SCHAAF ELECTED: PERRY COUNTY VOTES DOWN ROAD SALES TAX

PERRYVILLE -- Perry County voters defeated a one-fourth cent sales tax for paving heavily traveled gravel roads.

The measure went down 3,872 to 2,707.

The tax was placed on the ballot by county commissioners. It would have generated $300,000 annually for five years. Most of the tax would have gone to asphalt paving work, but some of it would have been set aside for future maintenance of the improved roads.

Eighty percent of registered voters in Perry County went to the polls, which was considered a record in recent years, according to a spokesman in the clerk's office. A total of 7,438 votes were tallied.

Also, incumbent Sheriff Franklin "Dutch" Schmidt was upset in his bid for re-election. Perryville Police Chief Gary J. Schaaf, a Republican, will be the new Perry County sheriff.

Schaaf received 4,398 ballots with 2,859 votes going to Schmidt. The incumbent was completing his 12th year in office.

In other county races, Michael Yamnitz won the county commissioner race in the Western District. He beat Democrat Nancy Smith. Yamnitz took 2,625 votes, with 1,361 ballots for Smith. The term of office is two years. Yamnitz had defeated incumbent Carl Leuckel in the August primary.

Assessor Larry W. White won re-election handily over Democrat Donald A. Welker. White won his third, four-year term with 4,375 votes. Welker tallied 2,789 ballots.

Republican John Bert was re-elected to a second, four-year term with 4,271 votes. He beat out Rueben Hotop, who received 2,785 votes.

Three incumbents won re-election, running unopposed. They are Eastern District Commissioner Melvin Moldenhauer, Coroner Patrick Naeger and Surveyor Ken Baer.

Perry County voters supported Kit Bond over Geri Rothman-Serot for U.S. Senate. Bond received 4,774 votes in Perry County, with Rothman-Serot getting 2,211 votes.

Although Mel Carnahan received the majority of votes statewide, he was not the preferred candidate in Perry County. Bill Webster received 4,020 votes, with Carnahan getting 3,076 ballots.

In the 8th District U.S. Senate race, Perry County voters favored Republican Bill Emerson, who won. In Perry County, Emerson received 5,045 votes, compared to 2,092 votes for challenger Thad Bullock.

In the 27th Senate District, Perry County voters favored Peter Kinder, who received 4,390 votes. Betty Hearnes received 2,671 ballots in Perry County.

In the 155th District state representative race, Perry County favored Herb Fallert, with 4,785 votes. James Williams received 2,230 ballots.

The race for associate circuit judge was somewhat closer in Perry County. Voters favored Bill Syler, with 3,596 votes. Peter Statler earned 3,015 votes in Perry County.