Voters, candidates gear up for November elections

Students intending to cast their vote in Adair County in the upcoming midterm elections must submit a voter registration card to the office of the county clerk's office in the courthouse downtown by Oct. 6. 

In the past, student turnout to midterm elections has been significantly lower than in presidential election years. Adair County is divided into 10 voting precincts. Truman State University campus exists as its own precinct. The Truman precinct had the second lowest voter turnout with 26.9 percent of registered voters casting ballots, according to statistics on the 2006 midterm election, compiled by the county clerk's office. However, in the 2008 presidential election, the University precinct reported 64.9 percent voter turnout, the highest rate of participation in the county.

This November, all Missourians will elect a United States senator, a state auditor and will also vote on amendments to the Missouri constitution. Voters in individual districts of Missouri will elect district representatives, an associate circuit judge and county officers.  

Registration cards are available at the county clerk's office at the county courthouse downtown, the information desk at the Student Union Building and at upcoming voter registration drives on campus. Sample ballots are  available at the county clerk's office to research the candidates and issues before Election Day Nov. 2.

College Democrats and College Republicans are both planning voter registration drives on campus in the next two weeks.

Janee Johnson, president of College Democrats, said the organization is planning a push to register at least 250 student voters by the Oct. 6 deadline.

"We're trying to let people know that it's better to be registered here in Kirksville because for the next four years, or whatever year you are, this is your home, and whatever goes on here affects you directly," Johnson said.

Vinciane Ngomsi, president of College Republicans, said the organization plans to have a registration table for students Wednesday and Thursday of next week in the SUB, but students are welcome to fill out registration cards at the Republican headquarters at 214 N. Franklin Street.  Ngomsi said members of College Republicans have been campaigning for local republican candidates by making phone calls, knocking on doors and posting campaign signs.

Beth Tuttle-Kral, assistant dean of Student Affairs and director of the Office of Citizenships and Community Standards, said there will  information on election day polling places on the website of the Office of Citizenship and Community Standards. Kral said her of

fice will have a table on Oct. 4 in the SUB where students can pick up voter registration cards, but students will need to mail their voter registration cards themselves.

"We don't collect them and put them in the mail because we want students to know for sure that they were postmarked and that it went through the mail," Kral said.  Voter registration cards must be postmarked by Oct. 6.

Adair County Clerk Sandy Collop said the safest way to register to vote in Adair County is to turn in the registration cards in person at the office of the county clerk.

"We've had some problems in the past where somebody has said they have filled out a card, but if that card does not make it in here and we can process it and put them into the system, we have no idea if they've registered or not," Collop said.

One of the races on the ballot this November is for a seat in the Missouri House of Representatives. Republican candidate Zachary Wyatt is running against democratic incumbent Rebecca McClanahan for state representative of Missouri's 2nd district. District 2 includes Adair County, Putnam County to the northwest and part of Sullivan County to the west.

Wyatt announced his candidacy for state representative in February of this year, the same month he returned to Adair County from seven years in the military. Wyatt said bringing more jobs to the area is the most important issue of this election. He said there should be a greater effort to introduce wind energy to northeast Missouri because the industry would provide skilled jobs and tax revenue in the region. Wyatt said he stands for low taxes and cutting state spending on government assistance programs like welfare.

"I would be a big fiscal conservative," Wyatt said. "I would be a very big fighter for the second amendment rights and also the unborn."

McClanahan has served  two terms as District 2 representative in the Missouri House of Representatives. McClanahan graduated from Truman State University (Northeast Missouri State) in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She is a registered nurse and taught at Truman in the Nursing program for more than 30 years. McClanahan said one of her top priorities is funding for higher education.

"I believe that higher education is a major economic engine in Missouri," McClanahan said. 

Another Truman alumnus on the ballot this November is Kirksville attorney Josh Meyer (IND). He is challenging Judge Kristie J. Swaim (D) for the office of associate circuit judge. Swaim has served two terms as associate circuit judge. Elections for the position are held every four years.

Blaine Luetkeymeyer (R), U.S. Congressional representative for Missouri's 9th district, is running for re-election against Christopher W. Dwyer (LIB).  State auditor Susan Montee (D) is running for re-election against Tom Schweich (R) and Charles W. Baum (LIB). State senator for Missouri's 18th district Wes Shoemyer (D) is running for re-election against Brian Munzlinger (R).

Adair County voters will also elect the presiding commissioner of the county commission. The candidates are Harley Harrelson (D), Stanley Pickens (R) and Darin M. Fountain (CST). In six other Adair County district elections, the incumbent is running unopposed.