MOORE TO FACE ELDER FOR STODDARD PRESIDING COMMISSIONER

BLOOMFIELD -- Norman Moore will run for his fourth term as presiding commissioner of Stoddard County in November.

Moore received 820 votes to defeat nearest rival Jerry D. Moore, who had 724 votes, in Tuesday's Democratic primary. The two men are not related.

Other Democrats in the race were Pete Snider with 532 votes and Bob Blair with 462 votes.

Norman Moore's opponent in the November election will be Jerry Elder, who defeated Debby Agey in the Republican primary. Elder had 307 votes to Agey's 278.

Moore said the race might have been one of his closest in a primary. He said his campaign strategy will be simple.

"I will continue to do what I've been doing all the time ... I will stand by my record."

Moore, 69, is a former cattle buyer who ran on his record of reversing years of deficit spending in county government. He said he thinks the county is in good shape and doesn't have any major problems.

Elder, 57, is a business professor at Southeast Missouri State University, farmer and small business owner. He says the county needs to attract industry and good jobs so its children can stay instead of moving away.

Elder said his next step is to confer with the county's Republican Central Committee, which had remained neutral in the primary election between Agey and Elder. Tuesday night he was calling people to thank him for helping him.

"It's very difficult in a Democratic county to get votes," Elder said.

The county's only other contested races were Democrats running for positions on the township boards. No Republicans ran for the offices.

For committeeman of Castor Township, Luther Burns defeated incumbent Don Harper. Burns had 256 votes to 165 for Harper and 101 for Jim Ryan.

For committeewoman of Duck Creek Township, Opal Lee Cookson unseated incumbent Marilyn Newsom 146-132.

For committeewoman of Elk Township, a position which was vacant, Shirley Crow Stephens narrowly defeated Karen E. Keasler, 22-20.

Bonnie Yersak lost her seat as committeewoman of Liberty Township. Karen Dawson won their race 737-333.

In Lisbon Township, father and daughter Terry and Cathy Bates both retained their seats. Terry Bates defeated Stanley E. Durham 34-29, and Cathy Bates beat Virginia DeGroot 32-27.

In Pike Township, Mike Moroni unseated incumbent Johnny Dover 126-81.

Besides presiding commissioner, the only other countywide seat to be contested in November will be the county clerk's. Incumbent Democrat Don White will face Republican Sanford (Sandy) Smith.

On the Democratic ticket, Joe Z. Satterfield was unopposed for associate circuit court judge of Division II and will not be opposed in November. Satterfield currently holds the judgeship.

Democrat Steve Mitchell also was unopposed for associate circuit court judge of Division III and will have no opposition in November.

Other unopposed Democrats who will face no Republicans in November are Circuit Clerk Martha Ware, Recorder of Deeds Kay Asbell and Prosecuting Attorney Briney Welborn.

In the Democratic primary for 8th District congressman, Tony Heckemeyer had 1,417 votes, Richard Kline 481 votes and Thad Bullock 426 votes in Stoddard County.

In the Democratic race to represent the state's 159th District, Marilyn Taylor Williams had 1,673 votes and Forrest Jackson had 631 in Stoddard County.