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LIVINGSTON COUNTY ELECTION 2016

Mapel, Thompson, Grozinger Get Voter Nod
By Catherine Stortz Ripley
August 2, 2016

A crowd gathers in the lobby of the Livingston County Courthouse to watch primary election results be posted. The election drew much local interest as there were seven candidates seeking the open seats of east and west district commissioner. The last time two new commissioners were elected into office was in 1962. C-T Photo / Catherine Stortz Ripley

Livingston County voters cast ballots Tuesday to determine who will advance to the county's general election in November. Among offices being voted upon were the east and west district commissioner posts. There were seven candidates seeking one of two available seats for county commissioner. There were four candidates (two Republicans and two Democrats) on the east district ballot and three Republicans on the west district ballot. Most often during election years, just one district seat is open; however, this year, both seats are open because East District Commissioner Ken Lauhoff and West District Commissioner Todd Rodenberg chose not to seek re-election. Unofficial results were announced at the courthouse around 8:15 p.m., and dozens of people, including candidates and their supporters as well as election judges, were present. Voters elected Republican David Mapel for west district county commissioner. No Democrats filed for this office; therefore, Mapel has no opposition in the general election. Mapel, a retired educator, received 460 votes cast on the Republican ballot for west district commissioner. Candidates Andy McDaniel received 363 votes, and Gordon Jones received 256 votes. In the east district, candidates Jim Grozinger (Democrat) and Alvin R. Thompson (Republican) received their party nominations and will advance to the general election for the office of east district commissioner. Alvin R. Thompson, owner of Alvin Thompson Construction Company, received 718 Republican votes, winning over candidate Steve Waits, who received 509 votes. Jim Grozinger, a retired educator, received 268 votes on the Democrat ticket, winning over candidate Phil Minnick, who received 82 votes. The commission districts have included the same townships and city of Chillicothe wards for many decades. The north wards (Wards 1 and 2) are included in the county's east district. The south wards (Wards 3 and 4) are part of the county's west district. An estimated 31 percent of the county's registered voters cast ballots in the election. Floodwaters may have kept some voters away from the polls. Monroe Township Election Judge Myra June Griffith told the C-T that she drove through some water to get the polls before 6 a.m. while floodwaters were rising. The road was closed shortly thereafter. Roads closed included Highways DD, C, F, and D. It was reported that some voters, especially those in Monroe Township, traveled 30 miles to vote at their polling place, which was the Jenkins Community Center in Dawn.
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Black Wins 7th District Race
By Catherine Stortz Ripley
August 2, 2016

Photo: Catherine Stortz Ripley

Rusty Black, a retired ag instructor, who resides in rural Chillicothe, captured 86 percent of the votes cast in a two-way Republican primary contest for the office of 7th District state representative. The other candidate seeking the office was John A. Myers, a disabled veteran who resides in Trenton. Since there are no other party candidates, the victor in Tuesday's election secures the office. The 7th District includes Livingston and Grundy counties, as well as a large portion of Linn County. Black soundly won Livingston County, receiving 2,102 votes compared to Myers' 224 votes. Unofficial reports from the other counties indicated similar outcomes. The 7th District is currently represented by Republican Mike Lair, of Chillicothe, who was first elected in 2008 and has reached term limits. Black, 55, said he was seeking the office of state representative because he was interested in public policy. Myers, 56, said he was seeking the office of state representative to 'make a difference, to give the average person a voice, to support our hard-working farmers, law enforcement, military and the forgotten disabled." Myers had previously sought the office of 7th District state representative.

Biggest County Commissioner Race in Decades
By Catherine Stortz Ripley, C-T
June 22, 2016

Livingston County voters will go to the polls in less than six weeks to determine who will advance to the county's general election. Among offices to be voted upon are the east and west district commissioner posts. There are seven candidates seeking one of two available seats for county commissioner. There are four candidates (two Republicans and two Democrats) on the East District ballot, and three Republicans on the west district ballot. Livingston County Clerk Sherry Parks stated that her office has received a large volume of inquiries from voters wanting to know in which district they reside. Most often during election years, just one district seat is open; however, this year, both seats are open because East District Commissioner Ken Lauhoff and West District Commissioner Todd Rodenberg chose not to seek re-election. The last time two new commissioners were elected into office was in 1962. At that time, Frank Bonderer, presiding commissioner, had been serving Livingston County in this capacity since January 1, 1951, according to records at the Livingston County clerk's office.

The commission districts have included the same townships and city of Chillicothe wards for many decades. The north wards (Wards 1 and 2) are included in the county's east district. The south wards (Wards 3 and 4) are part of the county's west district. Every 10 years, when the U. S. Census is complete, the county clerk reviews the population of each township and ward to ensure that they are equal by population according to the guidelines established in RSMo 49.010. The city ward boundaries then may be adjusted. If the population changed significantly in one or more townships, it could shift a township into the other commission district.

As Election Day approaches, campaign signs can be seen throughout the county and in high volume traffic areas, regardless of where the candidate resides. Parks encourages voters to call her office if they are unsure in which district they reside. East district county commission candidates are: Steve Waits (Republican), Alvin R. Thompson (Republican); Phil Minnick (Democrat), and Jim Grozinger (Democrat). West district county commission candidates are: Republicans David Mapel, Andy McDaniel and Gordon Jones. In the primary election, voters will select a party ballot. The candidates of each party receiving the most votes per office will advance to the November general election. There are no Democrat candidates for west district commissioner; therefore, the office will most likely be determined in the primary election.

Candidate Filing Closes; Seven Seek One of Two Commission Posts
By Catherine Stortz Ripley
March 30, 2016

The filing period for Livingston County elected offices closed at 5 p.m. Tuesday with races declared for the open seats of east and west district commissioner and for the office of sheriff. In the closing minutes of the filing period, Alvin R. Thompson of Chillicothe filed for the east district commissioner's post. He filed as a Republican. Thompson joins three other candidates seeking the office: Steve Waits (Republican), Phil Minnick (Democrat), and Jim Grozinger (Democrat). This position is currently held by Kenneth Lauhoff who chose not to seek re-election.

Three individuals have filed their candidacies for the office of west district commissioner, a position currently held by Democrat Todd Rodenberg, who chose not to seek re-election. Candidates for this office are Republicans David Mapel, Andy McDaniel and Gordon Jones.

For the office of sheriff, candidates are Republican Steve Cox, seeking his fifth term in office, and Democrat challenger Eric Menconi.

Incumbents of the other county-wide offices up for election this year have filed for re-election and are running unopposed. They are Assessor Steve Ripley (Democrat), seeking his fifth term; Collector-Treasurer Paula McCoy (Democrat), who has served since 2014; Public Administrator Sherry Parks (Democrat), seeking her fourth term; and Coroner J. Scott Lindley (Democrat), seeking his 10th term. Although still appearing on the ballot, the office of surveyor has remained vacant for many years.

Tuesday also brought a close to the filing period for Livingston County township committee posts. The following candidates have filed for township posts:

• Democrat Ticket - Chillicothe 1st Ward: Brenda A. Lauhoff, committeewoman; Kenneth E. Lauhoff, committeeman; Chillicothe 4th Ward: Amy Hobbs, committeewoman; Chillicothe Township: Brenda Wright, Chillicothe, committeewoman; Jackson Township: Kelly Christopher, Chillicothe, committeewoman; Todd Rodenberg, Chillicothe, committeeman;
• Republican Ticket - Chillicothe 4th Ward: Kathryn D. Harlow, Chillicothe, committeewoman; Clifford D. Harlow, Chillicothe, committeeman; Blue Mound Township: Sherry S. Jones, Dawn, committeewoman; Chillicothe Township: Louise Reasoner, Chillicothe, committeewoman; Robert Reasoner, Chillicothe, committeeman; Cream Ridge Township: Ann L. Meservey, Chula, committeewoman; Jim Meservey, Chula, committeeman; Fairview Township: Mary Pat Whiteside, Chillicothe, committeewoman; Dale Whiteside, Chillicothe, committeeman; Jackson Township: Karie B. Black, Chillicothe, committeewoman; Rusty Black, Chillicothe, committeeman; Medicine Township: Rita Jacobs, committeewoman; O. Deane Jacobs, committeeman; Rich Hill Township: Suzi Beck, Chillicothe, committeewoman; David Beck, Chillicothe, committeeman; Sampsel Township: Mary E. Quinn, Chillicothe, committeewoman; John A. Quinn, Chillicothe, committeeman; Wheeling Township: Nikki Norman, Wheeling, committeewoman; Jerry H. Norman, Wheeling, committeeman.

Contest Emerges for Office of Sheriff
March 22, 2016

A race has developed for the office of Livingston County sheriff with the filing of Eric Menconi who filed his candidacy at 1:30 p.m. Monday in the county clerk's office. Menconi, a former Livingston County sheriff detective, is a resident of Chillicothe's First Ward. Menconi filed as a Democrat for the position which is currently held by incumbent Republican Steve Cox. Cox filed for his fifth term as sheriff on February 23, the opening day of the filing period.

C-T, February 23, 2016

CAPTION: The candidate filing period for county offices opened at 8 a.m. February 23, 2016, in the clerk's office of the Livingston County Courthouse. Among those first to declare their candidacies are, from left: Steve Cox, incumbent sheriff; David Mapel, candidate for west district commissioner; Andy McDaniel, candidate for west district commissioner; Steve Ripley, incumbent assessor; Paula McCoy, incumbent collector-treasurer; Sherry Parks, public administrator. The candidates were assisted at the counter by Deputy Clerk Crislyn Cooksey and County Clerk Sherry Parks.

C-T Photo / Catherine Stortz Ripley

The filing period for several county offices opened at 8 a.m. today in the clerk's office of the Livingston County Courthouse with a race developing for the office of west district county commissioner as two candidates filed for the open seat. David Mapel, 60, a retired educator and assistant at the Green Hills Golf Course clubhouse, filed his candidacy on the Republican ticket. He resides in Chillicothe's 4th Ward. Following Mapel in declaring his candidacy for west district commissioner was Andy McDaniel, 60, a teacher and farmer residing in Jackson Township. McDaniel also filed on the Republican ticket. The west district commissioner's office is currently occupied by Todd Rodenberg, who announced that he does not plan to seek re-election. East District Commissioner Kenneth Lauhoff also announced that he does not plan to seek re-election.

Four county incumbents filed their candidacies for re-election during the first minutes of the filing period today. These include:

• Paula McCoy, collector-treasurer. McCoy, 62, of Chillicothe Township, was first appointed to the office in April 2014, and was elected to fill an unexpired term in November 2014. She filed on the Democrat ticket.
• Steve Ripley, assessor. Ripley, 54, of Chillicothe Township, was first elected to the office in November 2000, and was appointed to the position early to fill an unexpired term. He filed on the Democrat ticket.
• Steve Cox, sheriff. Cox, 51, of Chillicothe Township, was first elected to the office in November 2000. He filed on the Republican ticket.
• Sherry Parks, public administrator. Parks, 59, of Fairview Township, was first elected to the office in 2004. She filed on the Democrat ticket.
• Also up for election are the offices of coroner and surveyor. Sources have confirmed that current coroner, Scott Lindley, will file for re-election. Although still appearing on the ballot, the office of surveyor has remained vacant for many years.

Salaries for the elected offices are as follows: East District Commissioner: $32,725; West District Commissioner: $32,725; Sheriff: $53,799; Assessor: $49,010; Collector-Treasurer: $49,010, plus approximately $10,000 in fees; Public Administrator: 49,010; Coroner: $15,482; Surveyor: No pay.

Filing today in Jefferson City were John A. Myers of Trenton and Rusty Black of Chillicothe, who both filed for the office of 7th District state representative on the Republican ticket. They are seeking to fill the office currently occupied by Mike Lair, who has reached term limits. Incumbent Sam Graves filed for re-election to the office of 6th District U.S. Representative. He filed at 8:39 a.m. today on the Republican ticket.

The filing period for candidates remains open until 5 p.m. March 29.