By MATT PIKE
Numbers are finalized and results are in for the April General election around the area, below taking a look at some of the election results from the surrounding counties.
Buchanan County
St. Joseph voters elected a new Mayor, new City Council members, and two new members to the Board of Education. Also among the issues for voters throughout Buchanan County was a tax question regarding property tax credits for senior citizens.
Larry Miller was elected St. Joseph Mayor over incumbent John Josendale. Miller received 4,588 votes, just 52.07% to Josendale's 4,158 votes, or 47.19%. For the St. Joseph City Council members, two were running unopposed, with Madison Davis and Jason Eslinger retaining their seats on the council in Districts one and two respectively.
In District three, Andrew Trout trailed throughout most of the night but pulled ahead at the end over Dana Stickley. Trout received 1,765 votes, or 50.65%, while Stickley got 1,713 votes, or 49.15%. District four's seat saw a change as Russell Moore received 969 votes, or 55.4%, to unseat Michael Grimm who received 771 votes, or 44%.
With four At Large seats to be filled, two incumbent council members retained their seats, while two new members were elected. Gary Wilkinson received the most votes with 5,276, or 16.8%. Incumbent Randy Schultz was just behind him with 4,068 votes, or 12.97%, while Collin Clibon received 4,023 votes, or 12.83%. Marty Novak received 3,903 votes, or 12.45%, for the final elected seat.
Two spots on the St. Joseph Board of Education were filled. Cassandra Veale received the most votes with 3,954, or 22.7%, and Jacob McMillian received 3,384 or 19.06%. McMillian and Veale will be sworn in on the April 13th School Board meeting.
Residents in Buchanan County will see new limits imposed on property tax increases under a measure overwhelmingly approved. 7,095 voters, or 70%, voted yes on the measure, with just 3,008, or 29.7%, voting no. The measure would allow for increases up to 5% per year however, or the percentage increase of the Consumer Price Index, a key measure of the average change over time in prices paid by consumers and used to calculate inflation.
Outside of St. Joseph in the surrounding Buchanan County, three new School Board members were voted in the Mid-Buchanan School District, including, Julie Barnett, Darrin Rumpf, and Angie Springs. The North Platte School District also elected three new board members with Jeff Hinton, James Kubly, and Rebecca Hoffman.
Voter turnout in Buchanan County for the April election was 19.3%.
Clinton County
One of the biggest measures on the ballot in Clinton County was a sales tax question, that would impose a county wide sales tax in order to help add a new 56 bed detention center at the Clinton County courthouse, as well as remodel courtrooms and judicial offices.
Clinton County voters voted no on the question, with 1,484 votes, or 55.29%, to 1,200 yes votes, or 44.71%. Voters also voted in Clinton County on the measure of property tax increases. The measure received overwhelming approval as well among voters in the county with 1,878, or 71.6%, voting yes and 745, or 28.4%, voting no.
Unofficial voter turnout in Clinton County was at 17.4%.
Nodaway County
The city of Maryville had two current members of the city council earn three year terms Erin Allen received the most votes to retain her seat with 785, or 41.49%. Bryan Williams received 561 votes, or 29.65%, for the other seat. Stephanie Campbell had 546 votes, or 28.86%. Benjamin Lipiec, who currently serves on the Maryville city council, earned a two year term running unopposed.
The other big issue on the ballot for Maryville voters was Proposition Spoofhound for the Maryville School District, a tax levy which would help benefit teacher salaries along with operating costs within the district and student programing. The levy passed with 909 yes votes, or 60%, to 604 no votes, or 39.9%.
Unofficial voter turnout in Nodaway County was 18.41%
Andrew County
A 911 sales tax in Andrew County that would help provide central dispatching of law enforcement services in the county received overwhelming support.
Andrew County voters approved the measure with 1,252 yes votes, or 73%, with 455 no votes, or 27%. Like many other counties, the tax measure for new limits on imposed property taxes also passed overwhelmingly with 1,226 yes votes, or 73%, to 458 no votes, or 27%.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.