Big Stakes Locally on Nov. 3 As Voters Attempt to Turn ‘Red’ Missouri ‘Blue

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  • Big Stakes Locally on Nov. 3 As Voters Attempt to Turn ‘Red’ Missouri ‘Blue
    Big Stakes Locally on Nov. 3 As Voters Attempt to Turn ‘Red’ Missouri ‘Blue
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Voters in Kansas City, its surrounding suburban Jackson County neighborhoods and rural areas across Missouri in record numbers already have begun with early absentee ballots being deposited by mail and at drop off locations to decide what largely is considered the most important election in recent history that threatens to transform the landscape of American politics. 

For hundreds of thousands persons yet to cast ballots, by mail or in person before elections Nov. 3, The Kansas City Globe in this first of a twopart series offers insight on state and local candidates and issues to be decided. In the second part, to run in next week’s edition, this publication will offer insight on the national dynamics at stake in the Presidential, Senatorial and Congressional races.

Missouri’s Executive Office Missouri Governor Mike Parson, a Republican, seeks to retain office in his first election to a position he as Lieutenant Governor secured with the resignation in 2018 of his predecessor, Eric Greitens, following a sex scandal. Parson now faces Democrat nominee Nicole Galloway. Galloway has been running an aggressive campaign to become the state’s first female Governor, attacking the Republican incumbent on his Trump-supporting positions that are soft on COVID-19 prevention recommendations and his support for measures rolling back key components of the Affordable Health Care Act, more popularly known as Obama Care, causing rural hospital closures.

Successful minor party candidates for Governor appearing on the ballot are Rick Combs, Libertarian Party; and Jerome Howard Bauer, Green Party.

Alissia Canady as the Democrat Party’s nominee in a bid to become the first black and first female Lieutenant Governor advances to the General Election against the Republican Party’s incumbent Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe, who is largely considered a “soft target” himself having ascended to the office during the reshuffling of statewide officials. Canady is a former Kansas City, Mo., City Councilwoman. Successful minor party candidates for Lt. Governor, are Bill Slantz, Libertarian; and Kelley Dragoo, Green Party. Other Missouri State Executive Office races are for:

Secretary of State, where Republican John R. (Jay) Ashcroft, the incumbent, faces Democrat nominee Yinka Feleti; and minor party candidates Carl Herman Freese, Libertarian Party; Paul Lehmann, Green Party; Paul Venable, Constitution Party;

State Treasurer, where Republican Scott Fitzpatrick, the incumbent, faces Democrat Vicki Lorenz Englund; and minor party candidates Nicholas (Nick) Kasoff, Libertarian Party; and Joseph Civettini, Green Party; Attorney General, Republican incumbent Eric Schmitt faces Democrat Rich Finneran;and minor party candidate Kevin C. Babcock, Libertarian Party. Missouri Senate Offices Greg Razer in the Democrat race for Senate District 7 will face Nathan Kline, the Green Party nominee for the District.

Seeking office for State Senator District 9, Democrat Barbara Anne Washington, a State Representative, is challenged by Republican nominee David Martin;

John Joseph Rizzo, unchallenged in the Democrat race for Senate District 11; now is the defacto Senator for the District as there were no opposing Party candidates seeking this office.

Missouri Representative Offices Emily Weber in the Democrat race for State Representative District 24 faces Andrew Miller, the Libertarian Party nominee. Art Schaaf in the Democratic race for State Representative District 30 faces Jon Patterson, the Republican Party nominee.

Keri Ingle in the Democratic race for State Representative District 35 faces Sean Smith, the Republican Party nominee.

Seeking office for State for State Representative District 36, is incumbent Mark Sharp.

Sharp is being challenged by Republican Nola Wood.

Annette Turnbaugh in the Democratic race for State Representative District 37 faces John D. Boyd Jr., the Republican Party nominee; Daniel Karam, Green Party, also is a candidate in this race.

Neal Barnes in the Democratic race for State Representative District 56 faces Michael Davis, the Republican Party nominee.

Unchallenged State Reps Ingrid Burnett in the Democrat race for State Representative District 19 is the defacto Representative as there were no opposing Party candidates seeking this office.

Yolanda Young emerged victor in the Democrat race for State Representative District 22 and is the defacto Representative as there were no opposing Party candidates seeking this office.

Michael L. Johnson in the race for Democrat State Representative District 23 is the defacto Representative as there
were no opposing Party candidates seeking this office.

Patty Lewis in the race for Democrat State Representative District 25 is the defacto Representative as there were no opposing Party candidates seeking this office.

Ashley Bland Manlove in the Democratic race for State Representative District 26 is the defacto Representative as there were no opposing Party candidates seeking this office.

Richard Brown in the Democratic race for State Representative District 27 is the defacto Representative as there were no opposing Party candidates seeking this office. Jerome Barnes in the Democratic race for State Representative District 28 is the defacto Representative as there were no opposing Party candidates seeking this office.

Rory Rowland in the Democratic race for State Representative District 29 is the defacto Representative as there were no opposing Party candidates seeking this office.

Jackson County There are two Jackson County elective offices appearing on the ballot. They are for:

Prosecuting Attorney Incumbent Jean Peters Baker in the Democrat race for Prosecuting Attorney is being challenged by Republican Tracey Chappell, who seeks to become the first African American to hold this position.

Sheriff

Daryl Forte was appointed Jackson County Sheriff and later won an election to fulfill the unexpired term of Mike Sharp, who resigned two years ago in the throes of a scandal that included inappropriate discretions involving a female administrative assistant that included questionable promotions and pay increases.

Because he was never prosecuted, Sharp was eligible to run and campaigned for his old job.

Forte, also a former Kansas City, Mo., Chief of Police, handily defeated Sharp, his predecessor in the Sheriff’s position. No Republican or any other party candidates filed, effectively securing his bid to continue as Sheriff. Forte campaigned on a platform promising integrity and fairness, and he promoted to the department its first female captain.

Judgeship Retention There are several judges on the ballot, which involve multiple court levels, whose terms expire December 31, 2020, and voters are asked “yes” or “No”

if they should be retained in office for new terms, as follows: Missouri Supreme Court Patricia Breckenridge Missouri Court of Appeals Judge, Western District Tom Chapman Circuit Judges 16th Judicial Court Division No. 2 Kenneth R. Garrett Division No. 10 Patrick W. Campbell Division No. 14 John M. Torrence Division No. 17 Cory L. Atkins Division No. 18 Kevin D. Harrell Associate Circuit Judges 16th Judicial Court Division No. 28 Jeffrey C. Keal Division No. 29 Janette Kay Rodecap Division No. 32 Kyndra J. Stockdale Constitutional Amendments and Ballot Questions The General Election also contains two Constitutional Amendments and two ballot questions, which will appear on the ballot, as follows: Constitutional Amendment

No. 1
Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to extend the two term restriction that currently applies to the Governor and Treasurer to Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor and the Attorney General? State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings from this proposal. Constitutional Amendment

No. 3
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:


· Ban gifts from paid lobbyists to legislators and their employees;


· Reduce legislative campaign contribution limits;


· Change the redistricting process voters approved in 2018 by:

(i) Transferring responsibility for drawing state legislative districts from the Nonpartisan State Demographer to Governor- appointed bipartisan commissions;

(ii) modifying and reordering the redistricting criteria. State governmental entities expect no cost or savings. Individual local governmental entities expect significant decreased revenues of a total unknown amount.

Question No. 1

Shall Jackson County, Missouri, impose a monthly fee not to exceed $1.00 (one dollar) on a subscriber of any communications service that has been enabled to contact 911 for the purpose of funding 911 service in the County? The proceeds of this fee shall be deposited in the County’s special E-911 System Fund and not comingled with the general funds of the County, to be expended solely for the purpose set forth herein.

Question No. 2

Shall Jackson County, Missouri, remove the statues of Andrew Jackson now located outside the Jackson County Courthouse in Kansas City and the Historic Truman Courthouse in Independence?