Scott County voters favor Republicans in many races

BENTON -- Following the national trend, the majority of Scott County voters favored Republican candidates for state and congressional offices during Tuesday's election.

Nearly 43 percent of Scott County's 26,841 registered voters turned out to the polls Tuesday.

"I wish turnout would have been higher, but that's better than some elections we've had," Scott County Clerk Rita Milam said after election results were tallied Tuesday night.

By comparison, about 54 percent of the county's registered voters cast ballots in the 2006 non-presidential November election.

"Election judges said their precincts were steady with voters throughout the day," Milam said, adding the poll workers also said the election ran smoothly.

The following results, which were provided by Milam's office, are unofficial.

In Miner, voters decided to divert a portion of future tourism tax revenue. There were 256 "yes" votes and 69 "no" votes. With the approval, 35 percent of Miner's future tourism tax revenue may go toward capital improvements and 40 percent may be put into the city's general fund.

In the race for state representative of the 161st District, which includes portions of Scott, New Madrid and Mississippi Counties, votes in Scott County were 1,627 for Ron McCormick and 951 for Steve Hodges. Hodges won the overall vote, which included totals from several counties.

There were no contests in the Scott County offices this election cycle.

Democrat incumbent Circuit Court Clerk Christy M. Hency received 8,837 votes in her first bid for a full term in office. Vote totals for other Democrat incumbents were: Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger, 8,968; County Clerk Rita Milam, 9,039; Recorder Thomas R. Dirnberger, 8,977; Prosecuting Attorney Paul R. Boyd, 8,794; Collector Mark Hensley, 9,145; Treasurer Glenda K. Enderle, 8,755; Division 4 Associate Circuit Judge Hense Winchester, 8,798 votes; and Division 5 Associate Circuit Judge Scott T. Horman, 8,787 votes.

Also running unopposed was State Rep. Ellen Brandom, a Republican, in the 160th District. She received 7,446 votes.

Scott County vote totals in statewide races were as follows.

Votes in the race for U.S. Senator were: Roy Blunt, Republican, 7,664 votes; Robin Carnahan, Democrat, 3,161 votes; Jonathan Dine, Libertarian, 267 votes; and Jerry Beck, Constitution, 228 votes.

Receiving the majority of Scott County votes for the 8th District U.S. Representative were: Republican incumbent Jo Ann Emerson, who garnered 7,691 votes. Her Democratic opponent Tommy Sowers received 2,929 votes while Larry Bill, Independent candidate, netted 494 votes, and Libertarian Rick Vandeven had 251 votes.

In the state auditor race, Republican Tom Schweich had the most Scott County votes with 7,146 followed by Democrat Susan Montee, 3,468; and Libertarian Charles W. Baum, 436.

Votes received to retain the following judges were: Zel Fischer, Missouri Supreme Court, 6,445 "yes" and 3,172 "no"; Bob Barney, Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District, 6,298 "yes" and 3,257 "no"; and Don E. Burrell Jr., Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District, 6,372 "yes" votes and 3,191 "no" votes.

For the Constitution Amendment 1 issue, 8,298 voters in Scott County were in favor of amending the Missouri Constitution to require that assessors in charter counties be elected officers. There were 2,222 voters who were against the measure.

Voters were also in favor of Amendment 2 of the Missouri Constitution to exempt from property taxes all real property used as a homestead by any Missouri citizen who is a former prisoner of war with a total service-connected disability. There were 7,254 "yes" votes and 3,373 "no" votes.

Scott County voters also favored the Missouri Constitution Amendment 3 to prevent the state, counties and other political subdivisions from imposing any new tax, including a sales tax, on the sale or transfer of homes or any other real estates. Votes were 9,551 in favor of the issue and 1,477 who opposed it.

Proposition A, which dealt with the Missouri law regarding earnings taxes, received approval from Scott County voters with 8,573 "yes" votes and 2,241 "no" votes.

The majority of Scott County voters -- 6,757 to 4,402 -- opposed Proposition B which addressed large-scale dog breeding operations and "puppy mill cruelty."