Grundy County voters said no to a tax increase and elected a new county commissioner during Tuesday’s General Election. There were 71.3 percent of the county’s 6,308 eligible voters (4,498) who cast ballots.
A 15-cent property tax hike requested by the Grundy County Nursing Home District got just 38 percent support, with 1,656 in favor while 2,680 were opposed. The issue failed to gain support in any of the county’s nine precincts as well as absentees.
The tax, if approved, would have generated around $180,000 to help with operations of the Sunnyview Nursing Home and Apartments. This was the second time a tax increase had been requested – the first being in April 2015 when the district sought a five-cent increase. That proposal was defeated 401-679.
Don Sager won election as the first district county commissioner, winning all four precincts as well as the absentees. Sager, a Republican, defeated Independent candidate Jimmie Martin 1,838-326.
All other county candidates won re-election unopposed. They include Second District Commissioner Joe Brinser, 1,993; Sheriff Rodney Herring, 3,986; Collector/Treasurer Barb Harris, 4,103; Assessor Kathy Veatch, 4,102; Public Administrator Jill Eaton, 4,130; and Coroner Dwayne Slater, 4,129. All were candidates on the Republican ticket.
Rusty Black won the Grundy County vote for Seventh District State Representative, collecting 4,049 votes in the local race. He was unopposed.
Grundy County also followed national and state trends, supporting all Republican candidates who captured their respective offices.
Republican Donald Trump received 3,462 votes for president, compared to 780 for Democrat Hillary Clinton. Other vote totals included Gary Johnson (L), 118; Darrell L. Castley (Constitution Party), 25; and Jill Stein (Green Party), 28.
Republican Roy Blunt got 2,898 votes in Grundy County to win re-election as U.S. Senator while his Democratic rival Jason Kander received 1,325. Also receiving votes were Jonathan Dine (L), 91; Fred Ryman (C), 64; and Jonathan McFarland (G), 57.
Republican U.S. Congressman Sam Graves was re-elected to the House, getting 3,531 votes in Grundy County, compared to 747 for Democrat David Blackwell, 86 for Libertarian Russ Dee Monchil and 40 for Green Party nominee Mike Diel.
Other vote totals from Grundy County in statewide races included:
Governor – Eric Greitens (R), 3,046; Chris Koster (D), 1,269; Cisse Spragins (L), 50; Don Fitz (G), 17; Lester Benton Turrill Jr. (I), 9.
Lt. Governor – Mike Parson (R), 3,064; Russ Carnahan (D), 1,092; Steven Hedrick (L), 116; Jennifer Leach (G), 101.
Secretary of State – Jay Ashcroft (R) 3,371; Robin Smith (D), 832; Chris Morrill (L), 177.
Treasurer – Eric Schmidt (R), 3,283; Judy Baker, (D), 887; Sean O’Toole (L), 110; Carol Hexem (G), 69.
Attorney General – Josh Hawley (R), 3,390; Teresa Hensley (D), 971.
Missouri voters approved Constitutional Amendment 1 (the soils and park tax), Amendment 2 (political donation limits), Amendment 4 (banning sales taxes on services that weren’t taxed as of last year) and Amendment 6 (voter identification requirement). They turned down Amendment 3 and Proposition A, both which had to do with an increase in the state cigarette tax.
The vote in Grundy County for those included Amendment 1, 3,164-1,222; Amendment 2, 2,767-1,512; Amendment 3, 1,364-2,993; Amendment 4, 2,360-1,920; Amendment 6, 2,813-1,472; and Proposition A, 1,462-2,850.
Grundy County voters also decided to retain Supreme Court Judge Richard Teitelman by a vote of 2,509-1,545.
In Daviess County, Democrat Ben Becerra won re-election as sheriff over Kevin Heldenbrand, 2,119-1,622, while Republican Gene Uthe defeated incumbent Carl Carder for District 2 Commissioner, 1,080-776. Democrat Sally Black was elected Assessor, defeating Ronetta Burton 2,557 to 1,152, and Kayla Michael, a Republican, was chosen as Public Administrator over Kathy Kryser, 2,626-933.
In Mercer County, Republican Jerry Allen defeated Duane Hobbs to serve out the remainder of a term for presiding county commissioner. Allen got 1,167 votes while Hobbs received 556 votes. Hobbs had been serving in that post since the death of Jim Mason earlier this year. Republican Shane Grooms won the District 1 County Commission race over Mike Moore, 489-367.
Livingston County voters re-elected Sheriff Steve Cox, a Republican, who defeated Democrat challenger Erick Menconi, 3,475-2,938. Republican Alvin Thompson defeated Jim Grozinger for the Easter District County Commission seat, 1,715-1,661.
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