Voters across Henry County turned out Tuesday for the April 7 General Municipal Election, with unofficial results showing a turnout of 1,611 ballots cast out of 14,116 registered voters, or 11.41 percent.
In one of the most closely watched countywide measures, Proposition 1, the law enforcement sales tax, passed with 867 votes (54.43 percent) in favor and 726 votes (45.57 percent) opposed. The measure will continue funding for law enforcement operations following the expiration of existing bond obligations.
In another countywide ballot question, voters approved a measure asking whether Henry County should freeze certain property tax increases for eligible residents. The proposal, which allows qualified taxpayers to be exempt from increases on their primary residence above the amount owed in the initial credit year, passed with 73.93 percent voting in favor and 26.07 percent opposed.
Several local questions also saw strong support. The water district consolidation question asking if the Public Water Supply District No. 1 of Henry County and Harry S. Truman Water Supply District No. 2, which serves parts of Henry and St. Clair counties, should consolidate into a single district passed with 74.09 percent approval, while the question of creating the Stoneridge Common Sewer District received unanimous support from voters.
In Clinton, voters selected Carla Moberly as mayor, who ran unopposed and received 100 percent of the vote with 305 ballots cast.
City council races in Clinton were also uncontested.
Gary Mount was elected to represent Ward I with 100 percent of the vote, while Greg Shannon secured the Ward II seat, also unopposed. Ward III saw David L. Foster elected, and Gene Henry was elected to represent Ward IV.
School board races across the county brought more competition. In the Henry County R-1 School District, Scott Swigert led the field with 31.32 percent of the vote, followed by Thomas Dean Hampton and Jason Heany, who also secured seats.
In the Sherwood Cass R-8 School District, Charles Kagarice led with 25.28 percent, followed by Trevor Smith and Amber Thomas.
The Leesville R-IX School District race saw Jeff Houk receive the most votes, followed by Amy Wheatley and Michael Rosiere.
Municipal races in smaller communities were also decided. In Blairstown, J.C. Manley narrowly defeated Harold Ensor for a council seat. In Calhoun, voters rejected Question No. 1, asking whether the city should provide for city-wide solid waste collection services to all residential single-family homes, up to four-plexes, within the City's corporate boundaries, with more than 80 percent voting against it.
In Deepwater, Barbara Wirsig and Thomas “Axel” Lark secured alderman positions, while Russell Bracher was elected mayor.
Additional results included passage of the Clinton Country Club Road proposition with 77.78 percent support and approval of multiple township and village measures, including Bear Creek Township’s proposition of extending the special road and bridge tax rate of twentyfour point five two ($0.2452) cents per one hundred dollars assessed evaluation for a period of four years, which passed unanimously.
While many races were uncontested, the election still carried significance for voters across Henry County, particularly with the passage of the law enforcement tax and multiple infrastructure-related questions that will impact services and development moving forward.
All results remain unofficial until certified.
