County Turnout For Election 28.5 Percent

Crawford County voter turnout in the Aug. 4 election was 28.5 percent as 4,612 ballots were cast.

The county has 16,181 registered voters.

County turnout in August 2018 was a little more than 34 percent, which exceeded the statewide turnout of 33.5 percent.

State turnout last Tuesday was 32.9 percent.

Turnout was seemingly fueled that year by Proposition A, which overturned the state’s “right to work” law.

Medicaid expansion was on the ballot this time around. While the measure passed statewide, it was rejected by Crawford County voters. 

Voters went against the expansion by a 2-to-1 margin.

Missouri is the 38th state to approve expansion, which increases eligibility. Household incomes below 133 percent of the federal poverty level qualify.

County

There were three races determined during the primary and of the county offices being contested this year, just one will have a matchup in November.

District 2 Commissioner Jared Boast and challenger Richard Tarnowski were unopposed in the Republican and Democratic primaries, respectively.

Tarnowski is looking to unseat the first-term incumbent Boast, who was elected in 2016.

The candidates who won Tuesday face no Democratic opposition and will likely enter new terms in 2021.

In District 1, Commissioner Rob Cummings turned away a challenge by Richard Martin. Cummings received 57 percent of the vote.

Martin was looking to regain his old seat. He opted not to run for commissioner in 2012 and took on former Sheriff Randy Martin instead.

Martin also sought the presiding commissioner bid against Leo Sanders in 2018, but he was struck from the ballot.

Cummings, who won a three-way Republican primary in 2016 and defeated Bill Gilliam that November, will enter a second term.

Another candidate elected to office in 2016 fended off a challenge.

Assessor Kellie Vestal received 53 percent against challenger Tucker Herrell. 

In the race for coroner, Deputy Coroner Darren Dake defeated Renee Ross with 66 percent. Dake will succeed his boss Paul Hutson, one of the longest-tenured Crawford County officials.

Unopposed

Sheriff Darin Layman, Public Administrator Franky Todd and Surveyor Mark Mueller were unopposed in their Republican primaries.