From staff reports

news@joplinglobe.com

Relatively heavy voting was reported Tuesday in Missouri and Kansas, with voters citing interest in multiple offices.

n 11:26 a.m.: Cherokee County voters cast ballots

In Galena, Kan., Ray Smith, a 63-year-old retiree from Galena, cast his ballot at Galena City Hall. Smith said he voted for Democratic candidate David Groves for sheriff.

“I think he would be a good man, and honest,” Smith said. “He would save on the budget. That’s what we need.”

Husband and wife Larry and Letha Martin, of Galena, said they both voted for Democratic candidate Gary Allen in the sheriff’s race. Larry Martin is a 67-year-old retiree, and Letha Martin is 55 and cares for their disabled son at home.

Larry Martin said he voted for Allen because he is a Democrat and he knows Allen. He said he knows Republican candidate Garry Abram better, but he couldn’t vote for him because he (Martin) is a Democrat.

“From the ones I looked at, that’s the one I wanted,” said Letha Martin about her choice of Allen.

Eighty-nine voters had cast ballots by 10:15 a.m. at Galena City Hall.

n 12:26 p.m.: Assessor’s race splits voters in Jasper County

By 10:45 a.m., 256 voters had cast ballots at the First Nazarene Church, 2000 Grand Ave. in Carthage. One of several contested primary races on the Republican ballot in Jasper County was the race for county assessor, with six candidates vying for the office.

Marci McGuire, an employee of the Carthage R-9 School District, said she voted for Brent Hensley.

“I voted for him because I think he is a fine young man,” McGuire said.

Dorothy Hilderbrand, who is retired and lives in Carthage, voted for Gary Allison. Hilderbrand said she chose Allison because she thought he would do a good job, and “because I didn’t like some of the other candidates.”