ELECTION NIGHT UPDATES: Buffaloe, Foster win reelection in Columbia
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Voters report smooth process casting ballots in Columbia
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia voters told ABC 17 News on Tuesday that casting their ballots went smoothly. Tuesday is election day for all municipal elections throughout Mid-Missouri and across the state. Polls opened at 6 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m.; voters must bring a photo ID. Voters in Boone County can go to
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Stealing charge filed against associate pastor accused of taking Blair Murphy campaign signs
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A suspended associate pastor from Broadway Christian Church has been formally charged. The Rev. Andrew Lawrence Taylor-Peck, 46, of Columbia, has been charged with misdemeanor stealing. He was arrested on Friday evening and posted a $500 bond. An initial court appearance is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 7. The church announced
Continue Reading Associate pastor of Columbia church on leave after ‘Murph for Mayor’ sign stealing accusation
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) ​An associate pastor from Columbia’s Broadway Christian Church has been put on leave after his arrest Friday for allegedly stealing campaign signs for a Columbia mayoral candidate. Andrew Peck, 46, was arrested by sheriff’s deputies for allegedly stealing signs for candidate Blair Murphy near South Scott Boulevard. Broadway Christian Church board chairman
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QUESTION OF THE DAY: Are you voting in the municipal and school district elections?
Elections that will decide the new leaders of schools and cities around Mid-Missouri are coming up on Tuesday. The big race to watch in Columbia is the four-person mayoral race. The top two candidates, per financial reports, are incumbent Barbara Buffaloe and challenger Blair “Murph” Murphy. The race has drawn in lots of money, lots
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Columbia mayoral candidates discuss homelessness ahead of April 8 election
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia’s four mayoral candidates sat down with ABC 17 News to discuss a number of topics, including homelessness in the city, before the April 8 municipal election. The candidates include incumbent Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, Blair Murphy, Tanya Heath and write-in candidate Lucio Bitoy. In 2024, The Boone County Coalition to End Homelessness
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Columbia mayoral candidate interview: Lucio Bitoy
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Municipal elections in Missouri are April 8, and one of the roles up for grabs is the mayoral seat in Columbia. Incumbent Barbara Buffaloe is running for reelection, while challengers Blair Murphy, Tanya Heath and write-in candidate Lucio Bitoy take a shot at the seat. View an interview ABC 17 News reporter
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Columbia mayoral candidate interview: Barbara Buffaloe
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Municipal elections in Missouri are April 8, and one of the roles up for grabs is the mayoral seat in Columbia. Incumbent Barbara Buffaloe is running for reelection, while challengers Blair Murphy, Tanya Heath and write-in candidate Lucio Bitoy take a shot at the seat. View an interview ABC 17 News reporter
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Columbia mayoral candidates hope to crack down on crime
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Crime has been a pressing issue in the City of Columbia in recent years, and potential leaders say they plan to tackle the issue in office. Incumbent Mayor Barbara Buffaloe is looking to serve another three years in office in the April 8 election, while Blair Murphy, Tanya Heath and write-in candidate
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Columbia mayoral candidate interview: Tanya Heath
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Municipal elections in Missouri are April 8, and one of the roles up for grabs is the mayoral seat in Columbia. Incumbent Barbara Buffaloe is running for reelection, while challengers Blair Murphy, Tanya Heath and write-in candidate Lucio Bitoy take a shot at the seat. View an interview ABC 17 News reporter
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Columbia mayoral candidate interview: Blair Murphy
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Municipal elections in Missouri are April 8, and one of the roles up for grabs is the mayoral seat in Columbia. Incumbent Barbara Buffaloe is running for reelection, while challengers Blair Murphy, Tanya Heath and write-in candidate Lucio Bitoy take a shot at the seat. View an interview ABC 17 News reporter
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QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should there be new limits on giving to local campaigns?
The Columbia mayor’s race is bringing in big money. The latest campaign finance reports, filed Monday, show challenger Blair Murphy has collected more than $250,000 during the April election cycle. The incumbent mayor, Barbara Buffaloe, has brought in about $70,000 for her campaign. This isn’t the first Columbia mayoral race to draw big money, but
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Jefferson City Ward 4 candidates discuss city conference center project ahead of April 8 election
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) As Jefferson City’s contentious $130 million conference center project enters the preconstruction phase of its timeline, the newly elected officials in the April 8 municipal election are set to approve the design. The center will replace the parking garage at 200 Madison St. and include a full-service hotel and restaurant/bar with more
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Interview with Julie Allen, candidate for Jefferson City Council Ward 4
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Julie Allen is a member of Jefferson City’s Transportation and Traffic Commission and a candidate running for the Jefferson City Council Ward 4 seat. Allen’s campaign focuses on strengthening the economy through infrastructure improvements, increasing housing availability, creating jobs and promoting parks and recreation opportunities. Allen worked as an acting director for
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Interview with Kathi Harness, candidate for Jefferson City Council Ward 4
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Kathi Harness, a Jefferson City Ward 4 resident, is running for Jefferson City Council. Harness plans to focus on economic development and collaborative work. Harness also wants to improve public safety and support youth recreation projects. Harness also the principal of government relations at the lobbying firm Harness & Associates, LLC. Harness
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Murphy’s campaign eclipses quarter-million dollars in Columbia mayoral race; Buffaloe lags behind at $70k
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A couple of Columbia’s mayoral candidates have garnered more donations in what has turned out to be a high-dollar election. Challenger Blair Murphy’s campaign eclipsed a quarter-million dollars in contributions, according to his eight-day campaign finance report submitted to the Missouri Ethics Commission. Eight-day reports had a closing date of March 27
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Jefferson City Ward 3 candidates discuss affordable housing ahead of April 8 election
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Affordable housing has been a recurring topic in Jefferson City politics ahead of the April 8 election. Candidates for Jefferson City’s City Council Ward 3, Erica Choinka and Derek Thomas, similarly have plans for improving infrastructure, if elected. They are running for the seat currently held by Councilman Scott Spencer. A
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Interview with Erica Choinka, candidate for Jefferson City Council Ward 3
JEFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Erica Choinka is a member of the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission and a candidate for Jefferson City Council Ward 3. Choinka’s campaign focuses on improving the city’s parks and recreational programs, supporting economic development, improving public safety and protecting taxpayers from unnecessary spending. Choinka is a communications specialist in
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Interview with Derek Thomas, candidate for Jefferson City Council Ward 3
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Derek Thomas is a Ward 3 resident running for Jefferson City Council. Thomas’ campaign focuses on respect for local residents and city employees, improving infrastructure and parks and recreation programs, and increasing economic development. Thomas serves on the Jefferson City Airport Advisory Committee. He also serves on the Chamber of Commerce
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More than 1,100 Boone County residents cast ballots during no-excuse absentee voting
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) About 320 people cast their ballots over the weekend during no-excuse absentee voting for April elections in Boone County. Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon said that since no-excuse absentee voting began Tuesday, more than 1,100 people have voted. For many voters, casting their ballots early provides peace of mind. Lauren Williams, who
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