Barry County sees 44.18% turnout in Nov. 3 General Election

By Kyle Troutman [email protected]

A total of 44.18% of registered Barry County voters cast ballots in the Nov. 3 General Election, contributing to State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick, of Cassville, and State Rep. Scott Cupps, R-Shell Knob, retaining their positions.

Statewide, Fitzpatrick received 1,058,853 votes (50.920%), while Democratic challenger Quentin Wilson received 967,009 votes (46.503%) and Liberterian Dustin Coffell garnered 53,581 (2.577%). In Barry County, Fitzpatrick received greater support with 8,178 votes (78.31%) to Wilson’s 2,064 votes (19.93%) and Coffell’s 183 votes (1.75%)

Across District 158, Cupps, who was seeking his final term in the Missouri House, received 8,651 votes (75.886%), while Democratic challenger Christopher Foster, of Purdy, garnered 2,796 votes (24.114%). In Barry County alone, Cupps received 7,804. votes (75.22%) to Foster’s 2,571 (24.78%).

A major draw to the voting booths on Nov. 3 were the four Constitutional Amendments and one Proposition on the ballot. 

Amendment No. 3, which if passed would have implemented abortion restrictions and banned gender-transition procedures for minors, failed statewide by a 55-45% margin. In Barry County, 6,797 votes (64.55%) were cast in favor of the Amendment, and 3,733 votes (35.45%) were cast against.

Amendment No. 6, which requires 80% support in both chambers of the state legislature to change a citizen-approved initiative and require said changes go before voters, passed statewide by a 60-40% margin. In Barry County, voters cast 5,680 ballots (54.66%) against the Amendment and 4,711 (45.34%) in favor.

Amendment No. 7, which would have created a state savings account with the goal of using interest to eventually eliminate and replace state income taxes, failed statewide by a 61-39% margin. In Barry County, voters sided with the state with 5,266 votes (51.14%) against and 5,032 (48.86%) in favor.

Amendment No. 8, which gives Constitutional protection to elected county sheriffs and requires a quo warranto proceeding initiated by the Attorney General for removal, passed statewide with a 51-49% margin. In Barry County, voters again sided with the state, casting 6,678 votes (64.48%) in favor and 3,680 votes (35.53%) against.

Finally, Proposition A, which would have implemented a new Republican-proposed congressional redistricting plan, failed statewide by a 62-38% margin. In Barry County, voters were opposite of the state with 5,264 votes (51.17%) in favor and 5,0244 votes (48.83%) against.

In local issues, the cities of Purdy, Exeter and Washburn had questions on the ballot. 

In Purdy, voters declined a 2% use tax, with 96. votes against (54.24%) and 81 in favor (45.76%).

In Exeter, voters approved a $3.7 million bond issue for work on the water and sewer system, with 125. votes in favor (77.64%) and 36 votes against (22.36%).

In Washburn, voters declined a 1% sales tax for the General Fund, which would have raised the total sales tax in the city from 1% to 2%. The measure failed by 4 votes, with 54 against (51.92%) and 50 in favor (48.08%).

Numerous Barry County positions were also on the ballot, all uncontested Republicans. They included:

• Johnnie Cox, Associate Circuit Judge Division I, 8,821 votes

• Robert “Bob” Foulke, Associate Court Judge Division II, 8,672 votes

• Steve Blankenship, Presiding Commissioner, 8,757 votes

• Kimi Deal, County Clerk, 8,714 votes

• Craig Williams, Circuit Clerk, 8,801 votes

• Danielle Still, Recorder of Deeds, 8,839 votes

• Gretta Tripp, Treasurer, 8,740 votes

• Andrew Cole, Prosecutor, 8,808 votes

• Skyler Bowman, Collector of Revenue, 8,944 votes

The only national race on the ballot was U.S. Representative District 7, where Republican Eric Burlison retained his seat. District-wide, Burlison garnered 157,599 votes (62.152%) to Democrat Missi Hesketh’s 89,710 (35.379%). Libertarian Kevin Craig received 6,100 votes (2.406%), and write-ins accounted for 163 votes (0.064%).

The only two other candidates on the ballot were state judges. Statewide, Judge Paul C. Wilson retained his Missouri Supreme Court position by a 63-37% margin. In Barry County, voters cast 6,333 votes (67.92%) in favor of retention and 3,078 (32.71%) against. Southern District Court of Appeals Judge Matthew P. Hamner also retained his judgeship, garnering a statewide margin of 73-27%. In Barry County, voters cast 7,130 votes (76.36%) in favor and 2,207 votes (23.64%) against.