MARIES COUNTY — Maries County voters headed to the polls Tuesday, Aug. 4, to cast ballots in Missouri’s primary election, selecting party nominees for county, state and federal offices while also weighing in on four proposed amendments to the Missouri Constitution.

County Clerk Rhonda Rodgers initially predicted a 40 percent turnout in the election, but told the state election authority 43 percent. However, the predictions weren’t looking good. As of July 20, the county had only received 57 absentee votes. However, by Aug. 3, the day before the election, about 181 absentee ballots had been cast, which brought turnout closer to her original prediction.

According to unofficial results from the Maries County Clerk’s Office, 2,615 ballots were cast from 6,366 registered voters, representing 41.08 percent voter turnout.

The unofficial statewide results from the Missouri Secretary of State website as of 11:15 a.m. on Aug. 5 are as follows.

Maries County Presiding Commissioner

Republican candidates for presiding commissioner were Vienna Police Chief Shannon W. Thompson, who received 804 votes (38.01 percent), while incumbent Vic Stratman received 1,311 (61.99 percent). Stratman secured the GOP nomination.

Stratman said he appreciates that people voted.

“I’ll continue to do the best job I can,” Stratman said after the election.

Thompson said he believes that the county is still “in good hands.”

“Vic’s got a good, strong track record, and I think he’ll do a good job continuing forward,” Thompson said.

Maries County Prosecuting Attorney

In the prosecuting attorney race, Kathleen (Katy) Slone received 1,106 votes (51.44 percent), while incumbent Tony Skouby received 1,044 (48.56 percent). Slone secured the GOP nomination.

“Your voice has been heard, and I look forward to serving you and doing everything I can to help Maries County,” Slone said.

Slone said that she expects a smooth transition with Skouby.

Skouby said he was grateful for his time with the county.

“I wish the citizens of Maries County the best of luck, and thank you for the eight years that I’ve had,” Skouby said.

Maries County resident Daryl White Sr. handed out campaign materials for Kathleen Slone in Belle and was vocal of his support to those visiting his polling location. He said that amendment issues on the ballot were important but that he was more concerned with the prosecuting attorney race.

“We need someone to handle things,” White said. “Someone who will do it right.”

Missouri’s 5th Congressional District

In the Republican primary for Missouri’s 5th Congressional District, Brad Patty received 244 votes (12.90 percent) in Maries County, Brett Hueffmeier received 265 (14.01 percent), Taylor Burks received 505 (26.71 percent), Rick Brattin received 692 (36.59 percent), Berton A. Knox received 61 (3.23 percent) and Micah Beebe received 124 (6.56 percent). Brattin took the GOP nomination with 44.97 percent in the district overall.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, Democrat incumbent, ran unopposed and received 273 votes. Libertarian candidate Randall (Randy) Langkraehr also ran unopposed and received six votes.

16th State Senate District

The GOP primary for state Senate District 16 featured a four-candidate race. Bill Hardwick received 1,160 votes (55.24 percent) in Maries County, Philip Lohmann received 128 (6.10 percent), Don Mayhew received 404 (19.24 percent) and Hannah Kelly received 408 (19.43 percent). Hardwick secured the GOP nomination with 43.11 percent in the district overall.

Virginia Staabs ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and received 267 votes.

143rd State House District

Both parties for the 143rd House District had uncontested primaries. GOP incumbent Bennie Cook received 1,894 votes in Maries County, and Democrat Marsha Snodgrass received 276 votes.

State Auditor

In the GOP primary for Missouri State Auditor, Scott Fitzpatrick received 1,691 votes (87.25 percent) in Maries County, while Gerald (Jerry) Wistrand Jr. received 247 votes (12.75 percent). Fitzpatrick secured the nomination with 85.54 percent statewide.

In the Democratic primary, Quentin Wilson received 185 votes (68.01 percent) while Gregory Upchurch received 87 (31.99 percent). Wilson secured the nomination with 67.84 percent statewide.

Libertarian candidate Dustin Coffell ran unopposed and received six votes.

GOP Uncontested Races

GOP candidates running unopposed included Kerry Glen Rowden for associate circuit judge with 1,857, Beth T. Wulff for collector of revenue received 1,909 and Angie Pasley for treasurer 1,868 votes respectively.

Democrat Uncontested Races

Other uncontested races in the Democratic primary included Mark A. Buschmann for circuit court clerk and Rodgers for county clerk. Buschmann and Rodgers both received 277 votes.

Amendment 1

Amendment 1 asked voters whether Missouri should continue for another 10 years the existing 0.1 percent sales and use tax supporting soil and water conservation, state parks and historic sites.

The measure passed with 1,923 yes votes (74.19 percent) in Maries County and 1,141,865 votes (82.29 percent) statewide. The measure received 669 no votes (25.81 percent) and 245,778 votes (17.71 percent) statewide.

Amendment 2

Amendment 2 asked whether all charter counties should be required to elect a county assessor and whether charter-county assessors should meet training requirements established by state law.

The measure passed with 1,788 yes votes (70.81 percent) in Maries County and 1,042,413 votes (76.92 percent) statewide. The measure received 737 no votes (29.19 percent) and 312,713 votes (23.08 percent) statewide.

Amendment 4

Amendment 4 proposed requiring citizen-initiated constitutional amendments to receive majority approval statewide and in each congressional district while requiring the full text of initiative petitions to be available to voters with their ballots.

The measure failed with 2,126 no votes (82.15 percent) in Maries County and 1,122,748 votes (80.32 percent) statewide. The measure received 462 yes votes (17.85 percent) and 275,040 votes (19.68 percent) statewide.

Amendment 5

Amendment 5 proposed phasing out Missouri’s individual income tax based on revenue growth while authorizing expanded sales and use taxes and requiring local tax-rate reductions under certain circumstances.

The measure failed with 2,328 no votes (89.92 percent) in Maries County and 1,165,085 votes (83.32 percent) statewide. The measure received 261 yes votes (10.08 percent) and 233,309 votes (16.68 percent) statewide.