August 06, 2008 12:36 am
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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.”
n 1:18 p.m.: McDonald County voters differ in sheriff’s race
Voters seemed split among the eight candidates running for sheriff in the Republican and Democratic primaries in McDonald County.
Krystin Lewis, of Pineville, said she voted for Gregg Sweeten, a Republican hopeful. She said she has known him for a while and thinks he has the character that makes him best for the job.
“I think he would be a good sheriff,” Lewis said.
Bob Mears, of rural Pineville, said he voted for Democrat Robert Evenson.
Evenson served as sheriff from 2001 to 2004 before losing his re-election bid to the current sheriff, Don Schlessman.
Mears said Evenson’s past experience as sheriff and his willingness to work with area law-enforcement departments were the reasons he won his vote.
“Before, when he was (in office), I never heard anything bad about him,” Mears said.
n 2:20 p.m.: Pittsburg residents cast votes in House race
Voters at one polling place in Pittsburg, Kan., said they favored Jim Ryun’s moral values and conservative politics over his moderate Republican opponent, Lynn Jenkins.
Both were seeking the Republican nomination for the Kansas 2nd District U.S. House post. The winner will face Democrat Nancy Boyda in the fall.
“I think he’s a little more conservative,” said Larry Fite. He and his wife, Beverly, said they voted for Ryun. “In this day and age, with all that’s going on, especially with the energy situation, we need some serious decision-making,” Larry Fite said.
Lora Selby said she voted for Ryun because his moral and religious beliefs conformed to her own.
“He believes the same way I do,” said Selby, who is retired. “In strong families, and a strong Christian background.”
At least one voter said her vote for Ryun also was meant to be a vote against Jenkins’ campaign ads, which she characterized as negative.
“I feel like she’s run a really negative campaign,” said Rebekah Markham, an accounting student at Pittsburg State University. “That probably influenced me as much as anything.”
n 3:10 p.m.: Sheriff’s race attracts voters in Newton County
John Hayek, owner of a small business, drove his 88-year-old mother, Blanche Hayek, to the polling place at Saginaw Baptist Church from their home in Silver Creek village. They were both voting for Mike Langland, the challenger for Newton County sheriff in the Republican primary.
“He’s better than all of them — the best man,” said Blanche Hayek, a retired secretary.
Her son said neither one of them actually knew Langland in person, but his male friends were all supporting the challenger.
“He strikes me as more professional,” John Hayek, 60, said.
Loetta Dodson, a 71-year-old Idlewild Acres resident, said she cast her vote for incumbent Sheriff Ken Copeland because she thinks he’s done a good job. She said she did not know much about Langland.
“I think (Copeland) handled himself real well with all the tragedies that have happened,” said Dodson, citing the Rowan Ford murder and Neosho church-shooting cases.
n 4:20 p.m.: Governor’s nomination draws Joplin voters
Braving oppressive heat, Missouri voters were turning out in force with interest in a particular race: the Republican nomination for governor.
By 3 p.m., more than 300 voters had marked primary ballots at the polling place inside Calvary Baptist Church, 600 E. 50th St. A worker at the Newton County polling place said it was a strong turnout for a primary.
About six people were interviewed in an informal exit poll. All said they were drawn to the polls by the governor’s race, specifically the race between Sarah Steelman and Kenny Hulshof.
Craig Oxford, 47, and his wife, Tracey, both of Joplin, said they voted for Steelman. “She has the same view I have about the ethanol situation,” said Craig Oxford. His wife said Hulshof might be too connected to Washington.
Craig Oxford said the heat didn’t bother him, and that he would endure “rain, sleet and snow” for the privilege to vote.
Jessie White, 22, of Joplin, said he was voting for Hulshof because “he has a credible record against trial attorneys.”
n 4:51 p.m.: Webb City voters mixed on several races
Two Webb City voters offered contrasting and concurrent opinions on Jasper County candidates when they left the polling place at Webb City Junior High School.
Mike White said he voted for Jim Honey for Eastern District commissioner, Rita Hunter for public administrator, Danny Drake for assessor and Rob Chappel for county coroner.
White noted that Honey and Hunter both are incumbents running for re-election, adding, “They’ve done a good job.”
Don Whitney said he voted for Craig Putnam in the associate commissioner’s race, Connie Alumbaugh-Hoover for assessor, Hunter for public administrator and Chappel for coroner.
Whitney said he knows Chappel, adding, “He knows his stuff.”
n 5:16 p.m.: Newton County voters weigh commission race
Incumbent Jerry Black, 65, of Joplin, seemed to be the favorite for the Republican nomination for 1st District Newton County commissioner among voters.
Susie August, of Joplin, said she voted for Black because she thinks he’s done a good job during his two terms representing the interests of the residents in his district. She specifically cited his work to block the construction of several large apartment complexes and storage businesses she opposed.
“He’s done a good job,” August said.
Vicky Copeland, of Joplin, the wife of incumbent Sheriff Kenneth Copeland, said she voted for Black because he has a reputation of being honest and upstanding, and has worked well with her husband in county government.
“There’s definitely some mutual respect there,” Vicky Copeland said of Black.
Other Newton County voters said it is difficult to get information on races like the county commissioners, leading some to not vote at all.
Vicki Lane, of Joplin, said she left the county commissioner part of the ballot blank because she didn’t know enough about the candidates.
Jenny Richards, of Joplin, felt the same way, but she said she went ahead and voted for Black based on the recommendation of a friend she trusted.
“I wasn’t really for sure,” Richards said. “I think it is hard to get the information on how (the candidates) are different (from each other).”
Tom Meadows, 62, of Greenwood, challenged Black.
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