Three local races, all focused in the judicial system, make up what is sure to be a hotly-debated election even after the polls are closed.
First on the ballot listing is circuit judge for Circuit 42, a race between republican Megan Seay and incumbent democrat Sid Pearson, having served in the position since his election in 2012. In the Aug. primary Seay beat out opponents Scott Bernstein and Glenn Hall with 2,348 votes compared to 534 and 397 votes respectively.
In the run for associate circuit judge is republican Nathan T. Kelsaw and incumbent democrat Brandi L. Baird. Kelsaw currently acts as a private attorney in his practice and serves as assistant prosecutor for both Dent and Texas County. Baird previously served as the Dent County Prosecuting Attorney in 2009 and was elected as associate circuit judge in 2011.
The last contested race on the ballot is between republican incumbent Andrew Curley and democrat opponent William Camm Seay for the office of Prosecuting Attorney. Curley served as assistant prosecutor for the city of Sunrise Beach from 2008 to 2010, then was elected Dent County Prosecutor following a special election in 2013, having held the position following his re-election in 2015. Seay has previously been prosecuting attorney for Dent County in 1982, was elected as 42nd Judicial Circuit Judge in 1994, prosecuting attorney of Crawford County in 2010 and appointed as Salem’s city attorney in 2012.
Outside of the office races include seven other ballot propositions and amendments, three of which deal with legal medical marijuana use in Missouri.
Beginning at the top of the ballot you will see Amendment 1, a lobbying and campaign finance initiative that will also “change the process and criteria for redrawing state legislative district boundaries during reapportionment (redistricting),” according to the State Secretary’s “Fair Ballot Language.” This amendment would also require all legislative records and proceedings to be open to the public, prohibit political fundraising by candidates on State property, prohibit state legislators and their employees from serving as paid lobbyists for a period of time and establish a limit on gifts that state legislators and their employees can accept from paid lobbyists.
In the case of three marijuana ballot measures, proponents show use in the measures for raising some tax money that can be used for good causes, such as veterans’ affairs and cancer research.
According to the Secretary of State’s office, the Amendment 2 will create regulations and licensing procedures for the dispensary, cultivation, testing and marijuana-infused product manufacturing facilities. It imposes a four percent tax on marijuana sales at the dispensary facilities. This measure would take funds raised and place it towards health and care services for military veterans by the Missouri Veterans Commission. On the ballot, it is stated that the amendment would raise an estimated $18 million for state operating costs and veterans’ programs.
Amendment 3 is the second proposed addition that would legalize medical marijuana. This measure would also create regulations and licensing procedures for the sell of marijuana and marijuana facilities, this time with a 15 percent tax on the sale. Funds for this addition would go towards the establishing and funding of a state research institute focused on developing cures and treatments for cancer and other incurable diseases. This amendment would make Brad Bradshaw, a lawyer and physician out of Springfield, the research chairperson and sole appointer of the board that would oversee regulations and licensing procedures for medical marijuana and its facilities.
Proposition C would legalize marijuana and regulate it with a two percent retail sales tax. Money raised would go to the Division of Liquor Control to regulate it, as well as to agencies for veterans’ services, drug treatment, early childhood education and public safety in cities with a medical marijuana facility.
In the case of these items, if the two amendments were both approved the one receiving the most affirmative votes would prevail, with both amendments superseding Prop. C. Unlike the proposed amendments, Prop. C would only change state law, not the Missouri Constitution, and could then be killed on arrival by state lawmakers.
Amendment 4 would change the Missouri Constitution to remove language limiting bingo game advertising that a court ruled was unconstitutional and not enforceable. It will also allow a member of a licensed organization conducting bingo games to participate in the management of bingo games after being a member of the organization for six months. Currently, the constitution requires two years of membership.
Proposition B would raise Missouri’s minimum wage in steps from $8.60 per hour on Jan. 1, 2019, to $12 per hour on Jan. 1, 2023. This proposition would exempt government employers from the requirement. There would also be an increase in penalty for the private sector for paying a worker below the minimum wage. The ballot states that there is no estimated direct costs or savings from the proposal outside of operating costs, according to state and local governments.
Proposition D would raise the fuel tax, now 17 cents per gallon, to 19.5 cents on July 1, 2019, and again each July 1, until it reaches 27 cents per gallon on July 1, 2022. The purpose of this proposition would be to fund the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s enforcement and administration of motor vehicle laws and traffic regulations. This would free up fuel tax money for use on road and bridge construction, officials say, though that is not spelled out on the ballot.
State races and unopposed races you will see on the ballot are as follows:
For U.S. senator:
Josh Hawley, Republican
Claire McCaskill, Democrat
Japheth Campbell, Libertarian
Jo Crain, Green
Craig O’Dear, Independent
For Missouri auditor:
Sundra McDowell, Republican
Nicole Galloway, Democrat
Sean O’Toole, Libertarian
Don Fitz, Green
Jacob Luetkemeyer, Constitution
For U.S. Representative, Eighth District:
Jason Smith, Republican
Kathy Ellis, Democrat
Jonathan L. Shell, Libertarian
For 16th District Missouri senator:
Justin Dan Brown, Republican
Ryan Dillon, Democrat
For 143rd District state representative: Jeffrey Pogue, Republican
For Dent County presiding commissioner: Darrell Skiles, Republican
For Dent County clerk, Angie Curley, Democrat
For Dent County circuit court clerk, Becky (Goforth) Swiney, Democrat
For Dent County recorder of deeds, Cindy (Edwards) Ard, Republican
For Dent County treasurer, Denita Williams, Republican
For Dent County collector of revenue, Shannon VanKirk, Republican
For Dent County Public Administrator, Sherida Cook, Republican.
On the official judicial ballot, Brent Powell, Mary Rhodes Russell and Jeffrey Bates are up for the retaining of their offices which expire Dec. 31.
