MOSS EDGES DIX IN CLOSE RACE FOR JUDGE

JACKSON -- In the closest primary contest of the night, Allen Moss nudged Jeff Dix by a 133-vote margin to capture the Republican nomination for Cape Girardeau County Division IV associate circuit judge.

Moss and Dix waged aggressive campaigns focused heavily on an issue raised by Dix to have Division IV serve as a family court. Dix, 34, made the family court idea a central theme of his campaign.

Moss, 33, did not oppose the idea of a family court, but argued the concept needed to be studied closely. Moss said he would be prepared to handle any cases assigned to him by the presiding circuit judge.

Moss and Dix had similar experience to offer voters. As the Republican Party nominee, Moss will face Democrat Pete Statler in November.

Tuesday's vote was Moss 4,140 and Dix 4,007. Division IV Judge Marybelle Mueller is retiring.

Moss credited his victory to a door-to-door campaign and a focus on voters in all parts of the county.

"There is no substitute for looking a voter in the eye and asking for their support," said Moss. "I took my case to the people."

Moss held a slight edge over Dix most of the night.

In the other contested primary race for a county office, Darlene Bonney easily defeated Cheryl D. Stoffregen for the Republican nomination for recorder of deeds, 5,108 to 2,695. Bonney will meet Democratic incumbent Janet Robert in the Nov. 8 general election.

County Clerk Rodney Miller reported that about 35 percent of the county's registered voters turned out for the election.

"Everything went pretty smooth. It was a fairly typical election," said Miller.

An official canvass of the returns will be conducted today at the clerk's office.

With only one contested Democratic race and five Republican races, far more GOP ballots were voted. A total of 8,822 Republican ballots were taken and 3,119 Democratic ballots.

In contested races for the U.S. Senate and 8th District congressman, Cape County voters followed statewide trends.

Republican John Ashcroft captured 84 percent of the vote in Cape County for the U.S. Senate. Ashcroft received 6,817 votes, followed by Joseph A. Schwan with 410, Doug Jones 361, Joyce Lea 300, and Ronald Halstead 198.

On the Democratic side, nearly 45 percent of Cape County voters backed U.S. Rep. Alan Wheat for the Senate nomination. Wheat, who narrowly won the nomination statewide, received 1,292 votes in the county, compared with 971 for Jackson County Executive Marsha Murphy.

Totals for other Democratic candidates were: Jim Thomas 428, Gerald Ortbals 71, Ned Sutherland 48, Nicholas Clement 47, and Jim Hawley 33.

James L. (Jay) Thompson, who won the Democratic nomination for Congress in the 8th District, ran strong in Cape County with 45 percent of the vote. Thompson received 1,244 votes, followed by Thad Bullock with 588, Don Hager 503, and Gene Curtis 404.

Democrats running unopposed in the primary and their vote totals were: Steve Danner, state auditor, 2,331; Melinda McCulley, state representative 158th District, 1,323; John Grimm, circuit judge, 2,427; Gary Robbins, Division III associate circuit judge, 2,070; Pete Statler, Division IV associate circuit judge, 2,176; Jack Piepenbrok, 1st District associate commissioner, 1,009; Charles P. Hutson, circuit clerk, 2,362; Rodney Miller, county clerk, 2,453; and Janet Robert, recorder, 2,217.

Republicans running unopposed in the primary and their vote totals were: Margaret Kelly, state auditor, 7,137; Bill Emerson, 8th District congressman, 7,703; David Schwab, state representative, 157th District, 4,141; Mary Kasten, state representative, 158th District, 3,313; Ben Lewis, circuit judge, 6,804; Gary Kamp, Division III associate circuit judge, 5,975; Laura A. Beggs, county clerk, 6,536; Morley Swingle, prosecuting attorney, 7,366; Harold Kuehle, county collector, 7,373; and H. Weldon Macke, auditor, 7,055.