While municipal elections are not known for strong turnouts, 4,225 Warren County residents, or 15.37% of registered voters turned out to make their voices heard on five ballot measures and four contested board races.

County Clerk Denise Stotler was pleased with the turnout but said she would always like to see more. 

“I’m happy with it, I was expecting 12 (percent),” said Stotler. 

She also noted that thanks to the efforts of her staff and poll workers, the election process ran smoothly, despite several write-in campaigns. 

“Write-ins were a bit more work but it went pretty smooth overall,” said Stotler. 

Prop E, a quarter-cent sales tax increase for the Warren County Emergency Communications Center and the only countywide measure on the ballot passed 2,798 (66.86%) to 1,387 (33.14%). 

Warrenton

Voters in Warrenton decided on two ballot measures from the Warrenton Fire Protection District and two contested races for board of aldermen seats in the election. 

The district’s two ballot measures, Prop L, a $10-million bond issue, and Prop F, a 25-cent tax increase, both passed. Prop L surpassed the required four-sevenths majority with 1,720 (67.14%) versus 842 (32.86%), while Prop F passed with 1,654 (64.63%) to 913 (35.57%).  

In Ward II, challenger Christine Wait defeated incumbent Steven Cullom. Wait received 262 votes (69.31%) to Cullom’s 116 (30.69%). 

In Ward III, Incumbent Roger Romaker will serve a second two-year term as alderman. He had 151 votes (57.85%) to beat challenger Melissa Jepsen who had 110 votes (42.15%). 

Mayor Eric Schlueter and Ward I Alderman Larry Corder ran unopposed and will continue in their respective roles. 

Wright City

Wright City voters had a number of measures to decide with both a bond issue and a contested race for two school board seats in the R-II school district and a ballot measure on a 3% sales tax on recreational marijuana sales. 

Prop G, a $10-million bond issue passed with 733 votes (69.48%) in support compared to 322 votes (30.52%). The funding will allow the district to move forward with the construction of the Wright City High School’s new performance gym. 

In the school board races, incumbents Austin Jones and Mary Groeper faced off against challenger Frank Zykan and write-in candidate John Woehrle. 

Groeper and Jones were the two highest vote-getters, receiving 609 (34.96%) and 572 votes (32.84%) respectively and defeating Zykan who 446 votes (25.60%) and Woerhle with 115 (6.60%). 

Wright City will also impose a 3% sales tax on recreational marijuana after voters approved the measure with 287 votes (66.44%) compared to 145 (33.56%). 

Aldermen Don Andrews and Kim Arbuthnot ran for reelection unopposed and will retain their seats. 

Truesdale

A contested race for two Truesdale Board of Aldermen seats emerged just weeks before the election. Incumbent Kari Hartley will retain her seat, receiving 101 votes (48.56%). She will be joined by write-in candidate Ellen Wortham who received 60 votes (28.85%). 

Charlie Morrow finished third with 28 votes (13.46%). 

Innsbrook 

The Innsbrook Board of Trustees will have three new members as candidates Mike Caton, Alice Jensen and Linda Buschman were the top three vote-getters, defeating incumbents Cynthia Cook and Dan Reuter along with two other candidates. 

Caton received 154 votes (21.01%) and will attain a board seat along with Jensen with 137 votes (18.69%) and Buschman with 108 (14.73%). The losing candidates ranked as follows: Lynda Baker with 90 (12.28%), Reuter with 89 (12.14%), Sandra Zahradka with 80 (10.91%) and Cook with 75 (10.23%).