time," he said. "I think that will be very significant."

Spradling and his wife, Pam, have three children: Burt, 15, Brooke, 12, and Alex, 7.

He is a member of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, Boatmen's Bank Board of Directors, member and past president of the Friends of St. Francis Medical Center and of the Lions Club, and vice president of the Southeast Missouri State University Boosters Board.

He graduated from Cape Girardeau Central High School and Southeast Missouri State University, where he earned a business administration degree with a major in accounting and minor in economics. He earned his law degree from the University of Missouri Law School in Kansas City. He is a member of the American, Missouri, Illinois and Cape County Bar Associations.