For the first time in history, the Howard County Commission is entirely Republican. Newly elected GOP commissioners for the Eastern and Western districts are replacing longtime Democrats Richard “Dragon” Conrow and Howard McMillan, neither of whom sought re-election. Republican Mat Freese defeated Democrat Charlie Polson by 446 votes to take the Western District seat. Jeff Stockhorst won the GOP primary in August and was unopposed in the general election.

“It’s been a long road. I can’t wait to get to work for the county,” Freese said following the announcement of his successful bid for Western District Commissioner.

Both Freese and Stockhorst will join fellow Republican and current Presiding Commissioner Jerimiah Johnmeyer in January.

Republican officeholders have a stronghold on the Howard County courthouse, which is unusual in the history of this county. Until 1998, no Republican had held county office here…ever. That was until Mason Gebhardt was elected prosecuting attorney. He is now the Associate Circuit Judge for Howard County. Before that, no Democrat running for any office in Howard County had ever lost a race since the Whig Party faded away in the late 1850s.

Now eight offices in the courthouse are held by Republicans. Only four are held by Democrats, longtime Circuit Clerk and Recorder of Deeds Charles Flaspohler, Assessor Woody McCutcheon, Treasurer Susan Keyton, and Public Administrator Lisa Asbury. Mr. McCutcheon was re-elected Tuesday without opposition.

The GOP took the day with wide local support in state and federal elections as well. Republican Tim Taylor handily won the seat for Representative of Missouri House District 48, defeating Democrat Bill Betteridge 2,704 to 1,277. Taylor carried the district, which includes all or parts of Howard, Cooper, Chariton, Randolph, Pettis, and Saline counties, with more than 68% percent of the vote. Both men were vying for the seat which will be vacated by Dave Muntzel. A Republican, Muntzel was not allowed to run again due to term limits.

“I am honored to have been chosen,” said Mr. Taylor. “In the last nine months of campaigning, it has been a privilege to get to know many of you, and I look forward to meeting many more over the course of the next two years.”

Messrs. Taylor and Betteridge conducted clean and friendly campaigns, a commendable contrast to what is seen at the federal level. At a recent candidate forum hosted by The Fayette Advertiser, the two men shook hands and exchanged a friendly and congenial embrace, proving that differences in oppinion did not equate to animosity between the two candidates. “I want to thank my opponent and friend Bill Betteridge for an honorable campaign, and I want those who supported him to know that I will represent everyone in this district,” said Mr. Taylor. “It is my belief that all of us have more in common than we have differences, and by working together, we can keep the 48th District a great place to live, work, and raise our families.”

In statewide races, Howard County followed the trend set by most Missouri counties with the overwhelming support of Republican candidates. Almost 70% of voters here chose to re-elect both President Donald Trump and Missouri Governor Mike Parson. Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe, a Republican, won 73.86% of the Howard County vote and GOP incumbent Jay Ashcroft took 72.72% of the vote for Secretary of State. All four candidates went on to win their respective statewide races.

Incumbent Republicans Scott Fitzpatrick and Eric Schmitt also earned more than 71% of votes here for State Treasurer and State Attorney General, respectively. Both men easily won their races in statewide landslides.

Republican incumbent Vicky Hartlzer easily defeated challenger Lindsey Simmons for U. S. District 4 Representative with nearly 70% approval. She went on to carry the district with 67.599% vote supremacy.

Local candidate Paul Lehman earned just 68 of nearly 5,000 votes cast in his bid for Secretary of State for the Green Party. Statewide he tallied 23,981 votes, which amounts to fewer than 1%.

Howard County voters also followed statewide trends with regard to state constitutional amendments. Slightly more than 51% voters here and statewide rejected Amendment 1 which would have limited the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state auditor, and attorney general, along with the governor and state treasurer, to two terms of office. Amendment 3, which effectively reversed legislative redistricting rules from the 2016 Clean Missouri Act, passed locally with 56% approval, and garnered statewide passage with 51% of the vote.

Full Howard County results appear on page 6 of this newspaper.