Ralls County Voters Elect New Sheriff

by Laurie Means

The 2020 Primary Election results are in and the November ballot is set. Voter turnout averaged almost 30%, with Center township having the highest percentage, at 44.27% of registered voters casting a ballot. There were 221 Absentee ballots counted tonight.

The election was hard fought, but the Sheriff’s contest went to Brad Stinson, with a total vote of 1764 votes to Ronald Haught’s 867 votes. Incumbent Ralls County Sheriff, Gerry Dinwiddie, did not seek re-election. Stinson carried the Absentee ballots and 6 of 7 precincts. The candidates split the vote in Liberty Township. With no Democrat challengers, Stinson will be unopposed in November.

Incumbent, Robert Van Winkle, with 1639 votes, won his re-election bid for Ralls County Coroner over challenger, Gerry Dinwiddie, who had 898 votes. There are no Democrats on the ballot for the Coroner’s office, so Van Winkle will be unopposed in November.

In the race for Western District Commissioner, John Lake, incumbent, received 816 votes to come out on top over his opponent, Roger Woodhurst, who received 609 votes. Lake will face Democrat, Mike Roberts, who was unopposed in the Primary, in the November election.

In the District 40 State Representative race to replace retiring Representative Jim Hansen, Chad Perkins carried Ralls County with 623 votes for the Republican nomination. Ron Staggs received 365, Heather Dodd with 272, Thomas Schultz with 111, and Woodrow Polston with 30. These votes will be included in the district-wide count to determine who will be on the November ballot.

The Constitutional Amendment #2, which asked voters to expand Medicaid in the State of Missouri received 846 yes votes and 2112 no votes. This was a statewide ballot issue, so Ralls County’s tally will be included in the statewide total count to determine if the Amendment passed or not.