BELLE — About 11.84 percent of voters elected four sitting members of the board of aldermen and three school board directors during the April 4 election last Tuesday.

According to the results, the previously appointed mayor, Daryl White, Jr., will retain his seat for a one-year term after pulling 139 votes in the Maries County Belle precinct and 29 votes in the Osage County Belle precinct for a total of 168 votes.

“I would like to thank the voters for all their support and I pledge to keep doing my part to move the city in the right direction,” White said.

White won against former alderman Kayla Bray, who pulled 73 votes in the Maries County Belle precinct and 27 in the Osage County Belle precinct for a total of 100 votes.

“Thank you everyone for your vote,” Bray said. “I wish Daryl the best as city mayor.”

Voters also elected the same three sitting aldermen.

Ward 2 Alderman Adam Padgett, appointed to fill the seat of former alderman Ken Stanfield in June 2022, was elected for a two-year term with 92 votes. He won against opponent John Allen Green who received 51 votes.

Ward 1 Alderman Barbara Howarth ran unopposed for a two-year term and received 53 votes in Maries County Belle precinct and 50 votes in the Osage County Belle precinct for a total of 103 votes.

Alderman James (Pudd) Mitchell was appointed to the board in January to fill former alderman Kayla Bray’s seat, which she had filled for former alderman Sundi Jo Graham. Mitchell ran unopposed for the one-year unexpired Ward 2 term and received 132 votes in Maries County Belle Precinct.

In a two-candidate race for the remaining three-year marshal’s term, Police Chief Jerry Coborn pulled ahead by 92 votes against former marshal Joe Turnbough. Coborn had 144 votes in the Maries County Belle precinct and 36 votes in the Osage County Belle precinct for a total of 180 votes.

“Thanks to everyone for coming out and voting,” Coborn said. “I intend to show up every day and be a working member of the community, protecting and serving as I have been doing.”

Turnbough pulled 67 votes in Maries County Belle precinct and 21 votes in the Osage County Belle precinct for a total of 88 votes.

“The people spoke,” Turnbough said. “It has been my honor in the past to serve them as their city marshal and I wish everyone the best.”

The Maries County R-2 Board of Education had four candidates declare for three seats.

Winners by vote were newcomer Ashley Marquart-Harris with 264 votes in Maries, 102 in Osage, and 53 in Gasconade for a total 413 votes.

Garret Bialczyk took the second open seat with 219 votes in Maries, 89 in Osage and 42 in Gasconade for a total 326 votes.

Amy Kiso won the last available seat from Brent Stratman by 11 votes. With 172 votes in Maries, 67 in Osage, and 45 in Gasconade for a total of 284 votes, Kiso will remain on the board.

Stratman came in last with 162 votes in Maries, 64 in Osage and 47 in Gasconade for a total of 273 votes.

“I would like to congratulate Amy Kiso and Garret Bialczyk on being re-elected to the Maries County R-2 Board of Education,” Stratman began. “It’s been a pleasure working with you the past six years. Our school is in good hands with you two continuing to make decisions for the students of this district! I would also like to congratulate Ashley Harrirs on getting the third seat! Good luck!”

County Court Clerk Rhonda Rodgers said the day went well and the voter turnout was higher than expected. She originally estimated a nine percent voter turnout.

“Normally on municipal elections, low turnout is expected,” Rodgers said. “With everything heated in Belle, and we had two other schools within the county that had taxes and bond issue questions, it increased it to a little over 11 percent. It’s not great, we’ve had all the way up to 12 or 13 percent.”

Some voters asked questions at the polls regarding political signs placed around town and the distance candidates have to be away from polling booths, but no one contacted either Rodgers or the polling judges about their questions. Rodgers said if anyone does have questions, they should contact her at the Maries County Courthouse.