MCC QUESTION FAILS; BERBERICH, JONES WIN
A quarter cent sales tax to establish a Platte County community children’s services was passed by county voters at Tuesday’s general election.
The sales tax question was approved with 56 percent in favor to 44 percent opposed. Supporters said the tax will help troubled children and families in crisis, while opponents pointed out the tax has no sunset.
Ballot language says the tax is “for the purpose of providing services to protect the well-being and safety of children and youth 19 years of age or less and to strengthen families.”
“Our county commissioners are intent on spending millions to lock people up but nothing to help troubled kids and families,” the Weston Chronicle wrote last week in an editorial supporting passage of the tax.
Other notable results from a lengthy ballot included the defeat of a property tax question by voters within the Platte County R-3 School District. That 17 cent tax levy would have “attached” the school to the Metropolitan Community College district and would have allowed R-3 students to get a discounted rate on MCC tuition. R-3 voters defeated the proposal, with 55 percent opposed to 45 percent in favor.
Also at Tuesday’s election, voters in the county’s first commission district elected Allyson Berberich as commissioner. Berberich, a Republican who currently serves as an alderman for the City of Parkville, defeated Democrat Charles McDonald by a count of 14,580 to 12,664, roughly a 54% to 46% margin.
Effective Jan. 1, Berberich will take over the first district commission seat from Dagmar Wood, who unsuccessfully ran for county assessor in August. Wood was defeated in the Republican primary for assessor by Marcus Farr.
In a very tight state representative race, challenger Mike Jones, Republican, edged incumbent Democrat Jamie Johnson in district 12 in southern Platte County.
Unofficial results show Jones had 10,102 votes to 9,902 for Johnson, a margin of 50.5 percent to 49.5 percent.
Statewide, Missouri voters approved an abortion rights question and narrowly approved an amendment legalizing sports betting.
Voter turnout in Platte County was 81.11 percent. In the 2020 presidential election, voter turnout in Platte County was 82.67 percent.
For a complete list of detailed results of Platte County voting, go to plattecountymovotes.gov/results
CITY OF PLATTE CITY
Platte City voters overwhelmingly passed a revenue bond question that will fund improvements to the city’s wastewater treatment plant and sewer system. The question needed only simple majority to pass. It was approved with 73 percent of voters in favor.
“I’m happy our voters trusted us so much,” Platte City Mayor Steve Hoeger told The Landmark late Tuesday. “It’s a big win for Platte City.”
NATIONAL ELECTION
Platte County voters followed the nationwide trend in preferring Donald Trump over Kamala Harris for president. Trump pulled 51 percent of voters in Platte County to 48 percent for Harris, roughly the same margin that Trump had in the county over Joe Biden in 2020. Statewide, Trump won Missouri with 58 percent of the vote.
U.S. SENATOR
Statewide, incumbent Republican Senator Josh Hawley defeated Democratic challenger Lucas Kunce 56 percent to 42 percent. But it was Kunce who carried Platte County. In Platte, Kunce received 28,229 votes to 27,993 for Hawley, pulling 49.05 percent compared to Hawley’s 48.64 percent.
CONGRESS
Sixth District Congressman Sam Graves, Republican, easily won reelection with 71 percent approval over Democrat Pam May districtwide. In Platte County, Graves garnered 55 percent of the vote to 43 percent for May.
STATE LEVEL RACES
Governor: Mike Kehoe, Republican, topped Democrat Crystal Quade, both statewide and in Platte County. Platte Countians preferred Kehoe 52 percent to 46 percent. Statewide his margin was 59 percent to 39 percent.
Lieutenant governor: Platte County went with Dave Wasinger, Republican, over Richard Brown, Democrat, 52 percent to 45 percent. Statewide it was Wasinger 57 percent to 39 percent.
Secretary of state: In Platte County, Denny Hoskins, Republican, was preferred over Democrat Barbara Phifer 52 percent to 46 percent. Statewide, Hoskins won 58 percent to 40 percent.
Treasurer: Vivek Malek carried Platte County 52 percent to 44 percent over Democrat Mark Osmack. Statewide, Malek won 58 percent to 38 percent.
Attorney general: Republican Andrew Bailey carried Platte County 53 percent to 45 percent over Democrat Elad Gross. Statewide, Bailey won 60 percent to 38 percent.
State representative, district 13: Incumbent Sean Pouche easily won reelection, 67 percent to 33 percent over Democrat challenger Andrea Denning. In the Platte County portion of the district, Pouche led 64 percent to 36 percent
State representative, district 14: Incumbent Democrat Ashley Aune defeated Republican challenger Frank Pendleton 54 percent to 46 percent.
STATEWIDE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
Amendment 2 to legalize sports betting: It narrowly won statewide, with 50.1 percent in favor to 49.9 percent opposed. The statewide margin of victory was only about 7,500 votes. In Platte County, voters comfortably approved of the question with 60 percent in favor to 40 percent opposed.
Amendment 3 to establish a constitutional abortion rights provision: The question won statewide by a margin of 52 percent in favor to 48 percent opposed. Platte County voters gave it a very comfortable thumbs up, with 62 percent in favor to 38 percent opposed.
Amendment 5 to allow gambling boats on the Osage River: Statewide this question lost, with 52 percent opposed to 48 percent in favor. Platte County voters, on the other hand, liked the question, with 53 percent in favor to 47 percent opposed.
Amendment 6 to authorize court fees for law enforcement salaries: This question was soundly defeated statewide with 61 percent opposed to only 39 percent in favor. In Platte County, voters also opposed it, with 58 percent voting no to 42 percent yes.
Amendment 7, prohibit ranked voting on candidates: This was overwhelmingly passed statewide with 69 percent in favor to 31 percent opposed. In Platte County, 66 percent approved it to 34 percent opposed.
Proposition A to increase the minimum wage requirement: This question passed statewide with 58 percent in favor to 42 percent opposed. In Platte County, voters liked it with 63 percent in favor to 37 percent opposed.
LOCAL JUDGES
All three Platte County Circuit Court judges received retention approval from voters.
Judge Quint Shafer: 66 percent yes, 34 percent no.
Judge Amy Ashelford: 69 percent yes, 31 percent no.
Judge Megan Benton: 69 percent yes, 31 percent no.
WESTERN DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
Judge Gary Witt, who lives in Platte County, retained his seat on the Western District Court of Appeals. In Platte County, he pulled 65 percent yes to 35 percent no.
