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Texas County voters will travel to polls today (Tuesday, April 8) to decide several races and issues. Everything from municipal races to taxes is on the ballot.
Polls close at 7 p.m.
Here is a look at contested races. A sample ballot appeared in last week’s Houston Herald.
HOSPITAL BOARD
Four candidates are vying for one, five-year position on the Texas County Memorial Hospital board of trustees: George Sholtz, Marie Lasater, Chelsye Scantlin and Jerri Sue Crump.
COUNCILS
Sam Kelley, Kevin Stilley and JD Hatcher are running for Houston mayor. For council seats, Adam Vandiver is running uncontested in Ward I, Brittany Weinpert, David Weybright and Ann Tottingham are running for Ward II and Morgan Patterson and Kimberly Bittle are running for Ward III. All are two-year terms.
In Cabool, three races are uncontested: Jerald Sigman, city marshal; Brad Roberts, Ward I; and Debbie Stoutenborough, Ward II.
In Licking, Danny Wade, Ward I, and Fred Rinne, Ward II, are running uncontested. Only a “write-in” option is available for mayor after the death of Keith Cantrell. Three persons have declared as write-in candidates: Sean Shearing, Tina Sisco and Scott Ogden. In Mountain Grove, Webb Friend, Fred VanBibber and David Todd are running for mayor. Dean Curtis and Wayne Shelley will contest a Ward I seat. Danny Bledsoe is running uncontested for marshal/ex-officio collector.
Theresa Ryan and Danny Loughridge are running for a two-year term as a village trustee in Plato. There are three seats available. In Raymondville, Donald Ray Barton Jr., Donald Buchanan and Earleen Holder are running for three seats as village trustees.
SCHOOL BOARDS
Two, three-year terms will be decided on the Cabool and Licking boards of education. In Cabool, Shaun E. Watson, James Coffman, Jacob Reese and Michael Warneke are on the ballot. Contestants for Licking are Jake Floyd, Heidi Moloney and Joseph L. Satterfield.
A three-year and one-year term are available in Mountain Grove. For the three-year term, Howard Hawkins, Jay Loveland, Logan Williams, Amanda Owens and Zach Richardson are candidates. Shawna Plummer and Sheena White will contest the one-year term.
In Mountain View, Mikael Orchard and Josh Roberts are contesting a three-year term. In Willow Springs, Roger Shanks, Lori Foster and Meagan Jones are running for a three-year term.
A three-year term is being contested in Plato and Success. In Plato, candidates are Don Rose, Patty Handley and Bonnie Cotrel. Two will be elected. Brody Hayes, Douglas Suda, Bill R. Nemyer, Charles Boone Jr., Harvey Moore and Beth McNew are Success candidates for three spots.
TOWNSHIPS
In Cass Township, Shawn Patton and Daniel Floyd are running for two seats as board members. Heather Decker is running uncontested for treasurer. There is no candidate for clerk.
In Ozark Township, there are no candidates for two board member positions, clerk or treasurer. The same is true in Sargent and Upton townships.
In Pierce Township, Larry Curnutt, Jeff Malam and Fred W. Wagner are running for two board member seats. John Thobe and Kayla Brown will contest the clerk’s race. Bradley Belt is running uncontested for treasurer.
In Sherrill Township, Joseph T. Clevenger, Leroy Lane, Roy Ogden and Roy A. Cook are running for two board member seats. Vanessa J. Haneline is running uncontested for clerk and Brandi Smith is running uncontested for treasurer.
BALLOT ISSUES
Senior Tax Credit: Shall the County of Texas exempt senior citizens aged 62 and older from increases in the property tax liability due on such senior citizens’ primary residence?
Houston Sales Tax: Shall the municipality of Houston, Missouri, continue a sales tax for transportation purposes, at the rate of ¼ (one-fourth) of one percent on the receipts of all retail sales of property or services with the City which are subject to taxation by the State of Missouri under the provisions of Section 144.010 of 144.510 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, as amended, for an additional five years?
Cabool Sales Tax: Shall the City of Cabool, Missouri renew a sales tax of one-half of one percent (½%) for transportation purposes, for a period of five (5) years from the date on which such tax is first imposed?
Raymondville Online Sales Tax: Shall the village of Raymondville impose a local use tax at the same as the total local sales tax rate provided that if the local sales tax rate is reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate shall also be reduced or raised by the same action?
All require a simple majority for passage.
Election returns will appear at houstonherald.com after polls close at 7 p.m.