Two cities OK sales tax issues in New Madrid County

NEW MADRID, Mo. — Following Tuesday’s primary, New Madrid County residents will have a local office to fill in November.

Although running unopposed in their party’s primary, Republican Daniel Cornacchione Sr. and Democrat Edward Reeves will face each other in a bid to serve as 34th Judicial Circuit judge. Longtime 34th Judicial Circuit Judge Fred Copeland is retiring at the end of the year.

Cornacchione received 1,064 votes Tuesday, and there were 870 votes cast for Reeves.

Also decided in Tuesday’s election were issues in Portageville and Matthews.

Portageville residents voted against Proposition 1, which was a non-binding poll on whether to prohibit the open burning of trash, lumber, leaves, straw or any other combustible material. The vote was 387 no to 212 yes votes

On Proposition 2, a proposal for a one-fourth of 1 percent sales tax to fund a security resource officer for Portageville schools, voters gave their OK. There were 329 yes votes to 272 no votes.

Portageville City Police Chief Ronnie Adams thanked voters for coming out and supporting the issue. He said his department will hire Chris Cooley to serve as a resource officer beginning on the first day of classes at the Portageville School District.

Voters in Matthews approved a one-half of 1 percent sales tax for economic development purposes. The final vote was 59 yes to 31 no votes.

Overall voter turnout was light for a primary election, according to New Madrid County Clerk Clement Cravens. He attributed the turnout of 2,846, or just under 28 percent of the county’s registered voters, to the lack of local races on the ballots.

This year saw more Republican ballots selected by voters with more than 56 percent, or 1,616 picking up the GOP ballots. There were 1,220 voters choosing to cast a Democratic ballot.

All tallies, provided by Cravens’ office, are unofficial.

COUNTY

None of the Democratic incumbents for county office faced a challenger on the ballot in the primary election nor will they in November.

Candidates and their vote totals are: Joshua D. Underwood, associate circuit judge, 985; Mark Baker, presiding commissioner, 906; Clement Cravens, county clerk, 937; Dewayne Nowlin, collector, 976; Steve Riley, treasurer, 936; Kim St. Mary Hall, recorder, 930; Andrew Lawson, prosecuting attorney, 898; and Marsha Meatte Holiman, clerk of the circuit court, 927.

STATE

When it came down to Proposition A, the “right-to-work” issue, a majority of New Madrid County voters voted the issue down.

There were 1,478 votes cast against the issue compared to 1,349 in favor.

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill handily defeated her six opponents in the Democratic primary. New Madrid County voters cast 787 votes for McCaskill.

Also receiving votes were: Carla (Coffee) Wright, 93; Angelica Earl, 19; Leonard Joseph Steinman II, 28; John Hogan, 99; Travis Gonzalez, 16; and David Faust, 59.

Republican voters in New Madrid County overwhelmingly picked Josh Hawley as their candidate. Hawley polled 1,019 votes with the remaining Republican votes divided as follows: Tony Monetti, 86; Austin Petersen, 91; Fred Ryman, 23; Christina Smith, 62; Kristi Nichols, 84; Bradley Krembs, 12; Ken Patterson, 32; Brian G. Hagg, 9; Courtland Sykes, 16; and Peter Pfeifer, 29.

With a sole voter picking up a Green Party’s ballot, the nomination for state senator in New Madrid County went to Jo Crain over Jerome Bauer.

Japheth Campbell, who was unopposed on the Libertarian Party ballot for state senator, received 2 votes.

For state auditor, New Madrid County voters gave Democrat Nicole Galloway, who was unopposed, 836 votes.

From among the four candidates to represent the GOP in the state auditor’s race, local voters picked Saundra McDowell with 452 votes. The remaining totals were Kevin M. Roach, 389 votes; David Wasinger, 230 votes; and Paul Curtman, 146 votes.

Don Fitz, the Green Party’s candidate for state auditor, had 1 vote while Sean O’Toole, Libertarian candidate for state auditor, tallied 2 votes.

The sole statewide candidate on the Constitution Party ballot was Jacob Luetkemeyer, who is running for state auditor. No one selected a Constitution Party ballot in New Madrid County.

The race is set for Eighth District representative.

Incumbent Jason Smith earned 1,309 votes in New Madrid County from Republicans. Democrat Kathy Ellis, who was also unopposed for her party’s nomination, polled 844 votes in the county. On the Libertarian ticket Jonathan L. Shell was unopposed and received 2 votes.

Democrat Bill Burlison will challenge incumbent Republican Don Rone to fill the post of state representative for District 149. In New Madrid County, Burlison had 857 votes to 1,388 ballots cast for Rone to set up the November race.

Both candidates were unopposed on their respective tickets.