April 2019 Election

Whistleblower files suit against Stoddard County clerk for wrongful termination, sexual harassment (5/15/19)

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. — A former deputy clerk filed suit Tuesday morning against Stoddard County and her former boss for wrongfully terminating her for questioning irregularities in the April 2 municipal election. Cape Girardeau attorney Laura Clubb filed the suit in Stoddard County Circuit Court on behalf of her whistleblower client, Ginger McCoy...
Area lawmakers vote with House majority to roll back redistricting process (5/1/19)

Area Republican lawmakers joined the majority of Missouri House members this week in voting to roll back changes to the legislative redistricting process overwhelmingly approved by votes in November. Missourians approved the “Clean Missouri” constitutional amendment by a 62% to 38% margin in last year’s general election...
Tired of bumpy streets? 2 Cape tax measures would put $2.5 million annually toward repairs (4/30/19)

The City of Cape Girardeau could spend $2.5 million annually on street repairs if voters approve a capital improvement tax on the August ballot and a transportation tax on next April’s ballot, city officials said Monday. A capital improvement tax measure on the August ballot would funnel half a million dollars annually into street repairs for 15 years, city manager Scott Meyer said...
Springfield company launches attack ads against state Rep. Kathy Swan (4/27/19)

A not-for-profit corporation based in Springfield, Missouri, is funding digital attack ads against state Rep. Kathy Swan, accusing her of opposing “Trump’s agenda” and being “just like (former U.S. Sen.) Claire McCaskill.” The ads state Swan “doesn’t know the needs of the Bootheel.”...
Complaint alleges Stoddard County Clerk illegally certified election (4/16/19)

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. — A former deputy clerk has accused Stoddard County Clerk Cecil Weeks of illegally certifying the April 2 municipal election after she told him two unregistered voters cast ballots in Dexter, Missouri’s Ward 2. Ginger McCoy, who recently was fired from the clerk’s office where she had worked for 13 years, filed a complaint April 8 with the Stoddard County Sheriff’s Department...
Jackson use-tax voted down for third time (4/3/19)

For the third time — and by a slim margin of 82 votes — Jackson residents voted down the addition of a use-tax measure Tuesday, which would have enacted a 2.5% tax to out-of-state purchases. The measure was rejected by 53% of voters...
Perry County passes hotel tax; Morley voters OK sales tax (4/3/19)

Perry County, Missouri, voters approved a tax on hotel rooms during Tuesday’s election, while Scott County residents likewise voted to extend a city sales tax in Morley, Missouri. According to unofficial results posted by the Perry County Administration and Election Authority, less than 10% of registered voters turned out, but of the 1,125 ballots cast, more than 75% favored the hotel tax, which would impose a 6% tax on hotel bookings at the four hotels immediately adjacent to Interstate 55 at the Perryville exit. ...
Ready and waiting for voters (4/2/19)

Cape Girardeau County employees Corey Underwood, right, and Jeff Walter help set up a polling station Monday at Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel in Cape Girardeau. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Election officials project low voter turnout Tuesday despite ballot issues (3/30/19)

Most Cape Girardeau County voters will stay away from the polls Tuesday despite major ballot issues in Cape Girardeau and Jackson, according to election officials. Elections in surrounding counties are also expected to draw few voters as has historically been the case...
Chaffee, Oran voters to decide municipal races (3/29/19)

In Chaffee, Missouri, Ward 3 Councilman Alan Cook faces a re-election challenge from Doyle Wilson. An employee at the Chaffee City Hall provided home addresses but no contact numbers for either candidate. The Southeast Missourian mailed questionnaires to the home addresses, but as of Thursday neither candidate had responded...
Perry County voters to select hospital board and health department personnel (3/29/19)

In Perry County, there are contested races for the county hospital board and the county health department. Hospital board member Beth Guth of Perryville is seeking re-election to a five-year term. She faces a challenge from William “Bill” Bohnert of Longtown, Missouri...
Advance voters to choose mayor, alderman (3/29/19)

Advance, Misosuri, Mayor Carl “Pete” Ritter is seeking re-election to another two-year term. He faces a challenge from candidates Ryan Slinkard and Gary McCullough. Voters there also will choose from among candidates James Cato, Timothy Hill and incumbent Jason Smith for a two-year term as Ward 1 alderman...
Charter, YMCA build 'robust' partnership in Atlanta, fuel plans for Cape Girardeau aquatic center project (3/28/19)

A successful charter school and YMCA partnership in Atlanta sparked plans to construct an indoor aquatic center on the Jefferson Elementary School campus in Cape Girardeau. Cape Girardeau public schools superintendent Neil Glass described the charter school and YMCA as "a community center." Glass said, "It got me thinking, 'Hey, this is what we need.'"...
Democratic candidate seeks to ban 'dark money' in political campaigns (3/27/19)

A Democratic candidate for Missouri attorney general wants Missouri lawmakers to ban “dark money” in political campaigns. Elad Gross, a St. Louis lawyer who is running for the statewide office in the 2020 election, drafted the legislation to require any political advocacy group to disclose the names of its donors in campaign finance disclosure reports to the Missouri Ethics Commission...
Morley aldermanic candidates back ballot issues (3/27/19)

Two Morley, Missouri, aldermen and a challenger support measures to extend a sales tax and include the city in the Scott County Rural Fire Protection District. The candidates are seeking two-year terms, and the two issues are on the April 2 election ballot...
Advance School Board candidates voice concerns ranging from school safety to funding (3/26/19)

Advance, Missouri, School Board candidates have voiced concerns about school safety, technology and funding. The three candidates — David Kennedy, Adam Cato and Chase Robins — are competing for a one-year term on the board in the April 2 election...
Perry County looks to hotel tax to fund marketing of area (3/25/19)

In Perry County, Missouri, a 6-percent tax on hotel stays would mean more dollars to promote and grow tourism, said Trish Erzfeld, director and sole employee of Perry County Heritage Tourism. Erzfeld’s office serves as the convention and visitors bureau for the county, and, she said, people are beginning to realize this tax is needed...
Two candidates compete for Delta city collector post amid talk of making it an appointed position in future (3/25/19)

Two candidates are seeking election for Delta city collector, a position some city leaders want to make an appointed post. Teresa Lesch Byram and Carla Perry are competing to fill a one-year, unexpired term as collector in the April 2 election. Byram discussed her candidacy in emailed responses to a Southeast Missourian questionnaire. Perry, reached by phone, declined to answer questions...
Not just a pool: Cape Girardeau schools look to launch construction projects with bond issue (3/23/19)

The Cape Girardeau School District could look like a huge construction zone if voters approve a $12 million bond issue in April. And most of the money would not be used for a new pool, school and community leaders said. All of the improvements would be made without a tax increase, school officials and community leaders said. The debt-service levy would remain unchanged at $0.68 per $100 assessed valuation...
Jackson hopes third time's a charm for use-tax measure (3/23/19)

The third time could be a charm for a Jackson use-tax measure. The city has tried twice before unsuccessfully to pass a use-tax measure, but Jackson Mayor Dwain Hahs said he thinks this time could be different. Hahs said last time Jackson leaders put a use-tax measure on the ballot, initial priorities weren’t discussed...
Match maker: Anonymous donor pledges funding for aquatic center project, money contingent upon bond issue, other fundraising (3/22/19)

An anonymous donor has pledged $1.5 million in matching funds toward construction of an indoor aquatic center, two former Cape Girardeau mayors announced Thursday. Former mayors Harry Rediger and Jay Knudtson revealed the private donation at a breezy, outdoor news conference at the Shawnee Park Center attended by city, school and community leaders...
Scott City school candidates raise safety, bullying issues (3/20/19)

Bullying, safety and students getting overlooked in terms of academics or extracurricular activities are among the biggest challenges facing the Scott City public school system, according to candidates running for the school board. Voters will decide among five candidates in the April 2 election for two, three-year terms on the Scott City School Board...

April 2019 election

(contested races only)

Prop Y

Yes	2,207 (62%)
No	1,362

Jackson use tax

Yes	608 (47%)
No	690

Morley sales tax

Yes	70
No	11

Morley fire issue

Yes	77
No	4

Perry County Hotel tax

Yes	861
No	264

Jackson Ward 4 Alderman

Tom Kimbel	158
Steven Lee	84

Scott City School Board (two seats)

Gary Miller	199
Erica Huffman	60
Bekky Underwood	131
Timothy Lowery	202
Raquel Dannenmueller	119

Scott City Ward 1

Michael Ellison	33
Kenny Page	85

Perryville, Ward 2

Sharon Unterrreiner	88
Douglas K. Martin	105

Delta City Collector

Teresa Lesch Byram	19
Carla Perry	31

Whitewater Board (2 seats)

Bonnie Stroder	8
Nathan Stroder	11
Jonathan Stidham	17

Chaffee, Ward 3

Alan Cook	33
Doyle Wilson	7

Oran Ward 4

John Daniels	5
Karen LeGrand	8

Morley Board (two seats)

Kenneth Rodgers	61
Gennell Casey	54
Margaret “Peggy” Belcher	28

Advance mayor

Carl Ritter	66
Gary McCullough	34
Ryan Slinkard	86

Advance, Ward 1

James Cato	40
Timothy Hill	21
Jason Smith	29

Marble Hill Ward 1

Earl Parker	33
Roger Burr	30

Marble Hill Ward 2

Charles Fisher Sr.	88
Chastity Tragesser	27

Sedgewickville Fire Protection District

Cindy Mungle	10
Wayne Johnson	48
Charles “Chuck” Schuessler	50
Chris Hrabik	9
Dan Friese	59

Perry County Memorial Hospital

William “Bill” Bohnert	495
Beth Guth	627

Perry County Health Department (two seats)

Mary Boxdorfer	753
Ali Dibooglu	187
Sharon K. Unterreiner	586

Meadow Heights R-2 School (two seats)

Jerry W. Boyd	170
Wyatt Bollinger	129
Paul Alexander Lochirco	94
Sheila Kay Bess	130

Advance R-4 (one seat)

David Kennedy	79
Adam Cato	89
Chase Robins	111

Delta R-5 (two openings for three-year terms)

James Gloth	179
Amy White	52
Merdith Cox Scherer	133

Delta R-5 (one opening, one year term)

Evelyn Nussbaum	111
Matt Huffman	78

Oak Ridge R-6 (two seats)

Ronald Tracy	148
James Urhahn	172
Robert Eisenhauer	96
Chris Layton	136

Woodland R-4 (two seats)

Lance VanGennip	443
Chelsea Baker	181
Tim Hastings	166
Chris Jordan	192
Jason T. Cook	170

Kelly School District (two seats)

Dorothy Lewer	218
Paul Ruff	225
Rob Staggs	35
John Felter	124
Robby Lemonds	89

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