Boast Emerges In Primary, Likely Headed For Third Term

Crawford County District 2 Commissioner Jared Boast emerged victorious in the Republican primary, virtually guaranteeing him a third term in office.

After coasting to victory in 2016 and 2020, Boast faced a big obstacle in last week’s election. The incumbent was opposed by two candidates, both former employees of his district.

Boast prevailed with a plurality of the vote. He received 37.88 percent (963 votes) to Randy Chandler’s 31.31 percent (796 votes) and David Gargus’ 30.8 percent (783 votes).

All three candidates ran aggressive campaigns. Chandler’s challenge of Boast began last year, several months before filing even began. Both challengers promised to improve road maintenance and act as better stewards of the county’s finances.

Boast defended his record, pointing to the county’s improved financial outlook since he came into office, delivering on the promise to build a coroner’s building and boosting salaries. He also defended his crew’s road maintenance.

“It was a great day,” Boast said on Friday, three days after clinching the nomination. “I’m thankful for the voters who made me the indisputable winner of this primary.”

Information was unavailable at press time, but Boast’s win will make him perhaps the longest-tenured road commissioner in Crawford County history.

The last 20 months have also been the most difficult of his nearly eight years in office.

“There were constant attacks, but we stuck to our core values and the truth prevailed,” Boast said.

Boast endured hateful voicemails from angry residents. Some spray painted sexual innuendo on gravel roads. The Independent News can confirm both those.

Social media campaigns and letters to the editor also contributed to what Boast said was an “unprecedented effort” to unseat him.

With more four years now in view, Boast said he has started to plan improvements for his district and the county.

“The number one goal in the next four years is to increase salaries for road and bridge crews,” Boast said. “Our goal is going to be hiring new personnel and retaining current personnel.”

Ideally, Boast said, he would have a crew of 16. That would include four operators, four dump truck drivers, four workers to do culvert and bridge replacement, one mechanic and one supervisor.

Boast said if the crew was that robust, he believes they could properly maintain the hundreds of miles of roads District 2 is responsible for.

In lieu of staffing up a crew to that level, Boast said they will begin exploring the possibility of contracting some services.

“Is it cheaper and more cost effective to have contractors do culverts? Maybe. That way the road crew can do maintenance and not be pulled off to work on a different assignment,” Boast said.

District 1

Mark Pfeiffer registered a resounding victory over Chad Barton in the race for the Republican nomination in District 1.

Pfeiffer received 59.42 percent (785 votes) to Barton’s 40.58 percent (536 votes).

Pfeiffer is likely to succeed the outgoing Rob Cummings. Cummings chose not to run after successfully winning two terms.

All other Crawford County candidates were unopposed, including Sheriff Darin Layman, Assessor Kellie Vestal, Public Administrator Franky Todd and Coroner Darren Dake.

Turnout

Turnout for the election was just 27 percent, with 4,508 out of 16,695 voters casting ballots.

Crawford County Democrats backed Lucas Kunce with 65 percent of the vote for the United States Senate nomination. Kunce won the nomination.

Incumbent Republican Josh Hawley was unopposed.

Governor

County Republicans backed Bill Eigel for governor. Eigel received 51 percent of the vote here, while Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe received 30 percent and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft 13 percent.

Kehoe will take on Democrat Crystal Quade, the state’s senate minority leader.

Quade received 43 percent of Crawford County’s votes, while main challenger Mike Hamra received 40 percent.

Lt. Gov

County Republicans backed Dave Wasinger for lieutenant governor, giving him 31 percent of the vote. 

Lincoln Hough received 23 percent of the vote. Holly Rehder received 20 percent and Tim Baker 17 percent.

Wasinger won statewide and will take on Richard Brown, who received 61 percent of Crawford County’s votes in the Democratic primary.

Secretary of State

Denny Hoskins received 29 percent of the county’s vote in the Republican primary, while Barbara Phifer received 43 percent in the Democratic primary.

Both candidates will represent their respective parties in the November election.

State Treasurer 

State Treasurer Vivek Malek received 31 percent of the vote here and also won the primary across the state.

Malek will face Mark Osmack, who was unopposed on the Democratic ticket.

Attorney General

County voters backed incumbent Andrew Bailey over Will Scharf. Bailey received 56 percent of the vote and will be the party’s nominee in November against Elad Gross, who was unopposed on the Democratic side.

MO-3

In a crowded primary for Missouri’s 3rd Congressional District, Bob Onder won. He received nearly half the vote in Crawford County.

Under faces Democrat Bethany E. Mann in November, with the winner succeeding outgoing Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer.

State Senate

Crawford County voters backed Mike Henderson in the state senate’s District 3 Republican primary. Henderson, who will be the nominee, defeated Cyndi Buchheit-Courtway. Henderson takes on Democrat Doug Halbert in November. Halbert was unopposed in last week’s primary.

MO House

John Hewkin defeated Lancer Blair in the Republican primary for the 120th District. In Crawford County, Hewkin received 83 percent of the vote. 

Democrat Jen Tracy was unopposed and faces Hewkin in November.