WHITE: COUNCILMAN NOW REJECTS RACE

Cape Girardeau City Councilman Hugh White, contemplating a race for the Missouri Senate, withdrew Tuesday as a candidate for re-election.

White said he hasn't decided whether to seek the Democratic nomination for the Senate from the 27th district, however, Tuesday was the last day he could have his name removed from the ballot for the April 7 city council election.

"That does not necessarily mean I'll be a candidate for the Senate," he said. "But it is an indication that I am taking a more serious look at being a candidate for that office.

"It is rather an indication that I could not give proper, careful consideration to a Senate race while all the while continuing to be a candidate for the council. I have decided to withdraw so I could make a decision whether to run for the Senate without other factors coming into consideration."

The filing deadline for the Senate is March 31.

White's withdrawal means there will be at least two new members elected to the city council this year. Councilman David Barklage is not seeking a third term.

Councilman Albert M. Spradling, III, is the only incumbent seeking re-election.

Other candidates for the three council seats are: Dr. Melvin Kasten, Loretta Schneider, Melvin Gateley, and Lawrence Godfrey.

White said he has enjoyed his tenure on the city council, but said it would not be proper to be a candidate for both offices.

"I have enjoyed my four years on the council and feel very good about what I have done there," he said. "It is a very worthy cause and (I) would like to have continued on.

"If I don't get in the Senate race, I won't be in public office after April. That was not a goal of mine to be out of public office, but circumstances warrant the decision I made today and I feel compelled to proceed in this direction."

At the time he filed for re-election to the council in December, White said he was considering a race for the Senate, but not as intently as he is now.

"Running for the Senate did not loom as large at the time I filed," said White. "I never filed with the definite intentions of withdrawing. But with the other decision to be made, I did not feel I could make that as long as I was a candidate for the city council."

White said he has no self imposed timetable for deciding on whether to run for the Senate.

The current 27th district senator, John Dennis, announced in July that he would not seek a fifth term.

Sikeston Mayor Bill Burch, a Democrat, is the only candidate who has filed so far. Besides White, two other Democrats contemplating the race are former State Rep. Betty Hearnes of Charleston, and Cape County Clerk Rodney Miller.