STODDARD VOTERS DEFEAT USE-TAX

BLOOMFIELD -- Voters in Stoddard County said no to a measure that would have imposed a local use tax on out-of-state purchases in Tuesday's election.

Unofficial vote totals showed 3,725 people voted no and 2,999 people voted yes.

The tax would have been at the same rate as the local sales tax -- currently 1.375 percent -- and would rise, fall or be repealed in accordance with the local sales tax.

The purpose of the tax was to eliminate the sales tax advantage non-Missouri vendors have over local vendors. The tax needed to be passed by both city and county voters to be approved. Bloomfield previously passed the tax. Dexter, Advance and Bernie voters considered the measure in Tuesday's election.

Filing a use tax return would be required only of people who purchase more than $2,000 in goods from out-of-state vendors within a calendar year.

Shelley Edwards McClintock defeated Kenneth Carney for the position of collector in Liberty township. McClintock had 2,133 votes and Carney had 1,282 votes.

Voters in the township chose Herman "Jack" Jackson and Charley "Pete" Pyle to sit on the township board. Jackson had 1,563 votes. Pyle had 1,685. They defeated Kenneth Fortner, who had 1,251 votes, Jimmy Thompson, who had 477 votes, and Sidney Johnson, who had 471 votes.

Norman Capps was elected Liberty Township clerk and Charlie E. Jennings was elected treasurer/trustee. Both were unopposed.

In Bloomfield, Luther Burns won the race for mayor with 322 votes. He defeated Charles C. Glass, who had 106 votes, Robert A. McRoy, who had 54 votes, and Rickie A. Rhine, who had 22 votes. Incumbent Ryan Mayo did not run.

Hazel D. Williams was elected collector and Tony Thorn was elected Ward 2 alderman. Both were unopposed.

In Castor Township, incumbent Jerry D. Moore and Verlon Phillips were elected to the township board. Moore had 711 votes. Phillips had 547. They defeated Patrick R. Merick, who had 223 votes, Greg Lintz, who had 327 votes, and Kevin Murdaugh, who had 109 votes.

David Gard is the new township treasurer/trustee with 550 votes. He defeated incumbent Glen A. Hollis, who had 436 votes, and Jeffrey S. Dixon, who had 210 votes.

Lana Sizemore defeated Bill Poeppelmeyer for collector, 704 to 433.

Township voters also said no to a proposal that would have allowed its general road district to authorize an additional tax levy of 35 cents on one hundred dollars assessed valuation for four years. Yes votes totaled 355, no votes were 861.