Bennett out as presiding commissioner of Mississippi County

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Mississippi County will have a new presiding commissioner after incumbent Carlin Bennett was ousted in the primary Tuesday.

Challenger James D. Conn defeated Bennett 1,127 votes to 600 in the Republican primary Tuesday. In November, Conn will face Dustin Poley, who defeated Blake Jones 285 votes to 239 in the Democratic primary.

Voters in Mississippi County also chose Emily K. Pullen as the Republican candidate for county clerk. Pullen received 1,211 votes to Clinton L. Wolford’s 496. In November Pullen will face Arthur Cassell, who ran unopposed on the Democratic ticket and collected 490 votes.

In the race for collector of revenue on the Republican ticket, Cyndi Hensley had 1,366 votes to challenger Amanda Bratton’s 361. Hensley will run unopposed in November.

Mississippi County will also continue to apply and collect a local sales tax, currently 1.75 percent, on the titling of motor vehicles, trailers, boats and outboard motors that were purchased from a source other than a licensed Missouri dealer after voters approved to keep the tax by a vote of 1,279 to 981.

In the race for circuit judge of Circuit 33, voters on the Democratic ticket in Mississippi County chose David Dolan over Rebecca A. Reed 369 to 208. With votes in Scott County, Dolan retains his judgeship by a final tally of 3,184 to 1,520.

All other county positions were unopposed on Tuesday’s ballot, all on the Democratic ticket. They included Rob Barker, associate circuit judge (504 votes); Dottie McKenzie, circuit clerk (503 votes); George Bays, recorder of deeds (507 votes); Sandra Smoot Morrow, county treasurer (518 votes); and Darren Cann, prosecuting attorney (472 votes).

Voters in Mississippi County opposed Proposition A by a vote of 1,314 to 1,009.

On the Republican ticket, voters in Mississippi County opted for Josh Hawley as the Republican candidate for U.S. Senator. Hawley nabbed 762 votes in a crowded field, besting Tony Monetti (166), Austin Peterson (168), Fred Ryman (26), Christina Smith (129), Kristi Nichols (101), Bradley Krembs (17), Ken Patterson (33), Brian G. Hagg (15), Courtland Sykes (21) and Peter Pfeifer (82).

For state auditor on the Republican ballot, Mississippi County voters chose Saundra McDowell with 630 votes over Kevin M. Roach (322), David Wasinger (186) and Paul Curtman (162).

Running unopposed on the Republican ticket were: Jason Smith, U.S. Representative, District 8 (1,440 votes) and Holly Rehder, state representative District 148 (928 votes).

Claire McCaskill was the choice of Mississippi County voters for the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senator. With 418 votes, Mississippi County chose McCaskill over challengers Carla (Coffee) Wright (48), Angelica Earl (12), Leonard Joseph Steinman II (4), John Hogan (27), Travis Gonzalez (10) and David Faust (31).

Running unopposed on the Democratic ticket were Nicole Galloway for state auditor (430 votes); Kathy Ellis, US Representative District 8 (471 votes) and Bill Burlison for US Representative 149 (165 votes).

There were no votes cast for the Libertarian ballot or Green Party ballot and only for the Constitution Party as Jacob Luetkemeyer collected 1 vote for state auditor.

Overall, 27.12 percent of registered voters in Mississippi County took part in Tuesday’s election.