Texas County voters selected a Republican candidate for presiding commissioner and retained the county clerk in Tuesday’s primary election.
Scott Long won a three-person race for the seat of Fred Stenger, who did not seek re-election as presiding commissioner. Long, of Cabool, defeated Bill Villapiano, of Houston, 1,876-1,340. Glenn McKinney, also of Houston, received 760 votes.
Long carried seven of 11 precincts over Villapiano, including Cabool and Houston.
Long will face Democrat Rick Dixon in the fall. He ran unopposed.
Incumbent Laura Crowley will remain county clerk after defeating challenger Brenda Jarrett, of Cabool, 2,347-1,590. Crowley carried 10 of 11 precincts. Crowley will serve a four-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2019. There is no Democrat running.
Just over 33 percent of the county’s 15,651 registered voters cast ballots.
Running unopposed were incumbents State Rep. Robert Ross, Circuit Judge Bill Hickle, Associate Circuit Judge Doug Gaston, Circuit Clerk Marci Mosley, Recorder of Deeds Lindsay Koch and Prosecutor Parke Stevens Jr.. All are Republicans and face no opposition in the fall.
In November, U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, a Salem Republican, will oppose Democrat Kathy Ellis of Jefferson County.
County voters opposed Proposition A – a “right to work” measure – 2,970 to 2,240.
On the Republican Ticket for Senator, Josh Hawley received 2,311 votes to easily lead an 11-person field. No other person received more than 275 votes.
On the Democratic side, incumbent Claire McCaskill received 82.2 percent of the votes in the Senate race.
County voters favored Paul Curtman in the Republican race for state auditor. He received 1,063 votes compared to 979 for Saundra McDowell and 861 for David Wasinger.
Democrat Nicole Galloway, the incumbent, ran unopposed.
Just under 80 percent of the county ballots (4,190) voted on the Republican side.