Blankenship retains presiding commissioner post by 269 votes

By Kyle Troutman [email protected]

For the first time since 2014, Barry County has elected a new prosecutor.

Following an official 31.15% turnout at the Primary Election polls, with 83.93% of voters (6,241 total) casting Republican ballots, challenger for Barry County prosecutor Andrew Cole pulled in 4,630 votes (77%) to incumbent Amy Boxx’s 1,401 (23%).

“I was feeling confident throughout the whole election cycle, but to be honest, the turnout that we got, I was blown away,” Cole said. “I was not expecting it to be that big of a difference. So I’m shocked, surprised and happy about it. It makes me even more confident that I did the right thing.”

Cole said after taking a week to recoup, he plans to over the next couple of weeks meet with Boxx and see where things are at the office.

“I want to have a conversation with all the employees,” he said. “I’ve heard from a couple of different people they’re worried about getting fired, and I need to ease that. I’m not going to come in and clean house, so I want to put their minds at ease.”

Cole said he plans to retain all staff that wishes to stay.

Beyond staffing, Cole said he hopes to meet with law enforcement agencies to begin a transition to a new system of submitting paperwork entirely online.

“I’d like to start shifting the way cases are referred to the prosecutor’s office, doing that electronically as opposed to just hardcopy tickets being sent over,” he said. “That’s what we do up in Lawrence County. They can log into their side of the system, load their stuff in, and send it over to the prosecutor’s office, and it streamlines the process. That helps things not fall through the cracks. And honestly, it helps with data tracking and keeping track of our metrics, which will now have to be reported starting in 2027. 

“There’s going to be a lot to do, so I want to get ready for it, but I don’t see any issues in any of that.”

Cole, a Cassville native and current assistant prosecutor in Lawrence County, said he’s most excited to assume office and serve the people of Barry County.

“Like I’ve said this whole time, this is where I’m from, and I feel like there was a good opportunity to get in and make a change for the better, and then I get to actually be the one to do that,” he said. “I’m excited about that.”

An area of concern has been the fact Cole’s father, David Cole, is the presiding judge for the 39th Circuit, which could create a conflict of interest. Andrew Cole, however, said that has also been the case while he has served in Lawrence County, and has not been an issue.

“We’re just going to do the same thing that we did in Lawrence County,” he said. “[Judge Cole] transferred all of his cases to Judge [Alan] Blankenship, and that’s what we’re going to do in Barry County. I’m assuming he’ll go back to taking the criminal cases in Lawrence County after I leave, and Judge Blankenship will get the criminal cases in Barry County. And, if for some reason, Judge Blankenship has to get out. There’s plenty of other judges in the circuit as well.

“It hasn’t been an issue in Lawrence County, so it’s not going to be an issue in Barry. I’m not worried about that at all.”

Cole will also assume prosecution of the three brothers arrested for the alleged murder of 14-year-old Justin Hocutt in 1999. While he attended the recent press conference following the arrests, Cole said he has not had an opportunity to review case files and did not wish to speak on the case yet.

“I don’t know all the details and the specifics of the case, so I’m not going to speak on that,” he said. “But, I am excited to have the opportunity to seek justice for Justin. I do think he and his family deserve that.”

Cole won every precinct in the county, performing best in Washburn and Seligman with 87% and 85% support, respectively. The closest precincts were Kings Prairie/Pleasant Ridge and Monett City/Monett Rural/Capps Creek, where he received 61% and 62% support, respectively. Cassville City/Cassville Rural/Mineral Springs was the largest voting block with 1,215 votes cast, of which Cole received 1,005 (83%).

“I would like to thank all the citizens of Barry County for coming out, participating in the process, and obviously voting for me,” Cole said. “I definitely couldn’t have done it without them, and everyone who worked on my campaign, everyone that went and called folks, and let people know to vote for me. I just appreciate everything that everyone’s done for me. I look forward to getting in and working hard for the people of Barry County.”

Presiding Commissioner

In the two-man race for presiding commissioner, incumbent Steve Blankenship held onto his post with 3,088 votes (52%) to challenger Chad Johnson’s 2,816 votes (48%).

“It went just about like I hoped,” Blankenship said. “You never know, but I lost the places I thought I would lose and won the places I thought I’d win. I did try to do some campaigning in the places I thought I would lose, and I thought maybe I’d do a little better in some of those places I thought I was weak at, but it didn’t seem to help.”

A Jenkins resident, Blankenship performed well in areas close to home, taking 72% in Jenkins, 74% in Ozark/Crane Creek, 65% in Kings Prairie/Pleasant Ridge, 65% in Golden and 61% in Monett City/Monett Rural/Capps Creek.

A Cassville resident, Johnson won four total precincts: Exeter, with 68%; Cassville City/Cassville Rural/Mineral Springs with 56%; Purdy/McDowell with 55%; Washburn/Ash with 56%; and Wheaton with 59%.

Blankenship’s victory could largely be credited to Jenkins, Monett, and Golden, which provided 306 more votes total than Johnson, whom he defeated by 269 votes.

Blankenship said moving into his second term, he hopes to continue his work on steering committees and economic development with organizations like the Missouri Association of Counties.

“Last year, I was on the community and economic development committee, and this year, I’m on the agricultural and environment committee,” he said. “I think it’s important to keep somebody from our county with a seat at the table up there, to steer state policy and have our voice heard. I’m going to continue to try to do those things and continue my work with the Monett and Lawrence County on our economic alliance because I think that’s important to try to encourage more economic development in this area.”

Bridges also remain an area of focus going forward. Blankenship said some have been repaired and the county has taken bids for others, and the commission is continuing to look at more than need repair or replacement.

“Improving the infrastructure is part of economic development too, I think,” he said. “It kind of goes hand in hand making sure we have good infrastructure and no dangerous bridges out there. It’s important.”

Ultimately, Blankenship said his primary goal as presiding commissioner remains the same.

“I’ll keep listening to the people and doing the best I can,” he said.

Other in-county ballot 

measures

Three financial proposals within the county all received green lights from voters on Aug. 4.

A $4.5 million bond issue for the Central Crossing Fire Protection District passed with 759 votes (64%) in favor and 427 (36%) against. In Barry County, 463 (62%) voted for the measure and 263 (38%) against it, and in Stone County, 296 (64%) voted in favor and 164 (36%) voted against. The funds will be used to renovate two stations, add to its fleet of brush trucks, purchase new equipment and pay off leases.

The Seligman Fire Protection District passed a 1% sales tax with 188 votes (68%) in favor and 89 votes (32%) against. Funds will be used for services, including equipment, training and operational expenses.

The city of Butterfield, on its second attempt, passed a $5 million bond issue with 50 votes (77%) in favor and 15 votes (23%) against. Funds will be used to extend and improve the city’s sewer system, including acquiring land and rights of way, the cost of operation and maintenance of said sewer system, and the principal and interest on said revenue bonds to be payable solely from the revenues derived by the city from the operation of the sewer system, including all future improvements and extensions.

State Amendments

Barry County sided with the state on all four proposed Constitutional amendments.

On Amendment 1, to renew the .1% sales and use tax for soil and water conservation and for state parks and historic sites for the next 10 years, Barry County voters cast 5,720 in favor (78%) and 1,582 against (22%). Statewide, it was approved by an 82%-18% margin.

On Amendment 2, to require the Jackson County assessor to be an elected position, Barry County voters cast 5,418 in favor (76%) and 1,707 against (24%). Statewide, it was approved by a 77%-23% margin.

On Amendment 4, to require the majority of voters from each congressional district to approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution and other provisions, Barry County voters cast 5,701 against (77%) and 1,669 in favor (23%). Statewide, it failed by an 80%-20% margin.

On Amendment 5, to phase out the individual income tax based on revenue growth and make other tax-related changes, Barry County voters cast 6,170 against (84%) and 1,213 in favor (16%). Statewide, it failed by an 83%-17% margin.