Cape County voters pick Welker, Miller, Tracy, Hovis in Tuesday primaries

Lawyer Mark Welker cruised to victory over fellow lawyer William Bryant for Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney in Tuesday's heavily watched Republican primary.

Mark Welker

Welker was the top vote-getter, garnering 8,572 votes to 2,691 for Bryant. The Cape Girardeau resident defeated Bryant of Jackson by a 76 percent to 24 percent margin, according to unofficial election returns.

Afterward, Welker thanked his supporters and praised the current prosecutor's office.

A pile of "I voted" stickers is seen Tuesday at the Arena Building in Cape Girardeau.TYLER GRAEF

"I think we have a great office," he said. "I think people listened to that."

Welker said he is ready to "go to work" as the county's prosecutor.

Frank Miller

Voters in the GOP primary elected assistant prosecuting attorney Frank Miller as the next Division 3 associate circuit judge. Miller defeated Cape Girardeau lawyer Brandon Cooper by a 61.5 percent to 38.5 percent margin. Miller piled up 6,935 votes to 4,341 for Cooper.

Clint Tracy

Presiding Commissioner Clint Tracy handily defeated excavating company and quarry owner J.W. Strack in his bid for re-election to a third, four-year term. Tracy garnered 62.4 percent of the vote, defeating Strack by a vote of 7,077 to 4,264.

Barry Hovis

In the GOP primary for state representative of the 146th District, former Cape Girardeau police officer Barry Hovis defeated disabled veteran Tony LaForest by a 70.5 percent to 29.4 percent margin. Hovis received 4,983 votes to 2,076 for LaForest.

The winner will face Democratic candidate Gayla Dace of Oak Ridge in the November general election for the seat being vacated by state Rep. Donna Lichtenegger, R-Jackson, who is term limited.

The primary wins for Welker, Miller and Tracy in heavily Republican Cape Girardeau County assured them of victory in the November election where they will be running unopposed.

Cape Girardeau resident Martin Jones votes with his wife, Edith, Tuesday at the Arena Building in Cape Girardeau.TYLER GRAEF

Voters in Gordonville approved a use tax that will allow the village to better maintain its streets and voted to keep a sales tax on purchase of vehicles. The use tax passed by a vote of 87 to 63. A vote to discontinue the vehicle tax was defeated by a vote of 38 "yes" to 112 "no."

The prosecutor's race garnered much of the public attention as Welker and Bryant squared off to replace Chris Limbaugh, who resigned to take a position as general counsel to Gov. Mike Parson.

Welker said after the election Parson could appoint him to the interim prosecutor position now in advance of his beginning a full term in January.

The two candidates for Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney differed on how they would run the office while both stressed they have the legal experience to do the job,

Bryant favored using a grand jury as a prosecution tool, which eliminates the need for a preliminary hearing in a criminal case.

Welker said there are benefits to the grand jury system, but said, if elected prosecutor, most cases "would continue to be filed through the traditional system of holding preliminary hearings."

Bryant had argued he was the candidate most qualified to be prosecuting attorney, having worked in criminal law for 18 years.

Bryant practiced law and prosecuted cases in Missouri, Texas and Illinois. He currently works as a prosecutor for the Illinois Attorney General's Office in Carbondale.

Welker, who works for The Limbaugh Firm, has been involved in criminal law for five years. He said he has a broad legal background, having handled more than 100 trials and hearings in civil and criminal litigation.

Welker said there is more to the job of prosecuting attorney than being a trial attorney.

"Judgment and leadership are also required when allocating prosecutorial resources while administering an office comprised of seven assistant prosecutors and a $1.4 million budget," Welker said before Tuesday's vote.

The contest to replace retiring Judge Gary Kamp focused on legal experience.

Miller said, "I am excited about the victory." He said he believes his trial experience was a key reason why voters elected him.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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