Willard R-2 bond issue passes; Smith next Ash Grove mayor

24,933 votes cast in county as voter turnout a poor 14 percent overall
 
Greene County voters went to the polls on Tuesday, April 5 to vote on who would hold certain local offices.

Ash Grove:

In Ash Grove, challenger Caleb Smith defeated incumbent Les Gardner to become the city’s new mayor. Smith received 133 votes out of a total of 193 cast, while Gardner received 59. There was also one write in ballot.
Smith said he would immediately begin looking at creating affordable housing in Ash Grove.
“My first priority, long term, is to bring in new housing within the city limits of Ash Grove, along with promoting housing in general to our District,” he said. “I would like to look into senior citizen living options, along with subsidized housing options, as a cost-effective way to help existing community members and attract newcomers.”
In addition to housing, Smith said he also hoped to continue the progress made by his predecessors.
“I would like to continue with the great strides that the community leaders before myself have implemented, as well as gain perspective from our current employees to better take care of them and to maintain and better serve our community,” he said. “I’m looking forward to working with our Chamber of Commerce, which has been brought back after many years, because of the people of Ash Grove who are passionate about seeing our town flourish.”
Another change in city leadership was the election of Ty Thornton as Alderman of Ward One. Thornton defeated incumbent Jerry Kane; she received 69 votes out of 100 cast, while Kane won 31.
Thornton said she was looking forward to serving Ash Grove as an alderman.
“I am very excited to be a part of our city council and to learn more about what areas need more focus and attention,” she said.

Willard:

In Willard, voters overwhelmingly approved a no-tax $29.5-million bond issue for the school district that meant extending the current tax levy. According to election results, 1,525 people voted for the bond issue out of 2,120 votes cast, while 595 voted against it. The school district had not responded to a request for comment as of presstime, but in their weekly newsletter, Tiger News, they thanked everyone who voted.
Also in Willard, incumbent Landon Hall defeated challenger Rahela Petian to remain on the Willard Board of Aldermen. Hall received 137 votes out of 169 cast to Petian’s 29. There were also three write-in votes.
On the Willard School Board, voters gave another term to Kip Baker, and also put David Menditto on the school board. Baker won 1,014 votes out of 4,000 cast, and Menditto received 1,128. Among the other three candidates, Elizabeth Nothum won 772 votes, Christopher Moak won 568 and Jennifer Triplett won 498. There were also 20 write-in ballots.

Republic:

Republic voters put Travis Edwards back on the school board and also gave a seat to Robin Davidson. The two candidates garnered the most votes out of the four on the ballot. Edwards won 752 votes out of 2,062 cast, and Davidson got 579. Reggie George won 491 votes, and Dave Daniel got 225. There were also 15 write-in votes.
Complete election results can be viewed online at the Greene County Clerk’s webpage at www.greenecountymo.gov/county_clerk, under the election tab.
 
Greene County, Mo. Election results  of local interest for April 5, 2022

Ballots Cast - 24,933
Voter Turnout - 14.63 percent

Ash Grove Mayor
Caleb Smith        133
Lester Gardner    59
Write-in        1

Ash Grove Alderman - Ward 1
Jerry Kane        31
Ty Thornton        69

Ash Grove Alderman - Ward 2
Troy Watts        65
Write-in         7

Battlefield Alderman - Ward 1
Samantha Deaton    115
Write-in        13

Battlefield Alderman - Ward 2
Rocky Compton    123
Write-in        7

Battlefield Alderman Ward 3 - Four Year
Jim Clemmons    130
Write-in        4

Battlefield Alderman Ward 3 - Two year
Mark Crabtree    134
Write-in        3

Republic School Board
(Pick two)
Reggie George    491
Travis Edwards    752
Robin Davidson    579
Dave Daniel        225
Write-in        15

Walnut Grove - Mayor
Jean Thompson    8
Jim Cole        57
Eldon Locke        51
Write-in        1

Walnut Grove Alderman - North Ward
(Pick one)
Ronald Stevens    30
Russell Morgan    15

Walnut Grove Alderman - South Ward
(Pick one)
Rodney Choate    24
Jonathan Clay    11
Tony Douglas    29

Willard Alderman - Ward 1
Write-in         51

Willard Alderman - Ward 2
Sam Baird        126
Write-in        45

Willard Alderman - Ward 3
(Pick one)
Landon Hall        137
Rahela Petian    29    
Write-in        3    

Willard School Board
(Pick two)
Kip A. Baker        1,014
Jennifer Triplett    498
Elizabeth Nothum    772
Christopher Moak    568
David A. Menditto    1,128
Write-in         20

Willard R-2 - Question
Yes            1,525
No            595
(Complete election results can be viewed online at the Greene County Clerk’s webpage at www.greenecountymo.gov/county_clerk, under the election tab.)