Democratic chairwoman voted out

Democratic voters in Tuesday's primary voted out the Cape Girardeau County Democratic chairwoman. But it doesn't indicate rejection of Brenda Woemmel's leadership -- she was campaigning for her opponent, Ellen Dillon.

The August primary every two years is when party voters select people to represent their voting precinct on the basic organizational unit of every political party -- the county central committee. Candidates file for office in late February and March, along with candidates for public offices, and names for committee posts only appear on the ballot when more than one candidate files for the same committee seat.

In Precinct 14, which votes at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 27 Democrats choose Dillon, while 23 voted for Woemmel.

Woemmel said it was time for her to step aside and allow someone else to take committee duties. She filed herself, she said, as a way of encouraging others to file.

"I encouraged Ellen to run," Woemmel said. "I think change is good. I think it is good to have new people on the central committee. I am very excited about Ellen's win."

The Democratic Central Committee must work hard to counter Republican dominance in Cape Girardeau County, Dillon said. "It will be an ongoing process of trying to strengthen the organization," she said. "Obviously we are in a vast minority."

In other committee races, Paul Allee defeated Jerome Hulehan for the Byrd 2 committeeman seat, Pamela Harris beat Deborah McBride for the Byrd 3 committeewoman slot and Alex Harris defeated Marvin McBride for the Byrd 3 committeeman post.

On the Republican side, Leonard Fritz Sander beat Tom Morris for the Byrd 2 committeeman seat and Larry Bock defeated Jeff Fanger for the Byrd 5 committeeman post.

Both parties will have organizational meetings later this month to elect officers.

-- Rudi Keller