Local voters reject the ambulance sales tax; McCord, Quitno win

Nevada Daily Mail

A bid to enact a sales tax to support the Vernon County Ambulance District failed, with an as yet unofficial tally of 3,901 votes against the measure and 3,082 votes in favor of it.

The 1/2-cent sales tax would have replaced the property tax that currently funds the district.

The decision makes it difficult for the group to function. "We won't be getting a new fleet, and we need two paramedics, still," stated James McKenzie, VCAD director.

Similar measures have passed in 28 Missouri counties, including neighboring Cedar, Barton and Bates counties.

In the race for presiding commissioner, voters chose Bonnie McCord, a Democrat who is currently serving as southern commissioner, over Republican Arch Forkner. McCord received 4,280 votes, or just over 60 percent of the total. Forker received 2,751votes.

Of the victory, McCord said, "I am absolutely thrilled. I am amazed at the support I received from my community. Arch was very gracious, and I am very excited.

Forkner said this morning that he had congratulated McCord last night.

"I think the people voted for who they wanted in office. The people never make a bad choice. I thought it would be closer than it was, but experience pays off and Bonnie has the right experience. I think she will continue to do good for the county. It's going to be a hard road to balance things up. I hope she gets a good southern commissioner to help her. I really appreciated people getting out and voting."

In other county races, officials running unopposed retained their seats -- Vickie Erwin, circuit court clerk; Tammi Beach, county clerk; and Doug Shupe, recorder of deeds. In local judicial races, 28th Circuit Court Judge James Bickel retained his seat. Bickel, a Republican, ran unopposed.

The Vernon County Clerk's office cautions that results are unofficial until a canvass is completed, but as of this morning, challenger Neal Quitno had unseated Gerald McBeth for the associate circuit judge's seat.

Quitno won 58 percent of the vote, McBeth received 41 percent of the vote. Quitno, a former prosecutor and lawyer in Vernon County spoke with the Daily Mail on his way to court this morning.

"I was surprised and grateful. It took a lot of hard work. I had no idea how it would come out. When I heard the first results I still didn't know."

Quitno is slated to take McBeth's seat as of Jan. 1. Until then he is going to continue his law practice and any other preparations that need to be in place.

"I will continue to work hard for the people of Vernon County for the next four years," stated Quitno.

McBeth said he is taking a long deserved vacation -- he plans to sail to the Mexican Riviera. "It was a race that we both ran. I saw Quinto as a young lawyer, a young prosecutor and he's a quick study, I think he will do a great job," said McBeth.

He also plans to finish his term -- he still has two months -- and then doing some senior judging and mediation.

Summing up his 16 years McBeth said, "Being a judge here as compared to other places, I have lived in a fool's paradise. The lawyers are good, they get along with each other and they make being a judge here easy. I hope Neal enjoys his time in office as much as I enjoyed it."

Vernon County Prosecutor Lynn Ewing III, who was unopposed, retained his seat as well, but write-in candidates received 357 votes.

In other judicial races across the state, Missouri Supreme Court judges all retained their seats, as did Missouri Court of Appeals judges.