The Star's choices for Tuesday's ballot
It all comes down to citizens today. Make your opinion count by taking time to get to the polls. National, state and local leaders will be decided, as will various ballot issues.
Polls are open in Missouri and Johnson County from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Kansans outside of Johnson County may vote from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Star’s recommendations in selected contested races:
NATIONAL
PRESIDENT/VICE PRESIDENT
Barack Obama/Joe Biden (D)
MISSOURI
U.S. SENATE
Claire McCaskill (D)
U.S. HOUSE
4th District — Teresa Hensley (D)
5th District — Emanuel Cleaver (D)
6th District — Kyle Yarber (D)
STATE OFFICES
Governor — Jay Nixon (D)
Lt. Gov. — Susan Montee (D)
Secretary of State — Jason Kander (D)
Attorney General — Chris Koster (D)
Treasurer — Clint Zweifel (D)
AMENDMENTS AND PROPOSITIONS
Constitutional Amendment No. 3: Politicizes the selection of judges by giving the governor a majority on the judicial nominating commission. — NO
Proposition A: Allows local control of the St. Louis Police Department. — YES
Proposition B: Increases the cigarette tax to help finance education and reduce smoking rates. — YES
Proposition E: Bars the governor or any state agency “from establishing or operating state-based health insurance exchanges unless authorized by a vote of the people or by the legislature.” — NO
MISSOURI SENATE
District 17 — Ryan Silvey (R)
MISSOURI HOUSE
District 13 — Gerry Byrne (D)
District 14 — Eric Pendell (D)
District 15 — Jon Carpenter (D)
District 16 — Noel J. Shull (R)
District 17 — Myron Neth (R)
District 20 — John A. Mayfield (D)
District 21 — Ira Anders (D)
District 24 — Judy Morgan (D)
District 25 — Jeremy LaFaver (D)
District 28 — Jim Aziere (R)
District 29 — Noel Torpey (R)
District 30 — Mike Cierpiot (R)
District 31 — Sheila Solon (R)
District 32 — Jeanie Lauer (R)
District 33 — Donna Pfautsch (R)
District 37 — Joe Runions (D)
District 38 — Kevin Morgan (D)
District 55 — Jim White (D)
District 56 — Chris Molendorp (R)
JUDGES
Standing for retention — YES (or “RETAIN”) to all.
KANSAS CITY
Question 1: Would raise retirement age for municipal judges to 70. — YES
KANSAS CITY
SCHOOL BOARD
Subdistrict 2 — Gunnar Hand
CLAY COUNTY
Proposition A: Calls for creating a commission to draft a new constitution for the county. — YES
Eastern county commissioner — Sherry Duffett (D)
Assessor — Cathy Rinehart (D)
Auditor — Sheila Ernzen (D)
Sheriff — Paul Vescovo (R)
PLATTE COUNTY
Commissioner, District 2 — Duane Soper (R)
Assessor — David Christian (D)
KANSAS
U.S. HOUSE
2nd District — Tobias Schlingensiepen (D)
3rd District — Kevin Yoder (R)
AMENDMENT
Constitutional Amendment: Would allow the legislature to lower the tax on boats. — YES
KANSAS SENATE
District 4 — David Haley (D)
District 5 — Kelly Kultala (D)
District 6 — Pat Pettey (D)
District 7 — Kyle Russell (D)
District 8 — Lisa Johnston (D)
District 9 — Merlin D. Ring (D)
District 10 — Mark J. Greene (D)
District 11 — Michael F. Delaney (D)
District 21 — Juanita Roy (D)
District 23 — Steve Wright (D)
KANSAS HOUSE
District 14 — Roberta A. Eveslage (D)
District 17 — Larry Meeker (I)
District 18 — Milack Talia (D)
District 19 — Stephanie Clayton (R)
District 21 — Barbara Bollier (R)
District 22 — Nancy Lusk (D)
District 23 — Dave Pack (D)
District 24 — Emily Perry (D)
District 25 — Melissa A. Rooker (R)
District 28 — Kelly L. Jackson (D)
District 29 — James Todd (R)
District 30 — Liz Dickinson (D)
District 31 — Louis Ruiz (D)
District 33 — Tom Burroughs (D)
District 36 — Kathy Wolfe Moore (D)
District 38 — Pete Henderson (D)
District 39 — Marlys Shulda (D)
District 43 — Kevin King (D)
District 49 — Keith Mace (D)
District 121 — Arlen H. Siegfreid (R)
KANSAS BOARD OF EDUCATION
District 2 — Cindy Neighbor (D)
District 4 — Carolyn Campbell (D)
JUDGES
Standing for retention — YES to all. (One judge on the ballot, Richard D. Greene, is deceased)
JOHNSON COUNTY COMMISSION
3rd District — Steve Klika
6th District — Calvin Hayden
DISTRICT JUDGES
Standing for retention — YES to all.
MISSION
Question: Shall voters approve a three-eighths cent sales tax to replace the outdoor pool? — NO
ROELAND PARK
Question: Shall voters approve a three-quarter cent sales tax for the general fund? — NO
Tom Durkin
6 months, 2 weeks agoThanks for the list, and for helping people to exercise their privilege. And even if we are so silly as to vote in scientific & social illiterates (and thank you for not endorsing them) Rosa’a bar louie will still have $1 drafts tomorrow night. So whatever happens, we can either congratulate our collective intelligence—or wonder what happened to it. Cheers!