By Tim SchmidtRecord Managing EditorIn recent years, the number of races for county offices have been few and far between.Next Tuesday’s primary election has a full slate of candidates.Republican voters will have plenty of candidates to choose from at the local level. Ballots will also be cast on a proposed tax increase for the Warrenton Fire Protection District and multiple constitutional amendments.Polls will be open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.The number of races is not a surprise, according to County Clerk Barb Daly.Two longtime officeholders decided to not run again, so that created interest for both county collector and treasurer. Also, this is the first time the newly created associate circuit judge position is up for election.Three other incumbents also are facing opposition at the county level.County Clerk Barb Daly is estimating voter turnout to be between 25 and 30 percent, based on past August elections. There are 21,842 registered voters in the county, she noted.In 2012, the turnout was 20 percent when no county offices were contested and the ballot was mostly filled with statewide races.In 2008 and 2010, the voter turnout was 27 and 30 percent, respectively.“The number of races should bring more voters out,” Daly said. “I don’t think we will get over 30 percent, but I hope I can be proven wrong.”Absentee ballots can be filled up to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 4, at the county clerk’s office in Warrenton. The clerk’s office will be open this Saturday, Aug. 2, from 8 a.m.-noon to accommodate absentee voters.Ballots can also be cast at the clerk’s office from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on weekdays for voters who will be absent on Election Day or for other reasons.Daly reminds voters that some form of identification must be shown when they vote. The most popular are a driver’s license or a voter registration card.Results will be tallied at the county administration building, located along South Highway 47 in Warrenton. The public can review the results in the lower level of the administration building. Results will also be posted on the county’s website (www.warrencountymo.org).Contested racesOf the six county races on the ballot, incumbents for two of the positions have decided to not seek another term.Longtime Collector Linda Stude and Treasurer Gene Cornell have decided to retire.The four candidates running to replace Stude as collector are Linda Gant, Julie Schaumberg, Marianne Keith and Pam Stoesz.The treasurer race pits Randy Lewis, a former Southern District commissioner, against Jeff Hoelscher, the current public administrator.For presiding commissioner, incumbent Arden Engelage is opposed by Roger Mauzy, who is the current county coroner.John Cornell is running for circuit clerk and will square off against incumbent Brenda Eggering.Prosecutor Jennifer Bartlett, who was appointed to her position in January, is running against Kelly King, a former assistant prosecutor.Incumbent Michael Wright is being challenged by Lauren Hopkins for associate circuit judge, Division 3. Wright was appointed judge in January, after serving as prosecutor since 1991.U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, is being challenged in the primary for the 3rd District seat by two Republican challengers, Leonard Steinman and John Morris. The winner will face either Velma Steinman or Courtney Denton, both Democrats, in the November election.Ballot measuresThe Warrenton Fire Protection District is asking voters to approve a 15-cent property tax increase to fund 24-hour coverage as well as equipment upgrades. The ballot measure is known as Proposition F. Currently, the paid firefighters work beginning 8 p.m. on Sunday through 8 p.m. on Friday. The weekends are covered by volunteers.The district’s last tax hike was in 2001.MoDOT is also seeking voter approval for a statewide sales tax increase. The initiative, known as Constitutional Amendment 7, would provide $4.8 billion over the next 10 years if a temporary three-quarter-cent sales tax is approved.Under the proposal, the sales tax increase would not be applied to purchases of medicine, groceries and gasoline. Also, fuel taxes would not increase and toll roads would not be implemented over the 10-year period the tax is in place.Other constitutional amendments on the ballot are related to agriculture, firearms, lottery and civil rights.No oppositionThree county incumbents face no opposition.Republican Barb Daly is running uncontested for county clerk. Deborah Engemann also is running uncontested for recorder of deeds. She is completing her first four-year term.Richard Scheibe has no opposition for associate circuit judge, Division 2. He was appointed to the position by the governor in January 2013.State Rep. Bart Korman, a Republican, is running unopposed for the 42nd District House seat. Rod Sturgeon, a Democratic candidate, also is running unopposed. The district encompasses all of Montgomery County, a large portion of Warren County and extends into southwestern St. Charles County.State Rep. Bryan Spencer, a Republican, and Bryan Pinette, a Democrat, have no opposition for the 63rd District House seat. The district covers Wright City, nearly all of Innsbrook and northwestern St. Charles County.Also not facing any competition in the August primary are candidates for the 10th District state senate seat, Republican Jeanie Riddle and Democrat Ed Schieffer. Riddle is currently the state representative for the 49th District, which covers Callaway County. Schieffer is the representative for the 11th District, covering Lincoln County.The senate seat both candidates are vying for includes the counties of Audrain, Callaway, Lincoln, Monroe, Montgomery and Warren.Tuesday's the Day