August election: County posts are in play around Mid-Missouri

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Aug. 4 ballots around Mid-Missouri are filled with races for county offices that will either decide the winner or set up a two-way race in November.

Commissioners

County commissioner seats are up for election this year in multiple counties.

In Boone County, four Republicans are running for the chance to take on incumbent Democrat Janet Thompson in November. They are Brenndan Riddles, Jim Musgraves, Sam Boyce and Tristan Asbury. Only Riddles has not filed a fundraising statement with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Asbury had the strongest fundraising operation in the last quarter, raising more than $3.600 and taking out a $4,000 loan. Boyce raised about $2,000, while Musgraves raised $400 and took out a $200 loan.

Riddles ran for Thompson's Northern District seat in 2016 and lost.

The August election will decide the winner of two commission seats in Cole County.

In the Western District, incumbent Kris Scheperle will face Gary Bemboom and Harry Otto for the seat. Jefferson City Councilman Rick Mihalevich will challenge Eastern District Commissioner Jeff Hoelscher for Hoelscher's seat.

No Democrats have filed for those seats.

Otto brought in $28,950 last quarter on 200 donations. Scheperle raised $1,600 during the quarter. Bemboom took in nearly $1,700 and took out a loan for $8,100 during the quarter.

Mihalevich took in about $3,700 in the last quarter and has raised about $16,000 during the election cycle. Hoelscher took in $950 in the last quarter but has raised more than $14,000 during the election cycle.

The Western District commission seat in Callaway County will also be decided Tuesday because only Republicans are running for the position.

In that race, incumbent Roger Fischer faces a challenge from Will Shackelford. Fischer has raised about $2,400 for the election while Shackelford has taken in about $3,800.

Contested commissioner races will also appear on ballots in Osage, Maries, Miller, Morgan, Cooper, Moniteau, Howard, Chariton, Randolph and Montgomery counties.

Judges

The 19th Judicial Circuit, which covers Cole County, features three races that will be decided in the Republican primary.

David Bandre is challenging incumbent Daniel Green in the Division 2 race while former prosecutor Mark Richardson and current Associate Circuit Judge Cotton Walker seek the Division 3 seat being vacated by Patricia Joyce.

Four Republicans are seeking the Division 5 associate circuit judge seat: Brian Stumpe, Todd Smith, Matt Willis and Tim Anderson.

Voters in the 26th Judicial Circuit, which covers Camden, Laclede, Miller, Moniteau and Morgan counties will choose one of three Republicans to be the next Division 3 judge. Aaron Koeppen, Jeffrey Green and Richelle Christensen Grosvenor are running for the seat.

Other county offices

Cole County voters will also decide on who will be the next assessor in the Republican primary. Incumbent Chris Estes is facing three challengers: Jonathan Roy Meyers, Rick Prather and Alex Meller.

Other contested races in Mid-Missouri counties include:

• Moniteau County voters will decide on races for two commission seats and the county assessor.
• Cooper County voters will elect two Republican commissioners and a Republican nominee for public administrator.
• Howard County voters will choose the Republican winner of one commission seat and Republican and Democratic nominees for another.
• Chariton County voters will pick a Republican nominee for the Western District commissioner seat.
• Randolph County voters will pick the Republican winner of the Western District seat on the county commission and the Republican nominee for sheriff.
• Montgomery County voters will pick a Republican for First District commissioner.
• Osage County voters will choose Republicans for First District commissioner and coroner.
• Maries County voters will pick a Republican for Eastern District commissioner.
• Miller County voters will pick Republicans to fill two commission seats and the sheriff's, coroner's and public administrator's offices.
• Morgan County voters will pick Republican nominees for two commission seats.