Cape Girardeau casino issue passes

Updated 9:40 p.m.

With all 15 precincts in, the Cape Girardeau casino issue has passed with a resounding "yes."

Now it's up to the Missouri Gaming Commission to determine whether a casino will come to Cape Girardeau.

The casino issue passed 7,635 to 4,850. The percentage was 61.15 percent to 38.85 percent.

In Jackson, the fire tax passed 3,073 to 1,788.

Meanwhile Republican state Rep. Clint Tracy defeated Democrat Pat Wissman for Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner. Tracy led by over 11,000 votes with 28 of 35 precincts reporting.

Republican challenger Scott R. Clark has defeated incumbent Democrat Janet Robert 13,175 to 9,471 with 28 of 35 precincts reporting.

With 11 of 18 precincts reporting, Republican business executive Wayne Wallingford is winning with nearly 80 percent of the vote to Libertarian Robert Roland in the 158th District state representative race. The candidates are running to fill the position being vacated by Rep. Clint Tracy. Roland has not conceded, saying he's waiting on the vote from Cape Girardeau, which makes up the brunt of the district.

With 34 of 31 precincts reporting, Republican Donna Lichtenegger holds a significant lead over Constitution Party member Jennifer Friedrich in the race to to fill the seat vacated by Rep. Scott Lipke in the 157th District.

Lichtenegger is declaring victory. Friedrich could not be reached for comment.

"I've waited a long time for this," Lichtenegger, retired dental hygienist told the Southeast Missourian while celebrating at her Jackson home. "I tell you there's a lot of work to get done and we've got to get to work right away."

Get full numbers at http://semissourian.com/election.

Updated 8:50 p.m.

With votes from 10 of 19 precincts counted in Perry County, Republican incumbent Carl "Topper" Leuckel Jr. is beating his opponent Stanley "Paul" Grantham in the race for presiding commissioner by more than 2,000 votes.

Grantham has 658 votes, while Leuckel has 2,752.

Another Republican incumbent getting voter approval from Perry County residents is Michael Bullerdieck, running for re-election to the Associate Circuit Court Judge spot. With 1,838 votes, Bullerdieck is beating his opponent Craig Brewer by 233 votes.

Updated 8:25 p.m.

With over a third of Cape Girardeau precincts reporting the prospects for a winning "yes" vote on the casino question appeared good.

"Yes" votes outnumbered "no" votes 4,013 to 2,508 with six of 15 Cape Girardeau precincts reporting, plus absentees. In Jackson the fire tax "yes" votes outnumbered "no" votes 2,410 to 1,437 with 4 of 5 precincts reporting overall.

In the Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner race, Republican Clint Tracy was opening up a strong lead over Democrat Pat Wissman, while Republican candidate for record Scott R. Clark was extending his lead over incumbent Democrat Janet Robert.

Get the latest election numbers at http://semissourian.com/election.

Updated 8 p.m.

Republican state Rep. Clint Tracy has taken a commanding lead over Democrat Pat Wissman in the race for Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner.

With four of 35 precincts reporting, Tracy led 4,278 to 1,145. At the same time, Republican Scott R. Clark was starting to separate from Democratic incumbent Janet Robert in the recorder's race. Clark had 3,498 votes to Robert's 1,909.

With three Jackson precincts reporting, "yes" votes led "no" in the fire tax questions 1,752 to 1,078. With two precincts reporting, "yes" votes for a Cape Girardeau casino led 892 to 710.

First report

Absentee ballots have been counted in Cape Girardeau County, and early tallies show "yes" is winning on both the Cape Girardeau casino question and the Jackson fire tax question.

In Cape Girardeau "yes" votes outnumber "no" votes 374 to 310.

In Jackson, "yes" leads 167 to 96.

With only three precincts of 471 reporting, incumbent Rep. Jo Ann Emerson has a commanding lead over challengers Tommy Sowers, Rick Vandeven and Larry Bill.

Republicans Donna Lichtenegger and Wayne Wallingford lead in the 157th and 158th state representative districts, while Republican Bill Pat Wright has a strong lead over Democrat Bill Burlison in the 159th.

Look for updates as numbers come in on semissourian.com.