PIKE COUNTY, Mo. — Missouri residents will head to the polls Tuesday, Aug. 4th for the primary election and in Pike County most of the contested races will be found on the republican ticket.
In the statewide elections, you’ll find contested races on both the democratic and republican tickets for governor, lieutenant governor and United State Representative in Congress for the sixth district. On the county level, there are no contested races on the democratic ticket.
Polls will be open Tuesday from 6 a.m.-7 p.m. and it’s the republican ticket that many will be keeping an eye on. The State Representative for the 40th District has five names to choose from, Chad Perkins, Heather Dodd, Ron Staggs, Woodrow Polston and Thomas R. (Tommy) Schultz. There are two names to select from for Eastern District Commissioner, Tommy Wallace or Laura Minor; and three names on the Western District Commissioner ticket, Bill Allen (incumbent), David Luebrecht and Curtis Delgaman. Public administrator has three to choose from, Lori Ann Fuerst, Gale Griffith-Frolos or Melony S. Grote. One person will also be chosen for the Cuivre Township Committeewoman between Susie Oberdahlhoff and Dorothy Sisson. Finally, the sheriff’s race is between Stephen Korte (incumbent) and Corey Anderson. All of these elections will be decided in the primary as there is no democratic counterparts running this year.
Races that will continue to the general election in November on the local level includes Pike County Assessor, republican candidate Tracy Riffle Foster or Kristen Baker will face democrat incumbent Donna Dempsey Prior. In the corner’s race, republicans Chris Stark (incumbent) or Billy Price will face democrat Margart Owens.
There is one proposition that appears on the ballot, constitutional amendment number two for Medicaid expansion. The proposition asks if Missourians want to amend the constitution to adopt Medicaid Expansion for persons 19-64 years of age with an income level at or below 133% of the federal poverty level as set forth in the Affordable Care Act; prohibit placing greater or additional burdens on eligibility or enrollment standards, methodologies or practices on persons covered under Medicaid Expansion than on any other population eligible for Medicaid. Additionally, require state agencies to take all actions necessary to maximize federal financial participation in funding medical assistance under Medicaid Expansion.
According to the ballot language, the state government entities are estimated to have a one-time cost of approximately $6.4 million and an unknown annual net fiscal impact by 2026 ranging from increased costs of at least $200 million to savings of $1 billion. Local governments expect costs to decrease by an unknown amount.
As with the April elections, which were held in June, the Pike County Courthouse will be closed on election night. In years past, voters were able to wait in the third-floor courtroom where election results were posted for all to see, but COVID-19 has caused the courthouse to be available to employees only. To get election results first, tune into 102.1 where updates will be given throughout the night. You will also be able to find results online at kjfmradio.com and https://pikemocountyclerk.org/election-results/.