Kiefer, Mason win races in Scott Co. offices

Incumbents in the commissioner's and recorder's races were victorious Tuesday night in Scott County.

With all precincts reporting from the second district, Democratic Second District Commissioner Donnie Kiefer defeated his Republican opponent Will Yates 5,739 votes to 2,588.

Kiefer, who won his commissioner's seat in 2008 with about 65 percent of the vote, will return to office after capturing almost 69 percent of the vote this time around.

Kiefer attributed his victory by being a hard worker for the citizens of Scott County.

"I got out among the people and worked for them," he said. "I worked hard and never missed a chance to talk to the people I represent in the second district. I've done my best for them."

Tara Mason

A mechanic who owns an auto-repair shop in Chaffee, Kiefer said in his next four years he plans to work with the other commissioners and office holders in Scott County.

"We may have some rough times ahead, but all of us are going to work to keep Scott County running as best it can. I appreciate the support I've had over the last four years, and I'm going to work to keep that support during the next four years. People know me, and my door is always open."

Attempts to reach Will Yates on Tuesday night were unsuccessful.

Democrat Dennis Ziegenhorn was re-elected as Scott County First District Commissioner, running unopposed.

In the race for recorder of deeds, Democrat Tara Mason, appointed as recorder in 2011 by Gov. Jay Nixon after the death of Tom Dirnberger, won the right to serve the remaining two years of Dirnberger's term by defeating Republican challenger Alan Pendergrass.

With all precincts reporting, Mason won with 9,650 votes to Pendergrass' 6,835.

Mason, who served under Dirnberger for nine years as a deputy recorder, still thinks of her predecessor as a mentor.

Pendergrass, who described himself as a fiscal conservative with 20 years of executive management experience, congratulated Mason on her victory.

"Tara ran a good race," he said, "but I'm not ashamed of the race I ran. I would've been happier with a different result, but that's the way things go."

klewis@semissourian.com

388-3635