ELECTION UPDATES: Southern Boone to get to work this summer after winning ballot issues
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Southern Boone School District will get to work on improvements to the facilities this summer after voters approved a large bond issue and a tax levy adjustment to help free up more money to pay teachers.
Work at the high school will begin in the summer with remodeling two sets of restrooms and other improvements, the district said in a news release Tuesday night. Some design work will take place now through December and bidding is set to be out in early 2025.
Those improvements will be paid for with a $11.6-million bond issue.
Voters approved the bond issue 1,379-506. They also approved tax changes that will allow the district to increase teacher pay. That measure passed 1,215-668.
"The passage of the levy transfer is a testament to our community's commitment to supporting our teachers and staff," Superintendent Tim Roth said in a news release. "By helping increase salaries for school employees, we are not only trying to support our staff but also investing in the future success of our students."
Recall succeeds in Columbia First Ward
Columbia First Ward voters have chosen to recall their City Council representative.
First Ward Councilman Nick Knoth fell to recall by a 531-394 margin. The committee that organized the campaign to recall Knoth cited his job as a lobbyist for the real estate industry as their primary concern.
Meanwhile, real estate agent Lisa Meyer won the open Second Ward city council seat over Robert Schreiber III. Meyer won 1,249 votes compared to 998 for Schreiber. A certified write-in candidate, Lucio Bitoy, was also in the race and 43 write-in ballots were cast.
Countywide voters approved property tax relief for senior citizens by a wide margin, 13,928-6,430. Voters in the Southern Boone School District approved two measures to fund school improvements and staff salaries.
Turnout landed at about 16%, just under the 19% predicted by Clerk Brianna Lennon.
Another incumbent is unseated in Jefferson City
The second of two incumbents running for Jefferson City Council has been unseated.
Randall Wright lost his Fourth Ward seat to Chris Leuckel, president of the city's Parks and Recreation Commission. Leuckel prevailed by a wide margin, 712-331.
First Ward Councilman Jack Deeken lost earlier in the night to newcomer Randy Hoselton. Hoselton won by 110 votes out of close to 700 votes cast.
In a Fifth Ward race featuring two newcomers, businesswoman Mackenzie Job triumphed over Virginia Shetler, 560-356.
In Boone County, the race for Columbia Board of Education was shaping up. With half of the precincts in the race reporting, incumbent Jeanne Snodgrass and newcomer Alvin Cobbins had a commanding lead over second-time candidate John Potter, who positioned himself as a conservative answer to a rubber-stamp board with liberal policies.
Lisa Meyer led Robert Schreiber III in the Columbia City Council's Second Ward with two-thirds of the precincts reporting, 856-734. Another 29 votes were cast for write-in candidates in a race that had one qualified write-in, Lucio Bitoy.
The "yes" votes were winning in the campaign to recall First Ward Councilman Nick Knoth with half of precincts reporting.
First Ward incumbent unseated in Jefferson City
The incumbent First Ward council member in Jefferson City will lose his seat.
Jack Deeken lost to challenger Randy Hoselton 285-395 on Tuesday with all precincts reporting. The seat is one of five on the ballot -- four of those races are contested. Deeken was one of two incumbents facing challenges in addition to Randall Wright.
Treaka Young will be a new face on the Jefferson City Council in Ward 2 after defeating Amy Brixin a race without an incumbent.
A bond issue and accompanying tax levy change in Blair Oaks School District also won approval with all precincts reporting.
Boone, Cole counties report absentee ballot numbers
Boone and Cole counties have reported their absentee ballot tallies.
In the Columbia Board of Education race incumbent Jeanne Snodgrass and newcomer Alvin Cobbins enjoyed a large lead over John Potter among only absentee ballots. Potter is in his second campaign for the school board and has positioned himself as the conservative counterpoint to the current board.
Absentee voters in the Southern Boone School District had voted mostly yes on two bond and tax issues to help the school keep up with its growing population.
Lisa Meyer had a narrow lead among absentee ballots in Columbia's Second Ward and "yes" votes had a slight lead in the campaign to recall First Ward Councilman Nick Knoth.
Bond and tax issues also won favor from absentee voters in the Blair Oaks School District.
Results from all the races can be viewed here.
Boone County clerk gives update; polls now closed
Polls closed at 7 p.m. around Mid-Missouri.
Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon told ABC 17 News at 6 p.m. that turnout had reached about 15%. That means turnout could fall short of the 19% forecast. The only countywide issue on the ballot is a question about whether to grant property tax relief to senior citizens.
School boards throughout the county have races and issues on the ballot.
Boone County turnout ticks up through afternoon
Turnout in Boone County had hit the double digits with a few hours to go before the polls close.
The Boone County Clerk's Office posted on X that turnout was 10.9% as of 4 p.m. The office had predicted turnout as high as 19% for the April election, which includes a Columbia Board of Education race and a countywide issue on senior property tax relief.
As of 4pm, Election Day turnout in Boone County is 10.9%. Less than 3 hours to get to the polls! 🗳️ #votelocal https://t.co/Hkn3sQB39e pic.twitter.com/DNPdu9oGDg
— Boone County Clerk (@voteboonemo) April 2, 2024
A contested Columbia City Council seat is also on the ballot, along with a council recall. Two ballot issues are before voters in the Southern Boone School District.
Boone, Cole counties report early afternoon turnout
Voter turnout had crept above 7% by early afternoon Tuesday in Boone County, and even higher in Cole County.
The Boone County Clerk's Office posted on social media that 7.3% of the county's registered voters had cast ballots by 1 p.m. That number was nearly 123,000 voters as of last April's municipal election.
As of 1pm, Election Day turnout in Boone County is at 7.3% #votelocal https://t.co/nLZM7FmDrc pic.twitter.com/UXreXWEdiF
— Boone County Clerk (@voteboonemo) April 2, 2024
Races and issues appear Tuesday on ballots throughout Mid-Missouri, including school bond and tax issues and other local government races. In Columbia, Ward 2 voters will pick a new council member and Ward 1 voters will decide whether to recall Councilman Nick Knoth.
Boone County voters will also decide whether to give seniors a property tax break. Southern Boone School District voters have a bond issue and tax levy question on their ballots.
In Jefferson City, seats are up for election in four of the city's five wards. Turnout in Cole County had reached 9% by a little before 2 p.m.
Boone County's clerk had predicted about 19% turnout while Cole County predicted about 10%.
Check back throughout the night for updated results in races around the area.
