RC Courthouse to see more Republicans working in January

Two years ago Barack Obama and the Democrat Party campaigned with the slogan of change. Obama became president and many Democrats were elected to office, as well. Change was affected but Tuesday night the people of the United States went to the polls and shouted with their votes that the change of the last two years was not something they could live with.

In Randolph County, where once a Republican would move to town and have a hard time finding a political soulmate, the Republicans ruled the day. But on the county level, the races were hard-fought. A glitch at one of the polling places required a re-run of ballots through the voting machine. Candidates and those following the polls had to wait until 9:30 p.m. before winners could be announced with the races so close.

County Clerk

After 16 years, Randolph County Clerk Jim Sears worked his final election Tuesday after making a decision in the spring to retire. A battle was fought for his job between Democrat Dorinda Dameron and Republican Will Ellis. Ellis won the race by an unofficial vote of 3,982 – 3,547.

County Treasurer

Incumbent Becky Brown has served as county treasurer for 12 years and this is the first time she faced opposition. Republican Penny Henry was urged to enter the race and ended up winning with nearly 57 percent of the vote.

Recorder of Deeds

Recorder of Deeds Democrat Mark Price faced opposition, not from a Republican, but from Libertarian Anthony Morgan. Morgan did no real campaigning against the popular Price and showed at last week’s candidate forum sponsored by the league of women Voters that he had no real idea about the job. Price won handily but the unknown still garnered 1,606 votes or 22 percent.

County Prosecutor

Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Fusselman was elected to his position 20 years ago and had not faced a challenger in those years. This year it seemed that trend would continue for him until Stephanie Luntsford, assistant prosecutor, petitioned to run as an Independent against her boss. In the position of prosecutor, name recognition may have been a negative thing and the vote went down to the wire. Fusselman was ahead by 51 votes when the delay came. After the final precinct was recounted at the courthouse, Fusselman had 100 total votes more.

“A win by one vote is still a win,” he said.

The Mirror had not received word of a possible recount by press time.

State Representative

The race for District 22 representative was another story. Democrat Doug Galaske and Republican Randy Asbury, who once served on the Randolph County Commission together and seemed to be on the same side of several issues, faced off for the chance to represent Randolph, Chariton and Macon counties at the state level. The final result rang true with the Republican winning but in this case, it was Asbury all the way with a Randolph county vote and overall vote for the three counties over 69 percent Asbury to Galaske’s 30 percent.

Uncontested races

Democrat Cynthia Suter received 6,171 votes in her uncontested bid for reelection as Associate Circuit Court Judge. Although there was no opposition, there were 99 write-in votes.

Susan Carter, Democrat, also received over 6,000 votes in her contested re-election bid for Randolph County Presiding Commissioner. Peggy Boots, Democrat, also retains her seat as Circuit Clerk.

Beyond the county

It was hard to avoid the barrage of attack ads in the race for U.S. Senator. Christopher “Kit” Bond is retiring at the end of his term. While there were four candidates in the general election for this seat, including a Libertarian and a member of the Constitution Party, the race was between Democrat Robin Carnahan, current Missouri Secretary of State and daughter of former Governor Mel Carnahan, and U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt. Blunt came to Moberly two weeks ago and said the only poll that maters is the one taken November 2. That “poll” of the voters overwhelming chose Blunt in Randolph County with over 63 percent of the vote going to the Republican. Statewide, Blunt won by a more narrow 54 to 40 percent margin.

Republican Tom Schweich won in Randolph county and overall over Susan Montee for state auditor. U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, Republican, won over his Libertarian challenger.