Perry County voters say yes to road tax

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Voters in Perry County passed a 3/8 of one percent sales tax for road improvements Tuesday. The measure was approved by a margin of 623 votes: 2,702 voting yes and 2,079 opposing.

Sheriff Gary Schaaf easily won over his Republican opponent Michael C. Miller. Schaaf will face Democrat Joseph McAtee in November.

Two new faces will be seen on the county commission. Second district commissioner Dennis Lohmann lost to Edwin W. Stueve Jr. by 201 votes. Stueve and Lohmann were unreachable for comment Tuesday night.

The first district commissioner race was an open one; the incumbent commissioner, Pat Heaps, did not seek re-election. Former state legislator Patrick Naeger defeated three opponents, James Thompson, Alan Frentzel and Carl Leuckel Jr.

Naeger said this election was one of the closest races he had ever won, and said his opponents were "quality people."

"I am very pleased to go up against three really good guys in the community and come out on top," Naeger said. "I'm excited about it; there are a lot of challenges ahead."

Naeger, 39, mentioned the road and bridge tax Perry County voters just passed as one of those challenges.

'Very progressive'

"It bodes well for the people in Perry County," he said. "They're very progressive, looking to the future and not only did they say yes to the sales tax they also said yes to me as a person to oversee how the sales tax is being spent."

Schaaf's campaign for sheriff isn't over yet. The sheriff is the only Perry County candidate who faces an opponent in November. He defeated Republican primary opponent Miller, who once worked for him when he was Perryville chief of police. He will next face McAtee, who twice worked for him in the sheriff's department and still has a commission and works as a reserve deputy.

Schaaf said he feels good about the vote of confidence Perry County gave him Tuesday.

"I think the years I have been in law enforcement and spent as chief of police in Perryville and now sheriff have paid off," he said. "I will have a short rest period and just get busy for the general election coming up in November and hope for the best."

The office of public administrator was open; incumbent Jim Taylor did not seek re-election. Tammy Tarrillion easily won over challengers Diann Mueller and Stacy Tucker. Tarrillion was not available for comment Tuesday night.

lredeffer@semissourian.com

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