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Higgerson elected as New Madrid County's sheriff
NEW MADRID, Mo. — Joey Higgerson will be New Madrid County’s next sheriff.
The sheriff’s race, the only countywide contested race, was between Higgerson, New Madrid police chief, and Chris Hensley, a longtime member of the New Madrid County Sheriff’s Department. Higgerson received more than 75 percent of the Republican votes cast to defeat Hensley 2,168 votes to 655 votes, according to the unofficial results provided by New Madrid County Clerk Amy Brown.
Because there is no Democrat seeking the party’s nomination. Higgerson will not face an opponent in the general election in November.
Following the announcement of the results, Higgerson expressed his thanks to voters.
“I have lived in New Madrid County my whole life. It is a very special place to me,” he said. “I want to thank everyone for recognizing all of our hard work and for all of the kindness they have shown us over the last 10 months of the campaign. On Jan. 1, I will be ready to go to work.”
Tuesday’s primary election was one of the largest voter turnouts in recent history in New Madrid County. According to the unofficial totals, 26.15 percent of register voters in the county cast ballots in the primary election.
In the other countywide races on the Republican ballot, all of the candidates were incumbents and none faced opposition. The candidates and their vote totals were as follows: 34th Judicial Circuit Judge Joshua D. Underwood, 2,417; First District Commissioner Bobby Aycock Jr., 1,493; Second District Commissioner Michael Kellams, 854; Assessor Jacob Johnson, 2,372: Coroner George A. DeLisle, 2,447; and Public Administrator Paula Scobey, 1,587.
Because there were no candidates on the Democratic ballot for countywide office, none of the Republicans will be opposed in the November general election.
Tuesday’s ballot also included three local questions.
Portageville residents overwhelmingly opposed a proposal to impose a local use tax of 2.250 percent by a vote of 357 no to 114 yes votes.
Also Portageville residents were asked to impose a sales tax of one half of 1 percent for the purpose of capital improvements. The measure also was defeated with 312 voters casting no votes and 163 voters in favor of the tax.
In Parma, voters approved a ballot measure calling for the city to issue water and sewer system revenue bonds not to exceed, $4,500,000, which would be repaid through the operation of the system. The final vote was 61 yes votes to 24 no votes.
Both the Republican ballots and the Democratic ballots had long lists of candidates seeking their party’s nomination for statewide office.
In New Madrid County, Mike Kehoe was the top pick among the Republican candidates for governor with 1,410 votes. Other candidates’ votes were: Darrell Leon McClanahan III, 53; Jeremy Gundel, 20; Bill Eigel, 588; Robert James Olson, 11; John R. (Jay) Ashcroft, 468; Chris Wright, 32: Darren L. Grant, 16; and Amber Thomsen, 40.
For lieutenant governor, New Madrid County Republicans opted for Holly Rehder, who garnered 1,167 votes. Also receiving votes were Dave Wasinger, 424; Lincoln Hough, 494: Paul Berry III, 64; Tim Baker, 227; and Matthew E. Porter, 139.
For the Republican nominee for secretary of state, local residents picked Denny Hoskins, with 466 votes. Other Republican candidates for the office were: Valentina Gomez, 217; Shane Schoeller, 287; Adam J. Schwadron, 102; Jamie Corley, 162; Dean Plocher, 387; Mary Elizabeth Coleman, 256; and Mike Carter, 453.
To serve as the Republican nominee for state treasurer, New Madrid County voters preferred incumbent Vivek Malek, who received 1,041 votes. The remaining votes were: Cody Smith, 495; Andrew Koenig, 482; Lori Rook, 284; Tina Goodrick, 80; and Karan Pujji, 27.
In a hotly contested race for the attorney general nominee on the Republican ticket, Will Scharf had 723 votes in New Madrid County and Andrew Bailey received 1,710 votes.
Incumbent U.S. State Representative Jason Smith easily defeated his opponents for the party’s nomination in New Madrid County. Smith had 2,222 votes compared to 218 votes for James Snider and 105 for Grant Heithold.
Also on the Republican ballot and unopposed were incumbents U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (2,159 votes); State Senator Jason Bean (2,378 votes); and 159th District State Representative Donnie Brown, 2,421 votes).
There were 190 residents who picked up a Democratic primary ballot.
In New Madrid County, the top vote-getter for U.S. State Senator was Karla May. The vote break down was May, 86 votes; December L. Harmon, 23: Lucas Kunce, 61; and Mita Biswas, 5.
The Democratic pick for governor by local voters was Eric Morrison, who had 46 votes. Also on the ballot were: Crystal Quade, 36; Sheryl Gladney, 17; Hollis L. Laster, 12; and Mike Hamra,71.
Two sought the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor with New Madrid County Democrats opting for Richard Brown, 116 votes, to 64 votes for Anastasia Syes.
In the race for the nomination for Democratic candidate for secretary of state, the vote tally was Monique Williams, 76 votes; Barbara Phifer, 66; and Haley Jacobson, 34.
Also contested was the nomination for U.S. Eighth District Representative. In New Madrid County Randi McCallian was favored over Franklin Delano Roth II with a vote of 143 to 29.
Unopposed on the Democratic ticket for the party’s nomination were, Mark Osmack for state treasurer, 166 votes; Elad Jonathan Gross for attorney general, 162 votes; and Chuck Bank for U.S. District state senator, 167 votes.
There were no Libertarian votes cast in New Madrid County
On the two Constitutional proposals on the ballot, New Madrid County voters narrowly favored a proposal to exempt places which provide childcare outside of the home from property taxes. There were 1,428 yes votes and 1,328 no votes.
For the amendment which would require the city of Kansas City to increase funding of its police department, local residents cast 1,520 yes votes and 1,213 no votes.