Marion County voters approve liquor-by-the-drink
Questions on the ballot drew more interest in Tuesday night's election than the candidates.
When the votes were tallied, liquor-by-the-drink passed by a margin of 55 percent to 41 percent with 3,319 in favor and 2,463 against.
Marion County Hospital District #1 will expand their board by two members with 1,695 voting yes and 802 voting no.
Florence city sales tax will increase one percent, passing 174-58.
Eighth Judicial District Chief Judge Michael Powers received 4,050 yes votes and 974 no votes and will remain as judge another term.
Republican Jay Emler won the county vote for the 35th Senate seat, defeating Democratic candidate Chris Snyder, 745-257.
President George W. Bush overwhelmingly took the county over John Kerry (D) 4,393 to 1,496.
Other winners in the county were incumbents U.S. Senator Sam Brownback (R) defeating Lee Jones (D), 4,766 to 981; U.S. Representative Jerry Moran (R) defeating Libertarian candidate Jack Warner, 5,176 to 545; and District 17 State Senator Jim Barnett (R) defeating Sharon Karr (D), 3,281 to 1,497.
County officials without opposition were elected as expected with Dan Holub, commission district two, 1,788 votes; Randy Dallke, commission district three, 1,467; Carol Maggard, clerk, 5,268; Jeannine Bateman, treasurer, 5,286; Faye Makovec, register of deeds, 5,284, Susan Robson, attorney, 4,951, and Lee Becker, sheriff, 5,029.
Of the 9,193 registered voters in Marion County, 61 percent or 6,053 voted an advanced ballot or at Tuesday's election.
Marion County Clerk Carol Maggard said there were 240 new voter registrations since registration reopened following the August primaries.
Voter turnout in the cities ranged from 47 percent at Florence 2nd ward to 61 percent at Hillsboro 2nd.
The highest percentage turnout in the townships was at Fairplay with 77 percent of the voters participating.
More advance ballots were sent than in years past with 595 mailed and 559 returned, making a 94 percent rate. The ballots included in the total count included federal ballots.
Voter turnout meant more work for the volunteers working at the polls. The first precinct arrived at the courthouse at 7:25 p.m. Tuesday evening and the last one arrived at 10:06 p.m.
