Republicans continue reign in Callaway County

Rep. Jeanie Riddle, R-Mokane, thanks a supporter Tuesday night at the Post Office Bar & Grill in Fulton. Riddle defeated Rep. Ed Schieffer, R-Troy, in the Senate District 10 race at 67.57 percent of the votes.
Rep. Jeanie Riddle, R-Mokane, thanks a supporter Tuesday night at the Post Office Bar & Grill in Fulton. Riddle defeated Rep. Ed Schieffer, R-Troy, in the Senate District 10 race at 67.57 percent of the votes.

From the county commission to the U.S. House of Representatives, Tuesday's general election showed Republicans have maintained their control in the county.

See all election results

The presiding county commissioner spot went to Gary Jungermann, the incumbent. Based on most recent results from the Callaway County Clerk's office, he won with 70.15 percent over his opponent, Democratic candidate Janet Gruer.

Jungermann said he looks forward to continuing his work in the commissioner's office as they face capital improvement projects - specifically at the Callaway County Jail. Because the commission has been fiscally conservative with its reserve funds, Jungermann said about $6.5 million will remain for those projects.

Overall, Jungermann said he's glad to be back as presiding commissioner.

"I'm really happy," he said. "I love what I do and I'm happy the people do too."

In a speech to supporters at a watch party Tuesday night, Gruer said that despite the loss, she hopes the Democratic campaigns in Callaway "started a conversation" about the choices residents have in their government.

She also gave thanks to one of her mentors, legislative veteran Gracia Backer who ran in the House District 49 race, and her husband, family and volunteers.

"I've been humbled by this challenge and I thank you for it," Gruer said.

photo

The Women's Auxiliary Annual Christmas

Travis Fitzwater, Republican candidate from Holts Summit in the House District 49 race, will be a newcomer to the state legislature. He defeated Gracia Backer, a former House representative of 18 years, with 61.9 percent of the vote compared to Backer's 38.02 percent. Fitzwater took 5,123 votes in Callaway County and 442 in Cole County. Backer took 3,170 Callaway votes and 245 Cole votes.

"We're going to get to Jefferson City and we're going to get to work," Fitzwater said to supporters at a watch party.

Fitzwater said he's looking forward to learning the ins and outs of being a House representative while working to better what he said is Callaway County's No. 1 priority - the economy. He credited his success to God, his family and supporters and volunteers.

While speaking to her supporters during a watch party, Backer told them to keep "their heads held high."

Backer said Callaway residents need to address the "divisiveness and bitterness" when it comes to politics and work together to find solutions. She said she decided to run in part to give constituents another option of who to send to Jefferson City.

"We wanted to give the people of this county a choice," Backer said.

Fitzwater said he has big shoes to fill, taking over for Rep. Jeanie Riddle, R-Mokane, who was victorious in the Senate District 10 race against Rep. Ed Schieffer, D-Troy.

Riddle won 67.57 percent of the votes from District 10 constituents, as of 10:20 p.m. Tuesday. Schieffer was at 32.42 percent, according to the preliminary results. Riddle earned 7,989 Callaway County votes, while Schieffer earned 2,858.

Riddle said she wants to continue working on economic development by supporting current business in Missouri and attracting more to the state. One way she plans to do that is by giving Missouri's young workforce technical training that businesses desire.

"Now, the work begins," she said.

Schieffer said Democrats faced a challenge in Missouri because of a misconception about the power of state officials and how they are tied to what happens on a federal level.

"I think Democrats took a beating this election cycle because of national politics, not state politics," he said. "Hopefully people who won will stop this gridlock and do what's best for citizens."

House District 43 incumbent Jay Houghton, R-Martinsburg, will look ahead to his third term representing northern and eastern portions of Callaway County and all of Audrain County. He won 72.96 percent over Democratic candidate Ed Lockwood from Kingdom City.

Houghton earned 1,816 votes in Callaway compared to Lockwood's 705. He also claimed the top spot in Audrain County with 3,915 votes over 1,419 votes for Lockwood.

U.S. House Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer will continue to represent District 3 as he took 68.23 percent of the votes statewide. Luetkemeyer, Republican, was the favorite in the county. Callawegians gave Luetkemeyer 7,515 votes; Democratic candidate Courtney Denton, 2,749 votes; and Libertarian Steven Hedrick 530 votes.