WARD 5 ONLY RACE FOR COUNCIL SO FAR

There apparently will be a race in at least one Cape Girardeau City Council ward.

Lawrence Godfrey, an unsuccessful candidate for a council seat in 1992, said Tuesday he will challenge incumbent Melvin Gateley for the Ward 5 seat.

Godfrey, however, still hasn't filed. Friday is the filing deadline for the April municipal election.

So far, only the three incumbents -- Gateley, Dr. Melvin Kasten of Ward 4 and Jack Rickard of Ward 3 -- have filed.

Gateley and Kasten are completing four-year terms. They were elected under an at-large system in April 1992.

Voters approved a plan to change to a ward system in November 1992.

Rickard was elected in a special election in August 1994 to fill the seat vacated by Al Spradling III after he was elected mayor.

Rickard filed right after the City Council meeting Monday night.

Rickard said Tuesday he wants to see better rapport between the city staff and small businesses and property owners.

He also wants the city to have a larger reserve fund, something he believes will be addressed if voters in April approve an amendment to the city charter.

Rickard said the fact the city has a new city manager was a key factor in his decision to run again.

He said Michael Miller has done a good job as city manager. "I think he is a man that can be worked with."

Kasten announced several weeks ago that he would seek re-election. He officially filed Friday.

Kasten said at the time he doesn't intend to talk a lot about issues in the April election.

He said he will run on his past accomplishments and his name recognition. A longtime doctor, Kasten's wife, Mary, is Cape Girardeau's state representative.

Godfrey, 51, said he has nothing against Gateley, but feels it is time for a younger man to serve on the council. Gateley is 68.

Godfrey said he would focus on the city's finances, if elected to the council.

He said some of the city's funds need to be better managed. "You can't keep coming back year after year and asking for raises in rates."

Godfrey worked for 18 years as the treasurer for Riverside Building Co. He said the city's growing debt concerns him.

"You can't keep borrowing money," said Godfrey, who now works as warehouse manager for Horizon Screen Printing.

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

Voters will decide April 2 whether to approve a dozen amendments to the city charter. The City Council placed the amendments on the ballot.

Godfrey said he would prefer to see charter changes made through initiative petition on the part of the citizens rather than leaving it up to the council to decide what amendments should be placed before the voters.