Voters
soundly reject statewide propositions
by Danielle
Hillix
Landmark editor
With few contested races on the ballot, voter turnout
was low in Platte County for Tuesday's primary election.
Only about 19% of registered Platte County voters weighed
in on the primary races, along with two hot-button issues.
Voters were in the mood to say no on Tuesday, rejecting
two statewide propositions along with a bond issue.
Proposition A, a statewide question that would have taxed
cell phones for enhanced 911 service, was defeated in
Platte County 6,525 to 3,523, or 65 percent to 35 percent.
Voters statewide also shot down the tax of up to 50 cents
per cell phone line by a fairly large margin, 66 percent
to 34 percent.
Another statewide question - Proposition B - was also
soundly defeated throughout the state. In Platte County,
voters rejected the proposal to raise sales and fuel taxes
by a 6,846 to 3,249 margin, or 68 percent to 32 percent.
Statewide the proposition received even less support,
with about 75 percent voting against the tax hike and
only about 25 percent voting in favor.
"In the Senate, we have long held that Missouri
citizens deserve better accountability and less diversion
of funds for highways in our state. This election proves
that not only do the citizens deserve greater accountability
and less diversion, they demand it," said Senate
President Pro Tem Peter Kinder after viewing Proposition
B results.
Platte County voters also didn't like a City of Kansas
City Bond Issue, that would have gone toward infrastructure
improvements of downtown Kansas City and surrounding neighborhoods.
In Platte County, the bond issue was rejected 2292 to
1902, 55 percent to 45 percent. The issue needed a 57
percent approval rating to pass. It failed citywide.
A Public Water Supply District No. 4 bond issue did get
the support of voters, 72 percent to 28 percent.
Also receiving approval was the City of Weatherby Lake
Water question by a 76 percent to 24 percent margin.
There were no surprises in the contested candidate races.
Jean Carnahan received 88 percent of the Platte County
vote to get the nod as the Democratic nominee for the
U.S. Senate seat she currently holds.
Her opponent in the November election will be Jim Talent
- who won the Republican primary Tuesday. Talent received
90 percent of the Platte County vote to defeat Joseph
May, Martin Lindstedt, Scott Craig Babbitt, and Doris
Landfather.
In another lopsided race, Charlie Shields soundly defeated
Jim Pitts to win the Republican bid for State Senate,
District 34 representative. In Platte County, Shields
received 73 percent of the vote, Pitts 27 percent.
Al Hanson defeated Jay L. Kanzler, Jr. for the chance
to run for state auditor on the Republican ticket. Hanson
gathered 58 percent of the Platte County vote, leaving
Kanzler, Jr. with 42 percent. Hanson's margin of victory
statewide was even larger.
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