Clark County Voters Approve Tax Questions; School Board, City Races Decided

CLARK COUNTY — Clark County voters approved both countywide and Kahoka ballot questions in Tuesday’s General Municipal Election, while contested races in Kahoka, Wayland, the Clark County R-1 School District and the Clark County Nursing Home District were also decided. Turnout was 759 ballots cast out of 4,884 registered voters, or 15.54 percent.

The countywide tax question passed, with 444 yes votes to 277 no votes. The measure asked whether Clark County should exempt eligible taxpayers from certain tax increases on their primary residences above the liability incurred during the initial credit year.

In Kahoka, voters also approved a local sales tax question. The measure, which authorizes a one-half of one percent sales tax for storm water control and local parks, passed 149 votes to 136.

The closest candidate race in Kahoka was for alderman in the 2nd, or east, ward. Ruth Brotherton won that seat with 57 votes, while incumbent John Gaus received 53. In the 1st, or west, ward, Larry R. Young was elected with 151 votes, with three write-in votes also recorded.

In the Clark County R-1 Board of Education race, voters were to choose three directors. Doug James led the field with 658 votes, followed by Becca Howell- Green with 639 and Heather Webster with 600. Quentin Hamner received 163 votes, while write-in candidates received 20. James, Howell-Green and Webster won the three available seats.

For Clark County Nursing Home District Director for District 4, Marla Wilson was elected with 53 votes. Cindy Buntin received 18 votes, and one write-in vote was cast.

In Wayland, voters selected two aldermen at large. Sherry Bunker and Nathan Bartlett tied for the top spot with 20 votes each, while Connie Handyside received 14 votes. Three write-in votes were also cast, meaning Bunker and Bartlett won the two seats.

Wayland voters also elected Bruce Spurgeon as commissioner of the Wayland Special Road District. Spurgeon received 66 votes, while write-in candidates received three votes. However, Proposition 2 for the Wayland Special Road District failed, with 45 no votes to 28 yes votes. The question asked whether the district should be authorized to collect additional tax revenue equal to the Clark County road and bridge tax rates.

In Wyaconda, Wayne Purchase received seven votes in the mayor’s race, while write-in votes totaled six. For the two alderman-at-large seats, all 18 votes cast were write-ins. Those write-in votes had not yet been finalized on election night and are expected to be counted later this week.

One of the more unusual results on the ballot came in the Public Water Supply District No. 1 of Scotland County bond question, which finished in a 2-2 tie, with one undervote recorded. The measure sought authority to issue $15 million in revenue bonds for water system improvements.

Several other offices appeared on the ballot as non-election items pursuant to Missouri law, meaning no contest was held. Those included Clark County Ambulance District No. 3, Ronda J. Kirchner; Scotland County School Board, Jason Small, Derrick Hamilton and Andrew Cowell; Consolidated Public Water of Clark County, Karma Hillyer; Canton R-V School Board, Larry Arnold, Jake Schaefer and Stacey Guilfoyle; Alexandria Fire Protection District, Russell D. Gates; and Clark County Nursing Home District No. 5, Kevin Rodgers.