More than 2,380 of Callaway County's 27,248 registered voters turned out to the polls on Tuesday for the general municipal election. Some officials managed to retain their spots, like the councilpersons and mayor in Mokane while other seats were shaken up, like in the South Callaway School District with two challengers taking the place of two incumbents on the district's board of education. Furthermore, New Bloomfield voters passed a no-tax increase bond issue for the school district.
All results are from preliminary election results Tuesday night.
South Callaway School Board
South Callaway's board of education will see two new members fill seats after Tuesday's election. Challengers Dawn Bailey and Micah Benningfield defeated the two incumbents Ryan Arrowood and Greg Kimminau. Bailey won with more than 26 percent of the vote and Benningfield won with more than 35 percent.
Benningfield expressed his excitement at being elected to the board.
"It's all about the teachers and staff that work at the school," Benningfield said. "The better quality teachers and staff, the better quality school."
He said that his goal is to take the positives that already exist in the school district and improve upon them.
During campaigning, Benningfield put up two signs in the area, but he attributes his success in the election to word of mouth.
Newly-elected board member Dawn Bailey was unavailable for comments.
Incumbents Arrowood and Kimminau received more than 15 percent and more than 21 percent of the vote, respectively.
New Bloomfield city votes in favor of question on ballot
New Bloomfield voters approved a ballot question in Tuesday's election that allows the city to forgo municipal elections if races are uncontested. The city will still have to hold municipal elections any time more than one candidate files for the same alderman seat or for mayor.
The city's board of aldermen decided to put this on the ballot with the hopes that its the passage would save the city money. The city spends currently more than $700 when an election is held, even if the candidates run unopposed.
New Bloomfield School Board
Two seats on the News Bloomfield R-III School District's Board of Education were up this year. However, since only incumbents Terri Sweeten and Russ Weyland filed, they will retain their seats for another term.
New Bloomfield Schools bond issue passes
New Bloomfield voters approved a $2 million no-tax increase bond issue for the city's school district, with more than 81 percent voting in favor, during Tuesday's election. The district's superintendent, David Tramel, said the high percentage of yes votes shows the community's confidence in the school district.
"I think that shows the district has the trust of the community to use it (the money) wisely," Tramel told the Fulton Sun Tuesday night.
Click here for a full story on the bond issue's passage.
Mokane
Mokane Mayor Thomas Shackelford reclaimed his seat as mayor with 66.67 percent of the votes. Councilpersons At-Large N. Lance Clingman and Devin Hoover both also reclaimed their seats with 47.06 percent and 52.94 percent of the votes, respectively.
Lake Mykee Board of Trustees
Jay Clingman and Michael Quick won spots on the Town of Lake Mykee's board of trustees with 45.95 percent and 54.05 percent, respectively.
Holts Summit Board of Aldermen
Jason Glenn will reclaim his spot on the Holts Summit Board of Aldermen after receiving 95.51 percent of the votes in Tuesday's election. Glenn ran uncontested for aldermen of Ward 1 for the city.
Ward 2 for the city was a contested race with incumbent Landon Oxley reclaiming his seat after receiving more than 70 precent of the vote Tuesday. His challenger Charles Chamberlin received more than 29 percent of the vote.
Callaway County use tax measure fails
The Callaway County use tax measure failed for the second time by a close margin Tuesday. Click to read more.