Kiefer, Walter score big wins in Scott County races

Democrats prevailed again in Scott County, keeping the tradition of defeating GOP candidates as voters elected a Democrat by a significant margin in every one of the three local contested races.

At the polls, county officials were predicting about a 75 percent turnout, but many of the 23 precincts in Scott County showed about 60 percent of registered voters were represented, said Mary Hopper at the county clerk's office.

"Everything went real smooth, though," Hopper said.

Democrat Donnie Kiefer defeated Republican Ron McCormick in the election for 2nd District commissioner, 6,181 to 3,392 votes. Incumbent McCormick was appointed by Gov. Matt Blunt in 2006, the first Republican commissioner to serve in Scott County since 1989.

In the sheriff's race, Democrat Rick Walter defeated Republican Wes Drury for the second consecutive time, this time by 4,364 votes. In 2004 Walter defeated Drury by nearly 1,200 votes after incumbent Bill Ferrell opted not file for re-election.

Incumbent Coroner Scott Amick defeated Republican challenger 24-year-old Charles Huey by 7,541 votes.

Amick has served as county coroner for 24 years. He also works funeral director at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapels in Benton, Chaffee, Oran and Scott City.

Democratic incumbent Dennis Ziegenhorn, running unopposed for District 1 commissioner, received 6,938 votes.

Teresa Houchin, unopposed Democratic candidate for county assessor, garnered 15,433 votes.

Pam Dirnberger, Democratic candidate for public administrator, received 15, 302 votes, with 122 write-ins.