By Ryan Storz
Leo Sanders is 1-for-1.
In his first bid for public office, the retired conservation agent took 63 percent of the vote for Crawford County Presiding Commissioner against John Hewkin last Tuesday.
Sanders had 1,742 votes to Hewkin’s 994.
“I put a lot of work into campaigning and I feel that’s what a candidate needs to do,” Sanders said. “I didn’t get to all the houses and businesses, but I got to as many as I could.”
He said he will pick up where he left off.
“Now that I’ve won the primary, I can continue where I left off.”
Sanders will now square off against Nathan Otterman in November. Otterman was unopposed on the Democratic side of the ticket.
Otterman is also a first-time candidate. Raised in Crawford County, Otterman is a construction worker for Smith Masonry in St. Louis.
One of them will replace Ed Worley.
Sanders could potentially serve on the commission with Hewkin, who is the District No. 2 Commissioner. “I look forward to serving with him, if I win,” said Sanders.
He commended Hewkin for running a good campaign.
“I feel that John and I both ran a clean campaign,” he said. “Nobody was real negative. I don’t believe in that.”
Neither candidate believes himself to be a politician.
Dave Schatz toppled Justin Charboneau in the Republican primary for the 111th District. Schatz will face Democratic nominee, Tod DeVeydt, in November.
That was the only House primary for Crawford County voters.
Republican Jason Smith did not face a primary in the 150th District and does not have a Democratic challenger in November.
At the county level, voters will decide Circuit Court Clerk, Associate Circuit Judge, Treasurer, Collector and County Clerk.
Karen Harlan (R) faces Teresa Booker (D) for Circuit Court Clerk.
Incumbent Scott Bernstein (D) will face Susan Bell (R) for Circuit Judge.
Jessica Vincent-Easler (R) will try to hold her position as county Treasurer against Jim Huddleston (D).
Linda Branson (D) faces Pat Schwent (R) for county Collector.
Mardy Leathers (R) and Glenn Kage, Jr. (D) will vie for the county Clerk position being vacated by Connie Smith.
Sid Pearson (D) and Kim Cook (R) will be unopposed this fall. Pearson is the Prosecuting Attorney, while Cook is the Recorder of Deeds.
Proposition C
Proposition C passed overwhelmingly with 75 percent voting for the measure in Crawford County.
Prop C passed big in Missouri.