By Wally Kennedy
wkennedy@joplinglobe.com
Three Republican incumbents in Southwest Missouri who faced Democratic challengers held onto their seats in the Missouri House of Representatives during voting Tuesday.
In six other House districts, Republicans had free rides in the general vote and were virtually assured of election.
132nd District
In District 132 in Lawrence County, Don Ruzicka held onto his post by defeating Democrat Charles Dake, a veterinarian. The vote was 8,738 for Ruzicka and 6,931 for Dake.
This is the second time that Ruzicka, 51, has defeated Dake.
Ruzicka has lived in Mount Vernon for nine years. He has a bachelor of science degree in wildlife management from Missouri State University at Springfield. He was a Missouri Department of Conservation agent for 27 years.
125th District
Barney Fisher, 60, of rural Vernon County, the Republican incumbent who was first elected to represent the district in 2004, defeated Democratic challenger Carla Keough, of Butler, who was seeking election to her first public office.
The vote was 9,427 for Fisher and 6,122 for Keough.
Fisher, who was born and raised in Nevada, served 21 years as a fighter pilot in the Marine Corps, retiring and returning to the Nevada area in 1993. He is a graduate of Nevada High School. He received a bachelor of science degree in education in 1969 from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
The district takes in the western two-thirds of Bates County and all of Vernon County.
126th District
Ed Emery, 58, of Lamar, the Republican incumbent who was first elected to the House in 2002, defeated Democratic challenger Linda Marie Crane, of Greenfield, who was seeking her first public office.
The vote was 11,419 for Emery and 5,654 for Crane.
Emery has lived in Lamar since 1994. He received a degree in petroleum engineering in 1972 from the University of Missouri-Rolla. He was a petroleum engineer for 23 years. This will be his final term.
The district takes in Barton County, and parts of Jasper, Dade and Polk counties.
Campaigns and Politics
Incumbents victorious in local House contests
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Missouri voters endorse state Proposition C
Missouri voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected a key provision of President Barack Obama’s health care law, sending a clear message of discontent to Washington and Democrats less than 100 days before the midterm elections. With about 70 percent of the vote counted late Tuesday, nearly three-quarters of voters had supported the measure.
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Neosho voters say ‘no’ to property tax
A proposal to levy a property tax to help bail the city of Neosho out of its financial meltdown failed to muster even 40 percent approval from voters in Tuesday’s election.
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Jasper County choose incumbents for posts
Voters in Jasper County on Tuesday tabbed the incumbents for two positions, Linda Williams as circuit clerk and John Bartosh for the Republican nomination as presiding commissioner.
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Pittsburg voters reject sales tax increase
A proposed quarter-cent city sales tax increase in Pittsburg for street repairs was defeated Tuesday by voters, 1,243 to 1,031. The margin was 55 percent “no” votes to 45 percent “yes” votes. The totals are based on complete, but unofficial, returns from the Crawford County clerk’s office.
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Ruestman receives GOP nod; Krueger prevails in circuit clerk bid
Republicans in Newton County on Tuesday overwhelmingly selected a state lawmaker to be their nominee for presiding county commissioner, according to complete but unofficial returns. Current state Rep. Marilyn Ruestman, of Joplin, with a total of 6,125 votes, led a field of four GOP hopefuls.
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Bill White beats Shelly Dreyer for nomination
An intense and costly battle for the Republican nomination for Missouri’s 129th District House seat concluded Tuesday with a lopsided victory for William “Bill” White, who is seeking to fill the seat being vacated by Ron Richard.
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Moran holds lead in tight Kansas race
Western Kansas U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran held the lead over Todd Tiahrt late Tuesday night in a contentious battle for the Republican nomination for a U.S. Senate seat from Kansas.
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Calloway defeats Titterington in 3rd District GOP race
Terry Calloway defeated Chad Titterington Tuesday in the Republican primary race for the 3rd District seat of the Kansas House of Representatives.
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Former legislator leads race for Senate seat
A former legislator and sheriff from the Bolivar area had a wide lead for the Republican nomination for the Missouri Senate District 28 seat, according to incomplete returns Tuesday night. Mike Parson, 54, of Bolivar, the former state representative in House District 133, was the leader with 12,723 votes.
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Long, Eckersley win nods in 7th district
Billy Long, a Springfield auctioneer, real estate salesman and former radio talk show host, won the Republican nomination for Congress from Missouri’s 7th District on Tuesday, while the Democratic nod went to Scott Eckersley, an attorney from Kimberling City who at one time worked for former GOP Gov. Matt Blunt.
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