Only 21 votes separated two Republican challengers Tuesday wanting to wear the sheriff’s badge in Texas County. The race was one of several on the August Primary ballot.
The centerpiece election — a replacement for retiring Sheriff Carl Watson — was the closest of the evening, with Cabool resident James Sigman narrowly edging Tim Ceplina of Houston 2,117-2,096 to win the Republican nomination for sheriff. Challenger Wes Ellison of Willow Springs had 1,167 votes.
Sigman will face Democrat Melissa Dunn of Houston. She was unopposed.
Sigman picked up a 457-vote margin in his hometown precinct and Ceplina won Houston by 419 votes. Ceplina, who also took Licking, won in six precincts, while Sigman picked up four.
The closeness of the race opens the door for a possible recount. Currently, candidates for public office in the state can request a recount if they lose by less than 1 percent of the total vote, which was 5,380 for the sheriff’s job.
Texas County voters elected a new state representative and narrowly decided a county commissioner’s race in heavier than expected voting.
Robert Ross, an Eunice surveyor, scored a victory to become the area’s next state representative. Ross won in six of 11 precincts and used Texas County margins in Houston and Summersville to win the two-year term. The county vote was: Ross, 1,802; Don Bordwell, 1,524; Chris Purvis, 1,051; and Ted Sheppard, 921.
In the district, which includes Mountain View and portions of Pulaski and Phelps counties, Ross won by 118 votes over Bordwell, according to unofficial tallies. There is no Democrat seeking the office.
The other close race of the night was the Republican nomination for District 2 commissioner. Incumbent Linda Garrett won over Jeff Breedlove, 1,129-1,016. Both are from Licking. Garrett lost in her hometown, but picked up victories in five of seven precincts. She will face Democrat Ron Kramer of Raymondville in the fall.
Assessor Debbie James, a Solo Republican, was re-elected to a four-year term over Kevin McGowen of Houston, 2,959-2,388. No Democrat filed. James scored big victories at Cabool and Dunn — and in seven of 11 precincts — to capture another term.
About 40 percent of the county’s 15,801 voters — 6,326 — traveled to polls on Tuesday. That was just slightly higher than the 35 percent predicted by County Clerk Don Troutman. In Houston, about 44 percent — 1,631 — voted.
In other fall races:
––District I Commissioner John Casey, a Houston Republican, will oppose Democrat Rose Ward of Houston.
––Collector-Treasurer Tammy Cantrell, a Houston Democrat, will face Republican Jack Hines of Willow Springs.
––Public Administrator Theresa Campbell of Cabool, a Democrat, will be challenged by Connie Thompson of Cabool, a Republican.
––Two associate judges, Colin Long of Waynesville, a Democrat, and Bill Hickle of Rolla, a Republican, will oppose each other to replace retiring Circuit Judge Tracy Storie of Waynesville.
Running unopposed and winning a four-year term were Coroner Thomas Whittaker of Cabool, a Democrat; and Republican Chuck Manier of Houston, who filed for county surveyor.
U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, scored an easy victory over Bob Parker of Raymondville, winning by a 2-to-1 margin. In county voting, Emerson won over Parker, 2,940-2,363. She’ll be opposed by Jack Rushin, a Democrat, in November.
Former State Rep. Mike Cunningham of Rogersville will become the area’s next state senator. He held back a challenge from Rep. Ward Franz of West Plains and Rep. Don Wells of Cabool. The count in the 33rd District was Cunningham, 11,871; Franz, 10,549; and Wells, 9,564. Texas Countians gave a big margin to Wells, who won over both challengers by about 3,200 votes. Wells could not seek re-election due to term limits.
In statewide voting: U.S. Rep. Todd Akin of St. Louis won over Rolla’s Sarah Steelman and businessman John Brunner of St. Louis to capture the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. He’ll oppose U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, in the fall. County voters supported their neighbor, Steelman, over Akin, 2,373-1,868.
Other state voting: Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, will face Dave Spence in November; Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder beat back a challenge from Brad Lager to win the GOP nomination. He will be opposed by Susan Montee, a former Democratic state auditor. In the secretary of state’s race, it will be Democrat Jason Kander against Shane Shoeller, who survived a close primary against two GOP challengers. State Treasurer Clint Zweifel, a Democrat, will face a challenge from Republican Cole McNary. Attorney General Chris Koster will oppose Ed Martin, a Republican.
Raymondville patrons approved extending the school district’s current levy, 264-70.
County voters overwhelming approved Constitutional Amendment No. 2 on prayer, 5,537-439.
A precinct-by-precinct election table appears in this week’s Houston Herald.