For a while, it looked like Ike Skelton, who is currently serving as Camden County’s presiding commissioner, was going to win the Republican primary for Missouri State Senate District 6, which includes Camden, Cole, Miller, Moniteau and Morgan counties.
In fact, in Camden County, Skelton beat out the other five candidates with 3,608 votes, or 39.44 percent, and in Miller he garnered 1,587 votes or 30.60 percent of the vote. But by the time the last vote was counted, Jake Vogel had pulled ahead with 26.6 percent of the vote (10,095 votes) district wide. Rudy Veit came in second with 24.59 percent (9,329 votes) and Skelton was third with 22.69 percent (8,606 votes). Derrick Spicer garnered 12.637 percent, Lisa Thomas took just 10.855 percent, and Amber Buckles came in last with 2.605 percent of the vote.
Vogel will run against J. Don Salcedo, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, on the November 3 ballot.
Camden County
Camden County has 35,321 registered voters, 9,537, or 77.29 percent, of whom requested Republican party ballots; and 2,162, or 17.52 percent of whom requested Democratic party ballots. The rest registered as non-partisan or Libertarian. In Tuesday’s primary, 12,240 ballots were cast, representing 34.94 percent of the voters, a much higher turnout than what has been seen in the past several years.
Nick Sherrell was chosen as the Republican candidate for presiding commissioner with 2,829 votes. Kathy Campbell was a close second with 2,457. Sherrell is the only Camden County candidate who will face opposition in the November General Election. He will be running against Mike McDuffey, who won the Democratic primary with 1,281 votes against Daniel Ousley, who garnered 530 votes.
Rowland A. Todd was the clear choice for county clerk with 6,309 votes to Kit Roupe’s 2,219. County Recorder Donnie Snelling also held on to his position with 6,079 votes to Drew Woolfolk’s 2,255. as did County Collector Teresa Murray with 6,136 votes to Lincoln McGuire’s 2,541.
Not all Camden County incumbents fared as well, however. In the race for prosecuting attorney, Lynne A. Brand saw a win with 4,942 votes to Richelle Christensen-Grosvenor’s 3,532; and Kris Franken won the county auditor race with 3,788 votes compared to Jimmy Laughlin 2,666 and Madeline Kincaid’s 1,926.
In November, Jeff Vernetti, the unopposed Republican candidate for State Representative District 123, will face off against Democrat Cody Hutcheson, who also ran unopposed.
Miller County
Miller County has 19,132 registered voters and 5,448, or 85.89 percent, requested Republican party ballots, and 680, or 10.72 percent, requested Democratic party ballots. Only 21, or 0.33 percent, vote as Libertarians and 194, or 3.06 percent, vote as Non-Partisan. Parties combined, 33.15 percent or 6,343 voted in Tuesday’s primary.
Neil Atkinson won the race for presiding commissioner over Lynn Wilson, 2,997 to 1,788; Kathy “Kate” Plemmons won the recorder of deeds seat over Shelby Scott, 3,403 to 1,283; and Mindy Robison-Kampeter beat out Lori Tillman for the county treasurer spot, 2,471 to 2,374. No one ran for these positions on the Democratic party ballot.
Morgan County
Morgan County has 13,617 registered voters, 3,400, or 77.98 percent of whom requested Republican party ballots, and 728, or 16.7 percent of whom requested Democratic party ballots. Just 49, or1.1 percent of the voters, vote Libertarian, and 183, or 4.2 percent, vote Non-Partisan. In total, 4,360 ballots were requested, representing 32.02 percent of the voters.
There was no competition for any of the county positions in Morgan County. Although a social media post claimed one of the polling places ran out of Democratic party ballots, the Morgan County clerk’s office said that was not true.
Osage Beach FPD & Judges
In both Camden and Miller counties, Bob Currier beat out Stephen Grass for the seat on the Osage Beach Fire Protection District Board of Directors with 1,089 votes to 795 in Camden and 143 votes to 121 votes in Miller County.
On Camden County’s Republic party ballot, Aaron Koeppen, running for Circuit Judge Circuit 26 Division 3; Michael Gilley, in the race for Associate Circuit Judge Division 4; and Heather Miller, running for Associate Circuit Judge Division 5, ran unopposed.
In Miller County’s Republican primary ballot, Gerard “Jay” Harms Jr. won the seat for Associate Circuit judge with 3,001 votes to Kevin Neil’s 1,866 votes.
In Morgan County, Stephen Grantham ran unopposed on the Republic primary ballot for Associate Circuit Judge.
Constitutional Amendments
Camden, Miller and Morgan county voters clearly support their state parks, overwhelming approving Constitutional Amendment No. 1, with 80.16 percent, 73.36 percent and 77.48 percent “Yes” votes respectively. The one-tenth of one percent sales tax funds Missouri state parks and historic sites as well as soil and water conservation programs, allowing the state to continue offering free admission to its parks.
More than 70 percent of Camden, Miller and Morgan county voters supported Constitutional Amendment No. 2, which requires Jackson County to elect a county assessor.
A large percentage of voters rejected Amendments 4 and 5 not only statewide, but also locally. In Camden County, 81.42 percent, in Miller County 82.29 percent and in Morgan County 77.54 percent voted “No” on 4; and in Camden County 85.90 percent, in Miller County 87.62 percent, and in Morgan County 85.76 percent voted “No” on Amendment 5.
Other Local Contested Republican Primary Candidates
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE – DISTRICT 4 (CAMDEN)
Mark Alford - 72,325 (77.656%)
Heather Shelton - 15,922 (17.096%)
Scott Vincent Vera - 4,888 (5.248%)
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE – DISTRICT 5 (MILLER & MORGAN)
Rick Brattin - 34,853 (44.971%)
Taylor Burks - 20,438 (26.371%)
Brad Patty - 8,049 (10.386%)
Brett Hueffmeier - 7,677 (9.906%)
Micah Beebe - 4,875 (6.290%)
Berton A. Knox - 1,609 (2.076%)
STATE REPRESENTATIVE – DISTRICT 61 (MILLER)
Bruce Sassmann - 5,401 (62.454%)
John Grady - 3,247 (37.546%)
STATE REPRESENTATIVE – DISTRICT 124 (MILLER)
Kevin Onstott - 3,341 (46.990%)
Chris Webery - 2,615 (36.779%)
Tony Laszacs - 1,154 (16.231%)
STATE REPRESENTATIVE – DISTRICT 142 (CAMDEN)
Jeff Brown - 4,531 (80.180%)
Royce E. Tuck - 1,120 (19.820%)
Local Contested Democratic Primaries
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE – DISTRICT 4 (CAMDEN)
Jordan Herrera - 19,850 (30.447%)
Hartzell Gray III - 18,055 (27.693%)
Jeanette Cass - 9,581 (14.696%)
Ashleigh Rogers - 9,000 (13.805%)
Randy Miller - 4,871 (7.471%)
Wayne Russell - 3,213 (4.928%)
G Rick - 626 (0.960%)
