Stoddard County, Missouri - On Tuesday, November 6th voters across the country will cast their votes for the 2018 Midterm Elections.  The ShowMe Times will be reporting on Facebook and Twitter LIVE on Stoddard County results beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday evening. 

Local Stoddard County Candidates: None contested!

Circuit Judge Circuit 35 - Rob Mayer

Associate Circuit Judge Division II - Joe Satterfield

Associate Circuit Judge Division III - Brad Jarrell

Presiding Commissioner - Danny Talkington

County Clerk - Cecil Weeks

Circuit Clerk - Paula Yancey

Recorder of Deeds - Kay Asbell

Prosecuting Attorney - Russ Oliver

MISSOURI

U.S. Senator

Republican: Josh Hawley - Current Attorney General of Missouri in his first term.

Democrat: Claire McCaskill - the incumbent and has served as a U.S. Senator in Missouri since 2006

Libertarian: Japheth Campbell

Green Party: Jo Crain

Independent: Craig O-Dear

State Auditor

Republican: Saundra McDowell

Democrat: Nicole Galloway - the incumbent and was appointed by former Governor Jay Nixon

Libertarian: Sean O’Toole

Green Party: Don Fitz

Constitution: Jacob Luetkemeyer

U.S. House Seat 8th District

Republican: Jason Smith - been in this position since 2013

Democrat: Kathy Ellis

Libertarian: Jonathan Shell

District 151 House race

Republican: Herman Morse - the incumbent who was elected in 2017 to fill the remainder of a two-year term

Democrat: J.T. (Jerry) Howard

Libertarian: Rick Vandevan

Ballot issues

Amendment 1

Official ballot title: Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:

+ change the process and criteria for redrawing state legislative districts during reappointment

+ change limits on campaign contributions that candidates for state legislature can accept from individuals or entities

+ establish a limit on gifts that state legislators, and their employees can accept from paid lobbyists

+ prohibit state legislators, and their employees, from serving as paid lobbyists for a period of time

+ prohibit political fundraising by candidates for or members of the state legislature on State property

+ require legislative records and proceedings to be open to the public

State governmental entities estimate annual operating costs may increase by $189,000. Local governmental entities expect no fiscal impact.

Amendment 2

Official ballot title: Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:

+ allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes, and create regulations and licensing/certification procedures for marijuana and marijuana facilities

+ impose a 4 percent tax on the retail sale of marijuana

+ use funds from these taxes for health and care services for military veterans by the Missouri Veterans Commission and to administer the program to license/certify and regulate marijuana and marijuana facilities?

+ This proposal is estimated to generate annual taxes and fees for $18 million for state operating costs and veterans programs, and $6 million for local governments. Annual state operating costs are estimated to be $7 million.

Amendment 3

Official ballot title: Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:

+ allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes and create regulations and licensing procedures for marijuana and marijuana facilities

+ impose a 15 percent tax on the retail sale of marijuana and a tax on the wholesale sale of marijuana flowers and leaves per dry-weight ounce to licensed facilities

+ use funds from these taxes to establish and fund a state research institute to conduct research with the purpose of developing cures and treatments for cancer and other incurable diseases or medical conditions?

This proposal is estimated to generate annual taxes and fees of $66 million. State governmental entities estimate initial implementation costs of $186,000 and increased annual operating costs of $500,000.

Amendment 4

Official ballot title: Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to:

+ remove language limiting bingo game advertising that a court ruled unenforceable

+ allow a member of a licensed organization conducting bingo games to participate in the management of bingo games after being a member of the organization for six months instead of the current two years?

State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings from this proposal.

Proposition B

Official ballot title: Do you want to amend Missouri law to:

+ increase the state minimum wage to $8.60 per hour with 85 cents per hour increase each year until 2023, when the state minimum wage would be $12 per hour

+ exempt government employers from the above increase

+ increase the penalty for paying employees less than the minimum wage?

State and local governments estimate no direct costs or savings from the proposal, but operating costs could increase by an unknown annual amount that could be significant. State and local government tax revenue could change by an unknown annual amount ranging from a $2.9 million decrease to a $214 million increase depending on business decisions.

Proposition C

Official ballot title: Do you want to amend Missouri law to:

+ remove state prohibitions on personal use and possession of medical cannabis (marijuana) with a written certification by a physician who treats a patient diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition

+ remove state prohibitions on growth, possession, production and sale of medical marijuana by licensed and regulated facilities, and a facility’s licensed owners and employees

+ impose a 2% tax on the retail sale of medical marijuana

+ use funds from this tax for veterans' services, drug treatment, early childhood education, and for public safety in cities with a medical marijuana facility?

State governmental entities estimate initial and one-time costs of $2.6 million, annual costs of $10 million, and annual revenues of at least $10 million. Local government entities estimate no annual costs and are expected to have at least $152,000 in annual revenues.

Proposition D

Shall Missouri law be amended to fund Missouri state law enforcement by increasing the motor fuel tax by two and one half cents per gallon annually for four years beginning July 1, 2019, exempt Special Olympic, Paralympic and Olympic prizes from state taxes, and to establish the Emergency State Freight Bottleneck Fund?

If passed, this measure will generate at least $288 million annually to the State Road Fund to provide for the funding of Missouri state law enforcement and $123 million annually to local governments for road construction and maintenance.

Shall Judge Brent Powell of the Missouri Supreme Court be retained in office? Yes or No

Shall Judge Mary Rhodes Russell of the Missouri Supreme Court be retained in office? Yes or No

Shall Judge Jeffrey Bates of the Southern District Court of Appeals be retained in office?  Yes or No

The Dexter Fire Department would like to remind everyone to change and test the batteries in their home and business smoke alarms.  Also it's a good time of the year to check carbon monoxide detectors when setting the clocks back for daylight saving time!

Daylight Saving Time ends this Sunday, November 4th at 2 a.m.  So before you head off to bed on Saturday evening flip your clocks back one hour!  You gain an hour of sleep!

Dexter Fire Chief Don Seymore stated, "It's the perfect time to remember that when you set your clocks back, check your smoke detector battery and your carbon monoxide detector."

"It's such an inexpensive way to save you or your family if a fire were to happen in your home.  Also don't forget to check the smoke detectors as your work.  If you have a small business you need one as well."

The National Fire Protection Association reported that 71% of smoke alarms which failed to operate had missing or dead batteries.  This reinforces how important it is to take the time each year and check them.

Chief Seymore also would like to remind people to check other devices that keep us safe, secure and comfortable in our homes such as flashlights, fire extinguishers, and weather radios.

Just remember to Fall Back on Sunday and check those batteries.  It could mean saving your life!