VOTERS PICK SPRADLING AS CAPE MAYOR

With two sitting councilmen contending for the office of Cape Girardeau mayor, experience won out Tuesday as two-term Councilman Al Spradling III defeated Melvin Gateley by a vote of 5,325-4,144 -- a 56-44 margin.

It was Spradling's second try at the seat. In 1990, he was defeated by Gene Rhodes for the four-year term as mayor.

Spradling said Tuesday night it was a victory worth waiting for.

"I'm extremely happy," he said. "It's an honor to be able to serve the city, and a humbling experience."

Spradling said there were clear differences in the campaign for mayor this year, compared to four years ago.

"I think four years ago, I didn't target the issues like I did this year," he said. "I also ran against an incumbent last time, which is always an uphill battle."

The new mayor said he believed his issue-oriented campaign and his six years of experience on the council helped his effort.

Spradling will preside over a six-member council until a election is held -- likely in August -- for his replacement as Ward 3 councilman. Gateley will finish out his council term in 1996.

The new mayor said he looks forward to working with three new council members elected Tuesday, as well as with Gateley and Councilman Melvin Kasten.

"We're going to face four new councilmen, and we're going to have to bring them up to speed on a lot of city issues in a hurry," Spradling said. "Working with only six council members will be a challenge, but it can be done."

Gateley, who has two years remaining on his first term on the council, said he was pleased with the tenor of the campaign, and pledged his support for Spradling.

"When you go into something like this, you wonder if you'll deviate from the issues during the campaign," Gateley said. "I want to congratulate and thank Mr. Spradling and his people for staying very positive.

"I still have two years left on the council, and I pledge my support for Mr. Spradling and his leadership."

Gateley thanked his campaign team for their tireless work and devotion. "We had a lot of people in the front line, and everything was very positive," he said.

Spradling said he also was pleased with a "clean" campaign.

"I think four years ago, my campaign was perceived by the public as negative, and that hurt my chances," he said. "I strived this time to make sure the campaign focused on issues and not weaknesses elsewhere.

"Both sides ran very clean campaigns."

Spradling said he was pleased to see the two ballot issues related to a major sewer improvement project in Cape Girardeau also pass Tuesday.

"That gives me some good feelings about the confidence citizens have in the city," he said. "I think if we're up front with the community and what we have to do, they're going to support the city.

"That's how I intend to conduct myself, and I don't see any major problems coming down the pike."

Despite having to work with a "green" council of four new members, Spradling said he looks forward to the challenge.

"I plan on getting to know all of the new council members very well, and I think we will have a good group to work with.

"It's going to be a very important period for them, with a new budget and a lot of issues before the city. Mr. Gateley, Dr. Kasten and myself will work closely with them, relying on our experience."