On Aug. 4, Phelps County voters headed to the polls in a statewide primary election to decide which candidate their party will nominate for the Nov. 4 general election later this year. Four ballot measures with proposed amendments to Missouri’s state constitution were also put before voters.
Phelps County voters joined citizens across the state in rejecting Amendments Four, changing rules for citizen-led petitions, and Five, eliminating the state income tax.
Constitutional Amendments One, the continuation of a 1/10 soul and water tax, and Two, a requirement that the Jackson County assessor be elected instead of appointed, passed statewide. Both measures received major support from Phelps County.
State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick and U.S. Representative for Missouri’s 8th District Jason T. Smith, both incumbents, won the Republican Party primary ticket for their seats.
Bill Hardwick won the Republican Party primary for State Senator of Missouri’s 16th District with 43 percent of the vote. Hardwick defeated opponents Philip Lohmann, Don Mayhew and Hannah Kelly for the Republican Party nomination.
The current state senator Justin Brown is term-limited and did not seek reelection.
Virginia Staabs ran unopposed for the Democratic Party primary for State Senator of Missouri’s 16th District and received 2,027 votes.
Joshua Meyer won the Republican Party primary for Phelps County Recorder of Deeds, with 40 percent of the vote, and defeated Lauri Kean and Lori Lunceford.
Current Phelps County Recorder, Robin Kordes, did not seek reelection.
Jason T. Smith, who is currently serving as U.S. Representative for Missouri’s 8th congressional district, received 85 percent support in Phelps County, and defeated opponent Gordon Heslop.
Frank A. Barnitz defeated Chris Reichard with 78 percent support in Phelps County to become the presumptive Democratic Party nominee for U.S. Representative for Missouri’s 8th congressional district. Reichard said that although he was defeated, he will keep working for it.
“This isn't the end of the fight, it just moves to a different arena for me," Reichard sais. We must keep pulling together.”
Amendment One, to continue a one-tenth of one percent sales tax that funds soil and water conservation in Missouri's state parks and historic sites, passed statewide and received 80 percent support in Phelps County. The tax, which generates $140 million in revenue annually, will be resubmitted to voters in 10 years for reapproval.
Amendment Two, which requires all charter counties in Missouri to elect, rather than appoint, county assessors, also passed statewide. The measure received major support with 74 percent of voters in Phelps County voting yes.
Amendment Four, which would modify current rules that require a statewide simple majority of voters to approve citizen-initiated petitions to amend the constitution, and instead require a majority of voters in each of Missouri’s eight congressional districts to do so, was defeated statewide. A recorded 83 percent of voters in Phelps County voted against the measure.
Amendment Five, which would phase-out individual state income over a five year period, and expand sales and use taxes, was also defeated statewide. A reported 83 percent of voters in Phelps County rejected the amendment.
Polls in St. James were noticeably busier than in past elections, according to election judge Jim Fleming. “We had a line out the door from 6 a.m. until half past 7 p.m.,” Fleming said. “I’m proud to see how many folks came out.”
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins forecast an approximately 32 percent turnout rate of registered voters statewide – the highest voter turnout in a primary election since 2004. In Phelps County, 31.83 percent of registered voters showed up to vote.
This year, aside from the party primaries, two much-discussed ballot measures, constitutional Amendments Four and Five, drove Phelps County residents out to the polls.
St. James Resident Peter Dupon, said that Amendments Four and Five are what motivated him to vote.
“I don’t think minority rule should work,” Dupon said of Amendment Four.
Of Amendment Five, Dupon said, “If you get rid of income tax, you’re going to make it up somewhere, so it's coming back in the form of sales tax. I’m on a fixed income and I just can’t afford more taxes.”
Christina Loher, a resident of St. James said that she is also against Amendments Four and Five.
“I am voting heavily against amendment four and five," saidChristina Loher It's not going to help the people and give more power to the politicians, and I don’t agree with that,” Loher said. “I think Missouri could do a heck of a lot better in spending money and helping people, and they’re not.”
Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick, who won the Republican primary for his own seat with 85 percent support in Phelps County, supports Amendments Four and Five. Fitzpatrick said that the amendment, if passed, would have addressed “foundational aspects of Missouri’s constitutional integrity and economic future.” Fitzpatrick said that Amendment Four would have ensured that Missourians in both rural and economic communities “have a meaningful voice in constitutional amendments” while protecting Missouri’s constitution from “foreign and out-of-state influence.” Fitzpatrick added that Amendment Five would have lowered the tax burden on Missourians.
Quentin Wilson won the Democratic Party Primary for State Auditor with 64 percent support in Phelps County, defeating Gregory Upchurch. Wilson, the presumptive Democratic Party nominee said, “this will be the beginning of a new turnaround for Missouri. We’ve got to do better, and the state auditor can play a key role in doing that.” Wilson said.
The resounding defeat of Amendments 4 and 5 during the election shows that Missourians from across the political divide have much in common. “Defeating Amendments Four and Five shows Missourians can work together,” Wilson said.
Amendment One, which will extend for 10 years a one-tenth of one percent sales tax that funds soil and water conservation and state parks and historic sites, was also a draw for some Phelps County residents. Gregory Grey, a St. James resident and first-time voter, came out because he wanted to see Missouri’s public lands and historic sites cared for.
“It was mostly about the first amendment,” Grey said. “I care a lot about preservation.”
Prop S, a ballot measure which would impose a quarter-percent sales tax in the city of Rolla in order to fund improvements to The Centre, a municipal recreation center, passed with 53 percent support.
Military and provisional ballots have yet to be counted,and current election results are considered unofficial until they are certified by the Phelps County Commission, which will be done on Friday, Aug. 7, according to Phelps County Clerk Laura Johnson.
