SUCCESS OF WARD SYSTEM BEGINS AT THE BALLOT BOX

Tuesday's election will initiate Cape Girardeau's transition to ward representation. Three new council members will be elected from Wards 1, in the northeast part of the city; Ward 2, on the city's east side; and Ward 6 on the west part of town. A new mayor will be chosen at large.

Full ward representation won't come about until 1996, when elections will be held for council seats in Wards 3, 4 and 5.

Tuesday's election is significant -- it marks the first ward election since adoption of the city charter 13 years ago. A primary to trim the field in two wards was held in February.

Citizens spoke resoundingly in November of 1992 to adopt ward representation -- by a 2 to 1 margin. But now that it's here we must remember this system won't effectively work unless a majority of citizens in each ward vote.

No doubt confusion over which wards people live in prompted a dismal turnout during the primary, where just over 8 percent voted. The top vote-getter in either ward garnered only 145 ballots.

But that's no excuse on Tuesday. Everyone can cast their ballot on a spirited mayoral race as well as the statewide riverboat gambling question. In Cape Girardeau, voters will be asked to extend an existing one-fourth-cent sales tax to support revenue bonds to upgrade the sewer system.

Also for the first time in eight years, Cape Girardeau will have a new mayor. Al Spradling III or Melvin Gateley will succeed Gene Rhodes.

We are fortunate that both candidates come with council experience and a working knowledge of the city. But both differ greatly in style of leadership and positions on key issues.

More importantly, both understand the role of mayor. Under the city charter, the mayor yields no more power than any other council member. And that's the way it should be.

The council election will replace David Limbaugh, Mary Wulfers and Doug Richards on the city council.

Statewide, people will cast their ballots a second time for riverboat gambling. A legal technicality in the law prompted the vote.

It's important we support this gambling measure, called Amendment 3.

Missouri has a considerable stake in riverboat gambling -- the promise of more than 23,000 jobs and annual state revenues topping $300 million if all proposed sites are developed. Many of these developments are well into the planning stages.

Cape Girardeau has much riding on Amendment 3 as well -- mainly the future of a $51 million riverboat gambling development by Boyd Gaming. If the statewide measure passes, the city will reconsider its local option in early June. It's an investment that will pay off for our city and state.

The new city council will be a hybrid: with three ward representatives, and four at-large members, including the mayor. And that makeup will bring challenges.

A fourth ward councilman will be elected at a special election. The fact both mayoral candidates are sitting councilmen warrants the new vote. Due to time constraints, this new election won't be linked to the June gambling vote. It will probably be held in August or November, to allow time for a primary if needed, according to City Attorney Warren Wells.

Gateley hails from Ward 5, Spradling from Ward 4. The winner will determine the ward seat to be filled.

The council will simply operate with six members for the time being. Under the charter, an appointment can't be made unless the vacancy remaining is less than a year.

The future of our city depends on the people who lead it. That's why it's imperative Cape Girardeau gets out the vote Tuesday. Ward representation has been touted as a way to bring government closer to the people. But the ward system will only work if the people become involved -- starting at the ballot box.