Gerald voters turn out at nearly twice the rate as rest of county

By Linda Trest, Staff Writer
Posted 4/12/23

Gerald voters had many issues to settle on the ballots they cast in last Tuesday’s General Municipal Election. Of the 831 registered voters in town, 152 showed up to cast their votes, for an …

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Gerald voters turn out at nearly twice the rate as rest of county

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Gerald voters had many issues to settle on the ballots they cast in last Tuesday’s General Municipal Election. Of the 831 registered voters in town, 152 showed up to cast their votes, for an 18.29 percent turn out. Across the county, it was a 9.28 percent turn out.

Annette Heseman won another term as mayor with 89 votes. A write-in challenger, Otis Schulte pulled 48 votes.

In the two aldermen races, both incumbents won easily with no challengers, but their were two write-in votes cast against each. Ward 1 Alderman Angela Koepke garnered 73 votes and Ward 2 Alderman Corey Novotney earned 62 votes.

A marijuana sales tax issue won easily with 99 yes votes versus 53 no votes.

A local use tax was voted down with 64 yes votes and 80 no votes.

Mike Pratt was also unopposed in his race as Gerald-Rosebud Fire Protection District director getting 253 votes. Eight voters wasted their vote by choosing unofficial write-in candidates.

Three candidates were up for director positions on the Gasconade County R-2 School District. Voters were instructed to vote for three and they gave 240 votes to Jason Crowe, 233 votes to Glenn Scott Ely and 230 votes to Jean Baker.

Gerald voters and other affected precincts in Franklin County were asked to decide on an increased tax proposal for the Gerald-Rosebud Fire Protection District. There were 210 voters who approved the measure while 120 did not. Gasconade County voters also voted to approve the tax increase, so the measure passed.

Gerald voters and other precincts having voters in the Gasconade County R-2 School District were asked to decide on a no-tax-increase bond issue for the district. Gerald voters and other Franklin County voters in the district overwhelmingly approved the issue. 209 yes votes were cast compared to 129 no votes. Voters in other jurisdictions cast enough no votes, the issue narrowly failed to pass.