Voting by precinct shows varying degree of support for candidates, measures

About 7,000 Butler County residents turned out Tuesday to cast their votes in the August primary election, a stepping stone for some candidates to the November primary election.

The ballot list included five area office holders who were unopposed, Presiding Circuit Judge Mike Pritchett, Western District Commissioner Boots Legrand, Sheriff Mark Dobbs, Assessor Chris Rickman and 152nd District State Rep. Hardy Billington.

All five ran on the Republican ticket and did not see competition in the primary election within their party, or filings by candidates of another party.

Voters also selected Jeff Darnell as public administrator, Jim Akers as coroner and incumbent Butch Anderson as eastern district commissioner.

Darnell, 56, a former western district commissioner, and insurance and real estate agent, beat incumbent Sharron Payne, 73, 2335-1979. Also on the ballot were Cheryl Baker, 61, with 1,986 votes and deputy public administrator Marjorie Shipman, 60, with 1,270 votes.

Darnell carried a dozen precincts and was the top vote getter in Broseley, Coon Island, Hillview, Lake Road, Neelyville, Oak Brier, Poplar Bluff Ward 1, Qulin/Oglesville/Fagus, Sale Barn, Twin Springs, Walton Chapel and Wappapello.

Baker claimed six precincts (Cane Creek/Moark, Hendrickson, Oak Grove and Poplar Bluff wards 2, 4 and 5) and Payne three (Coon Island, Poplar Bluff Ward 3 and absentee voters).

Akers served as coroner from 2009-2016, when Moore beat him. Akers beat Moore this time around by 30 votes, 3,829-3,799.

Akers carried 13 precincts: Cane Creek/Moark, Coon Island, Fisk, Hendrickson, Hillview, Lake Road, Neelyville, Oak Brier, Poplar Bluff Ward 3, Sale Barn, Twin Springs, Walton Chapel and Wappapello.

Anderson won with 2,725 against Ross DeGaris, who had 1,828 votes. Anderson carried 12 precincts and absentee voters, with DeGaris claiming Poplar Bluff wards 1 and 3.

The Butler County Law Enforcement tax passed with 65.9% of the votes, 5,737-2666. It passed in all precincts and among absentee voters.

And while voters across the state approved Amendment 2, which will expand access to Medicaid, with 53% support, it failed in all Butler County precincts except one, Poplar Bluff’s Ward 3. The measure saw support in Ward 3 of 107-105 votes. Countywide, the measure had 2,418 ‘yes’ votes to 5,823 ‘no’ votes.