Large turnout propels incumbent victories in Bollinger County

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- With huge numbers turning out for Tuesday's primary election, Bollinger County voters gave large victories to incumbent Sheriff Terry Wiseman and county commissioner Wayne Whitener but gave Assessor James M. Bollinger a few tense moments with his squeaker win over challenger Richard VanGennip.

Bollinger County voters gave overwhelming support at the ballot box to the constitutional amendment that defined marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman.

In the contested county races, Whitener beat challenger Chuck Stratton in the commissioner race with 75 percent of the Republican vote, winning 1,065 votes to 212.

'Vote of confidence'"I appreciate the vote of confidence shown by the voters today," Whitener said after the votes were tallied. "I've worked hard these past four years and look forward to another four years."

That sets up a contest in the November general election with Democrat Gary Beal, who beat his challenger Wyatt Bollinger 308 to 107.

"I'm well satisfied," Beal said of the final tally. "I'm going to just keep doing what I'm doing."

The sheriff's race was equally strong, with Wiseman, a Republican, capturing 74 percent of the vote to challenger Scott Shaffer's 19 percent. Wiseman won with 1,762 to Shaffer's 452.

Wiseman will now face Democrat Andrew Wiesner, who beat Lee Sims and Mark E. Sitzes on the Democratic ballot.

One of the closest races was between Assessor James M. Bollinger, who beat his Republican rival with 49.5 percent of the vote compared to 44.6 percent for VanGennip. He won by just 116 votes. At one point there was a one-vote margin.

Bollinger admitted to tense moments "at certain times" throughout the night. But he said he still felt good about the election.

"He ran a good race," Bollinger said. "That's part of it. Anybody has the privilege to run."

Since Bollinger is unopposed in the general election, he automatically retains his seat.

In other contested races, Republican Larry Welker won his race for public administrator, meaning he will face Democrat Michael Lutes.

Bollinger County voters overwhelmingly voted for Amendment 2, the constitutional amendment that would define marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman. Voters cast 3,094 votes in favor and 390 against.