City Council Applications Being Accepted

October 2013

April City Council Elections in Cape Girardeau

According to an article in the Missourian by Ruth Campbell,
 http://www.semissourian.com/story/2009953.html, now is the time to get a petition form and collect 50 signatures if you want to have the chance to have your name to appear on the ballot April 8, 2014, for mayor or city council in Cape.  Candidates have until November 19 to submit their petitions.  See Article VII, Sections 7.01, 7.03 (a) and (b) of the Cape Girardeau City Charter available on-line at the city's website.
http://www.cityofcapegirardeau.org/uploads/Main/CityAdministration/Cape-Girardeau-City-Charter.pdf

Campbell reports wards 1, 2 and 6 are up for election on April 8, 2014. The mayor is seeking a second consecutive term.  If he wins, he would be required to sit out an election before he could seek another term. Section 3.02.  A ward map is available on-line at the City of Cape website.
https://www.cityofcapegirardeau.org/uploads/Main/CityAdministration/CityManagersOffice/WardMap-Full.pdf

The city charter provides for a primary election in wards where more than two people seek the seat.  A city-wide primary would be held if more than two people seek the mayor's spot.   See Article VII, Section 7.07.

City council is a non-partisan race.  Partisan campaigning is specifically prohibited by the city charter, Section 7.02.  The salary at the time the city charter was written in 1981 was $100 per month for a regular council person and $150 per month for the mayor.

Besides the requirement that candidates be registered voters, they must be at least 21, have lived in the city for 2 years and their district for at least 90 days before the election. The mayor has a 4 year residency requirement.  Article III, Section 3.02.

The mayor is elected at-large.  Three of the six wards elect a council member each even numbered year.  All council members, including the mayor, serve four year terms.