SANDER UNSEATED BY BOCK; GOP RIVAL BEATS LONG-TIME OFFICIAL

JACKSON - Longtime Cape Girardeau County Associate Commissioner Leonard F. Sander was defeated in the Republican primary Tuesday. Two other incumbent Republican officeholders survived primary election challenges.

Sander, seeking his ninth two-year term on the commission, lost to Larry Bock by a margin of 267 votes. Bock will face George Cox in November, who was not opposed in the Democratic primary.

County Treasurer Bill Reynolds claimed 71 percent of the vote in defeating Edwin "Pete" Rhodes by a margin of 4,742 to 1,930; Coroner John Carpenter survived a primary challenge from Edward A. Frenzel by an overwhelming margin of 4,562 to 1,715.

Reynolds, first elected in 1980, will face Democrat Orval Thorne in November.

Carpenter will face Harold Cobb in the general election. Cobb, who was defeated for the office in 1988 by Carpenter, easily won his Democratic primary contest Tuesday. Cobb defeated Jim Sullins 2,929 to 1,246.

In the only other county primary race, Lanny Smith won the Democratic nomination for second district associate commissioner, 1,613 to 472. Smith will face Republican incumbent E.C. Younghouse in the general election.

County Clerk Rodney Miller said voter turnout was "lower than expected" with 12,086 of the county's 31,608 registered voters going to the polls - a turnout of 38 percent.

All returns were in at Jackson by 8:45 p.m. and a final tally was completed at 9:15 p.m.

In the governor's race, Secretary of State Roy Blunt carried Cape Girardeau County with 3,127 votes, followed by 2,574 for Attorney General Bill Webster and 920 for State Treasurer Wendell Bailey. Dwight Watts got 98 votes and Fred Salmons 66.

On the Democratic side, Lt. Gov. Mel Carnahan was a big winner with 2,996 votes; St. Louis Mayor Vince Schoemehl received 1,252. Sharon Rogers had 182 votes, Mary Johnson 165, Tony Cox 93, Elmer Dapron 31, and Cedric Hawkins 22.

Bock, who monitored election returns at the county administration building, said he had enjoyed the campaign and was pleased with the large network of supporters that rallied behind him.

"It's just a great feeling," said Bock, who farms near Gordonville. "All the volunteer people that came forth and wanted to help - that's what made it exciting and enjoyable."

Bock said he had considered running for the commission for several years and decided to file this time at the urging of many county citizens.

"I got a lot of encouragement, and all those people coming forward to help really made a difference," declared Bock.

Throughout the campaign, Bock said he heard concerns from a lot of people about the planning and zoning issue and the proposed Cape-Bollinger County Lake.

Carpenter, like Bock, watched returns in the administration building.

"I'm very thankful to the voters of Cape County that they have seen fit to let me represent them on the Republican ticket again," said Carpenter. "It is a very humbling experience to have had the opportunity to serve the last four years. I'm looking forward to the upcoming general election campaign."

Cape County voters cast 7,061 Republican ballots and 5,024 Democratic ballots.

U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, who easily won his first Republican challenge in 12 years, got 70 percent of the vote in the county, beating Earl Durnell, 4,771 to 2,069.

On the Democratic side, James L. Thompson was the top vote getter with 1,123 votes, or 26.5 percent. Dean Burk finished second with 767 votes, followed by Thad Bullock 670, Shannon Russell 616, Jon Kiser 609, and Johnny Dover 452.

In the U.S. Senate race, Kit Bond easily outpaced his Republican opponent Wes Hummel, 5,695 to 1,007.

Geri Rothman-Serot headed a 14 candidate Democratic field with 20.5 percent of the vote or 844 votes. Other Senate totals were: Bill Peacock 625, Barbara Manson 497, George Weber 486, Mert Bernstein 355, David Westfall 246, Carol A. Coe 229, Ned Sutherland 170, Dan Dodson 169, Ken Dudley 162, Earl Carey 89, Jim Krueger 85, Richard Tolbert 82, and Nicholas Clement 67.

Former state Rep. Betty Hearnes was a big winner for the Democratic nomination for 27th District state senator with 2,705 votes; Bill Burch had 1,114 and Hugh White 863.

In the Democratic race for lieutenant governor, Roger Wilson had 1,984 votes, followed by Mary Ross 1,148, Larry Rice 715, Prentess Clifton 263, and Rich Pisani 174.

Among Republicans, State Auditor Margaret Kelly led the way with 4,346 votes, Don Stubblefield had 1,393 and Jerry Peters 601.

John Hancock was a big leader for secretary of state on the Republican ticket with 3,826 votes, or 66 percent. Richard Struckhoff received 723 votes, Don Parker 658 and Craig Kilby 583.

On the Democratic side, James Askew narrowly carried the county with 1,380 votes, Judi Moriarty had 1,250, Howard Wagner 911, and bob Quinn 724.

Sen. Jay Nixon carried almost half the Democratic votes cast for attorney general. Nixon got 2,116 votes, Mike Wolff 933, Mike Reardon 793, and Neal Quitno 451.

David Steelman was a big winner in Cape County on the Republican side for attorney general, out-polling John Hall, 4,345 to 2,033.

On the GOP side for state treasurer, Gary Melton carried the county over Mark Holloway 3,007 to 2,567.

Among Democrats, Bob Holden narrowly led the Democratic field with 1,659 votes; Jim LePage had 1,576 and Jerry Welch 1,095.

In a county race for director of Public Water Supply District 1, Harold Landgraf Sr. defeated Ken Berry, 149 to 116.

Voters in Water Supply District 2 approved an enlargement of its boundary by a vote of 344 to 102.

Cape County voters rejected all constitutional amendments, except Amendment 11, earmarking lottery proceeds for education. It carried the county with 80 percent of the vote, passing 7,747 to 1,980.

Amendment 5 lost in the county 4,976 to 4,644; Amendment 7 lost 7,012 to 2,742; Amendment 8 lost 5,190 to 4,487; and Amendment 9 lost 4,589 to 4,371.

Cape County Democratic Chairman Todd McBride, who was challenged for committeeman in Ward 8, defeated Thomas M. Meyer 104 to 76.