Staff Reports
Standard Democrat
BENTON - While much of the attention Tuesday will be on the two tax propositions, Scott County voters will select their next prosecuting attorney in the county's only contested race.
If approved by voters, Proposition A will add a 50-cent E-911 tax to wireless phones. Proposition B seeks to increase taxes for highways and transportation.
Running for prosecutor on the Democratic ticket in Scott County are assistant prosecutor Paul R. Boyd and Frank Marshall. Incumbent Prosecuting Attorney Cristy Baker-Neel is not seeking re-election. As no other candidates have filed for the position with other parties, the primary election will determine who the next prosecutor is.
Running unopposed on Scott County's Democratic ticket and facing no opponents from other parties in November are incumbents Hense Winchester, division 4 associate circuit judge; David C. Mann, division 5 associate circuit judge; Martin Priggel, presiding county commissioner; Pam Glastetter, circuit court clerk; Rita Milam, county clerk; Thomas R. Dirnberger, recorder; Mark Hensley, collector; and Glenda K. Enderle, treasurer.
Voters in Miner will also decide whether they will permit some of their Tourism Tax money to be diverted to the general revenue and capital improvement funds, and Scott City voters are being asked to consider a one-fourth of one percent sales tax for capital improvements.
"I think it is going to be a real light election," said New Madrid County Clerk Jim W. Farrenburg. With only one contested race and one other issue on the ballots in New Madrid County, the election veteran hasn't seen a lot of interest in Tuesday's primary other than for the statewide issues.
Locally, Morehouse residents are being asked to approve the sale of waterworks and sewage system revenue bonds totaling $1,250,000. The money would enable the city to improve its water and sewage system with the repayment of the funds made through the operation of the system.
The only race is on the Democratic ticket with incumbent County Auditor Brian Mauk facing a challenge from Howard C. Tillman, who formerly held the post.
Running without opposition on the Democratic ticket at the local level are incumbents Associate Judge Charles Spitler, Presiding Commissioner Clyde Hawes, Circuit Court Clerk Marsha Meatte Holiman, County Clerk Jim W. Farrenburg, County Treasurer Tommy Bradley and Collector Dewayne Nowlin.
Also not facing opposition are newcomers Lewis H. Recker, assistant prosecuting attorney who is seeking election to replace Prosecuting Attorney H. Riley Bock, who did not seek another term, and Ann Evans Copeland, a deputy in the recorder of deeds office, who has filed to replace Ben Ashley, who is also not seeking re-election.
There are no Republicans filed for countywide offices in New Madrid County, but Jared Jones, a newcomer to the political scene, has filed as an Independent for presiding commissioner and will challenge Hawes in the November election.
In Mississippi County, the only county-level race is for presiding county commissioner. Democrats appearing on the ballot in the primary in addition to incumbent Jim Blumenberg are Brett Matthews, Marty Pullen and Buddy Reeves. On the Republican ballot, Danny Smithson and C. David Williams are competing for a shot at presiding commissioner. In November, the winners will face Steve Ledbetter, the Libertarian Party's only candidate for presiding county commissioner.
Running unopposed for Mississippi County offices are Democratic incumbents Karen Turley, circuit court clerk; Hubert DeLay Jr., county clerk; Judy Rolwing, recorder; Sandra B. Smoot, treasurer; Jennifer B. Raffety, prosecutor; and Faye P. Elliot, collector. These candidates also have no opponents from other parties to run against in the November election.
Darrel D. Day is challenging incumbent Jean Carnahan for her U.S. Senate seat on the Democratic ballot. Republicans have five choices for their U.S. Senate candidate: Joseph A. May, Jim Talent, Martin Lindstedt, Scott Craig Babbitt and Doris Bass Landfather, and Libertarians will choose between Edward Joseph Manley III and Tamara A. Millay.
Incumbent Jo Ann Emerson will first face Richard Allen Kline in the Republican primary Tuesday for the U.S. representative 8th district seat before facing Democratic candidate Gene Curtis and Libertarian Eric Van Oostrom in the November election, who are both unopposed on their parties' ballots.
On the Republican ticket, incumbent Peter Myers is running unopposed in the primary for the 160th district state representative as is incumbent Lanie Black for his 161st district seat.
Unopposed on the Democratic ticket for the 160th district is Donnie Kiefer and Wayne Petitt is the only Democrat on the primary ballot for the 161st district.
Incumbent Claire McCaskill is unopposed on the Democratic ticket for state auditor as is Arnold J. Trembley for the position on the Libertarian ballot. Republicans, however, will choose between Al Hanson and Jay L. Kanzler Jr. for their candidate.