Primary Election Saw Changes Locally, Set Stage For General

Washington County Polls were somewhat busy with County election races being decided on the Republican ballot in the Primary.

Washington County Clerk Jenny Allen reported a voter turnout for the Election at 25.65% with 15,290 registered voters in the County and 3,922 casting a ballot on August 6th.

Primary Races for County offices included 2nd District Commissioner on the Republican ticket; Sheriff on the Republican ballot; and Public Administrator on the Republican ballot. There were no County races on the Democrat or Libertarian ballots. For August of 2024, there was only 1 Democrat candidate for a Washington County race.

The majority of voters chose the Republican ballot to cast on Tuesday. The contests that had most everyone’s interest were the Sheriff’s race, the Public Administrator, and the 2nd District Commissioner in the County. The Sheriff’s race had 5 candidates with Scott Reed taking the majority with 1541; Thomlinson 881; Price 489; Wills 208; and Jablonowski 163. Incumbent Sheriff Zach Jacobsen did not seek re-election. In the Public Administrator’s race their was incumbent Judy Gillam and challenger Beverly Boyer, Gillam won with a vote of 1627 to Boyer’s 1529. In the 2nd District Commissioner’s contest, incumbent Cody Brinley was defeated by challenger Donnie Eye. The vote totals were Eye 782; Brinley 632 and Smith 202.

The State level candidates had competition across the board with a few exceptions for the Washington County area. 118th District State Representative Mike McGirl (Rep.) was unopposed and in the 144th District Chris Dinkins did not run for re-election. Joe Loyd, Tony Harbison and Buck Usher were all Republican candidates for the 144th while Andrew Eye is the lone Democratic candidate.

Two questions on the ballots were Constitutional Amendment #1 (Daycare Tax Credit) and Constitutional Amendment #4 (Kansas City Police funding) drawing a lot of interest by conversation and question. The question was a statewide ballot issue, locally #1 was voted down and #4 was a close ‘Yes’, the State totals will decide those questions.

The results, by the numbers, for the County were as follows:

REPUBLICAN PARTY

For 1st District Commissioner

of the County Commission -

DOUG SHORT 1439

Doug Short ran on the Republican ballot and will be unopposed in the General Election.

For 2nd District Commissioner

of the County Commission -

CODY BRINLEY 632

CRAIG SMITH 202

DONNIE EYE 782

Donnie Eye won on the Republican ballot and will be unopposed in the General Election.

For Sheriff -

ROBBIE WILLS 208

BRANDON THOMLINSON 881

VINCE JABLONOWSKI 163

D. SCOTT REED 1541

CASEY PRICE 489

D. SCOTT REED will be the lone candidate in November.

For County Assessor -

HEATHER ECKHOFF 2906

Heather Eckhoff will unopposed in the General Election.

For County Coroner -

STEVE HATFIELD 2884

Steve Hatfield ran on the Republican ballot and will be unopposed in the General Election.

For W.C. Public Adminstrator -

BEVERLY BOYER 1531

JUDY GILLAM 1630

Judy Gillam will be unopposed in the General Election.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY

For County Surveyor -

TIM DAUGHERTY 408

Tim Daugherty ran on the Democrat ballot and will be unopposed in the General Election.

Constitutional Amendment #1

“Daycare Tax Credit” -

YES 1644

NO 2095

Washington County did not favor the #1 Constitutional Amendment locally. The State of Missouri did not pass the proposition.

Constitutional Amendment #4

“Kansas City Police Funding” -

YES 1998

NO 1710

Washington County favored the #4 Constitutional Amendment locally. The State of Missouri did pass the question for the Kansas City Police.

With the 2024 Primary Election now part of history, the ballots have been set for the General Election to be held on Tuesday, November 5th.

Several State of Missouri races will be on the November ballot as well as the Presidential candidates. In Dist. 3 State Senate, Mike Henderson, Republican will face Doug Halbert, Democrat.

Washington County is included in State Representative Districts 118 and 144. The 144th District will have a contest on the November ballot.

Andrew Eye is the Democratic Party candidate in the 144th District and will be running against Primary Republican candidate Tony Harbison in that contest on the November ballot.

The last day to register to be eligible to vote in the General Election is Wednesday, October 9th, 2024.

Absentee voting for the General Election will begin on Tuesday, September 24th, 2024.