Area voters to decide sheriff's race, other county offices and races

Area voters will go to the polls Tuesday to decide a number of county and regional races, including a sheriff’s race in Scott County and a number of legislative contests.

Polls will open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.

U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, R-Salem, faces a challenge from Democrat Dave Cowell of Farmington, Missouri, and Libertarian Jonathan Shell of Fredericktown, Missouri, in his bid to win re-election in the 8th Congressional District of Southeast Missouri. Smith first was elected to the House in a special election in 2013 and won election to a full, two-year term in 2014.

State Sen. Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau, faces a re-election challenge from Democrat and school bus driver Donnie Owens of Marquand, Missouri, in Senate District 27. The district covers Cape Girardeau, Perry, Madison, Scott, Bollinger and Wayne counties.

Wallingford is seeking a second four-year term.

The race in the 147th House district is between incumbent Republican Kathy Swan and Libertarian Party challenger Greg Tlapek. Both candidates reside in Cape Girardeau. Tlapek, a self-employed investor, ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1994 and 1996, for Cape Girardeau County clerk in 1998 and for Swan’s seat in 2014.

Swan is seeking a third two-year term.

Three candidates are vying for the 145th Missouri House seat. Republican Rick Francis of Perryville, Missouri, and Democrat Ronald Pember and Constitution Party candidate Victoria “Tori” Proffer, both of the Fredericktown, Missouri, area, are running for the open seat. The district covers Bollinger and Madison counties and part of Perry County.

County races

In Scott County, Democratic Sheriff Rick Walter faces a re-election challenge from Republican Wes Drury, a criminal investigator for the Scott County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

Also on the ballot is a contest for District 1 associate commissioner between incumbent Dennis Ziegenhorn and Republican challenger and former Sikeston city councilman John Graham.

In Perry County, voters will decide two contested races.

Perry County Coroner Jim Martin, who was appointed by Gov. Jay Nixon in March, is seeking election to a full four-year term. He is challenged by former Cape Girardeau police officer William “Bill” Bohnert.

In the other contest, Democratic candidate Marion Brown and Republican Jay Wengert are seeking the Perry County District 1 associate commissioner seat. The winner will replace Patrick Heaps, who did not seek re-election.

Bollinger County voters will choose an associate commissioner for District 2. The race pits Democrat Eldon Thorne against Republican Roy Garner for the open seat. The winner will replace Associate Commissioner Steve Jordan, who did not seek re-election.

There are no contests for county office in Cape Girardeau County, as all the races were decided in the Republican primary in August. But voters in the county’s Public Water Supply District No. 5 will decide the fate of a proposed $750,000 revenue bond issue.

The water district wants to issue the bonds to construct a new water-supply well and pay for the operating costs of it. The district serves about 200 customers in a largely rural area on the east side of the county.

Revenue generated from utility charges paid by the district’s customers would retire the bonds.

Statewide measures

Missouri voters will decide the fate of five constitutional amendments and one proposition.

Amendment 1 would extend for 10 years the sales tax of 1/10th of 1 percent that funds soil and water conservation efforts as well as state parks and historic sites.

Amendment 2 would establish limits on campaign contributions.

Amendment 3 would raise cigarette taxes to fund early-childhood education programs.

Amendment 4 would prohibit new state or local sales taxes on any service or transaction that was not in effect as of Jan. 1, 2015.

Amendment 6 would require Missourians to display photo identification in order to vote.

Proposition A would increase cigarette and tobacco taxes to help fund state road and bridge improvements.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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