By MATT PIKE
Buchanan County voters passed Proposition K during Tuesday's General Election, while also voting in a new Presiding Commissioner voting on local office holders.
Prop K, desisigned to create dedicated funding through a quarter-cent sales tax toward children's services across the county was passed by over 54% by voters. The measure received 13,258 yes votes to 10,898 no votes. Several other counties across the state do alredy have established children’s services funds, now with Proposition K passed one would be established specifically for Buchanan County.
Among other measures voted on by Buchanan County voters, Amendment 3 received 12,724 no votes to 11,745 yes votes. Amendment 7 was also greatly opposed by voters with 14,212 no votes to 9,815 yes votes. On the other side, Amendment 6 was supported with 13,718 yes votes to 10,420 no votes, as was Amendment 8 with 13,680 yes votes and 10,388 against. Proposition A was also opposed by voters with 14,313 against and 9,712 yes votes.
In races for State Representatives and State Senators voters supported Republican Chris Stigall with 12,829 votes to Democrat Josh Smead's 10,765 votes for US Representative District 6. In the race for State Senator District 12, Republican Rusty Black received 1,675 votes to 735 votes for Democrat Judy McNeece. Republican Mike Jones got 12,795 votes to Democrat Shereka Barnes 8,816 votes for State Senator District 34.
State Representative District 10 saw voters support Republican Paul Gatewood with 4,956 votes against Democrat LaTonya Williams 4,106 votes. Repulican Taylor Crouse saw support for State Representative District 11 with 6,386 votes against 5,033 votes for Democrat Luke Rae. Voters supported Republican John Elliott fir State Representative District 13 with 2,514 votes against 1,045 for Democrat Jacoby Wynkoop. State Auditor Republican Scott Fitzpatrick received 13,421 votes.
Many of the local seats in Buchanan County were run unopposed. Voters did vote in Bill Falkner as the new Presiding Commissioner, while also voting in Buchanan County Clerk Mary Baack Garvey, Circuit Clerk Ashley Thrasher, Recorder of Deeds Becky Dunlap, Prosecuting Attorney Michelle Davidson, County Collector Peggy Campbell, and County Auditor Tara Horn. Voters also voted to retain Supreme Court Judge Paul Wilson and Western District Court of Appeals Judge Lisa White Hardwick along with voting in Associate Judge Chad Gaddie and Rebecca Spencer.
In all, 46.6% of voters turned out in Buchanan County, just under the projected 50% from the Buchanan County Clerks Office, with 24,722 ballots cast. We will have overall results from the state results through the night.
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