Election commands local interest

Only one-fourth of eligible voters across Missouri are expected to vote in next Tuesday’s primary election. But voter turnout is expected to be much higher in Daviess County.

Eight candidates for county sheriff assures local interest. Four candidates for Division I Circuit Judge (#43), two on the Republican ballot and two on the Democrat ballot, also increase interest. Voters across the 6th Congressional District, including those in Daviess County, will pare down the list of nine candidates (four Democrats, five Republicans) each hoping to succeed Congresswoman Pat Danner in office.

The Congressional race is attracting attention nationally. Both the U.S. Congress and the Missouri House and Senate are currently being held by slim majorities. A few wins by either Republicans or Democrats could change the balance of power at the national or state level.

Voters will select one of five ballots to cast votes in the primary, choosing a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Constitution or Reform party ballot. Each ballot offers choices for national and state elected offices, but only the Democrat and Republican tickets list candidates seeking offices on more local levels of government.

The Presidential election is particularly important. Voters for president/vice president will be choosing from candidates with starkly different decisions on a host of issues foreign and domestic. The next president will likely choose two or three Supreme Court justices who have a dramatic impact on all sorts of constitutional and social issues.

This year Missourians will pick a new governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and treasurer. Both the Democrat and Republican parties’ nominations are foregone conclusions for governor. Bob Holden is the only choice on the Democrat ballot; Jim Talent is the runaway favorite among Republicans.

The most hotly contested state office race appears to be among candidates for lieutenant governor.

From a statewide perspective, voters across Missouri will be electing a U.S. Senator, five statewide officials, nine members of the U.S. House, 163 members of the Missouri House, 17 members of the Missouri Senate and 48 circuit judges this year. The process begins Tuesday. The purpose of the primary election is to nominate candidates for the November primary.

There are no statewide issues on the primary ballot although there is one local issue commanding attention of voters residing in the City of Gallatin. A 10-year property tax increase proposed at $1.40 per $100 of assessed valuation requires a two-thirds majority for passage. If approved, Gallatin plans to implement a comprehensive $1.4 million street improvement program.