GOP INCUMENTS WIN PERRY PRIMARY RACES

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Victories in the primary election for incumbent county commissioners show Perry County residents like the direction their government is going, said Dennis Lohmann, eastern district commissioner.

Lohmann, a Republican, won by 77 votes over Edwin Stueve Jr. on Tuesday.

Incumbent Republican Michael Yamnitz had a much closer race in the western district, winning by nine votes over his nearest challenger, Eldon "Sonny" Kaufmann.

"We worked hard," Lohmann said. "We went door to door, because we felt that's what we had to do."

Lohmann spent more time visiting residents at home during this campaign than four years ago, when his margin of victory was one vote, he said.

"I spent many hours going out on the roads of the county knocking on doors and in and around the city of Perryville," Lohmann said. "This shows that the voters want to continue with our plan."

Yamnitz credited Kaufmann with working hard during the campaign. Although more subdued about his victory than Lohmann, Yamnitz still called it a vote of confidence in the commission's work.

"We've had a more active commission than this county has ever had," said Yamnitz, who has been a commissioner for eight years.

Yamnitz cited increases in staff and pay for the sheriff's department, a balanced county budget, and better dust control on county roads as some of the improvements that helped voters make their decisions on Tuesday.

"People can see step by step how this county has progressed," Yamnitz said.

Kaufmann does not view Yamnitz's victory as a mandate. During three elections, the percentage of people voting for Yamnitz has steadily declined, he said.

"It shows people want a change," Kaufmann said. "He just got enough votes to stay in there."

Voting results for other Republican candidates for eastern district commissioner were Gary Lauck, 272 votes; Charles Franke, 168; and Scott "Scottie" Buerck, 167.

Voting results for other Republican candidates for western district commissioner were Danny Valleroy, 257 votes; Wayne Terbrak, 152; and Prince Hudson, 101.

In the Democratic primary for western district commissioner, Patrick Heaps won a three-man race with 187 votes over Merlin Christisen with 142 and Jason Lee Austin with 69.

Yamnitz is now slated to face Heaps in the general election in November.