With Tuesday’s primary election results for both Pettis County Eastern and Western Commissioners, only one race remains on Nov. 8 to determine the make-up of the Pettis County Commission.
With both incumbents, Western County Commissioner Jim Marcum and Eastern County Commissioner Brent Hampy, winning their primary races, only Hampy will face opposition from Democrat Charles McCormack in the November general election.
Marcum, who is in his first term as a commissioner, faced fellow Republican candidates Jack Robinson and Jason D. Cunningham in Tuesday’s primary.
In a Democrat article prior to the election, Marcum listed his primary concerns as maintenance on county roads and bridges as well at the Pettis County Courthouse, which he felt, were keys to his victory.
“I’m very proud that people approve of the direction we have been taking and the work we have been doing in the county,” Marcum said shortly after the election results were posted. “I think all three of us on the commission are on the same page of what we want to see for the county and that is making it a wonderful place for the people to live and work.”
Marcum said he believed the county has made several improvements with the new technology they have implemented to improve the county roads and bridges.
“I’m looking forward to another four years of continued improvement throughout the county,” Marcum said. “I want to offer a very heartfelt thank you to everyone who believed in me and offered their support. I’m glad it went the way it did because you never know until you come to this point.”
Hampy, also in his first term, offered his thanks to his supporters and all the voters in Tuesday’s race as well.
“I truly want to thank all my supporters and the voters who came out on an overcast day who supported both me and the democratic process,” Hampy said. “I think we have been able to make several improvements and will continue to do that in the future.”
Hampy listed several factors for his victory in the primary including his work ethic and the time he and the other commissioners spend on the job.
“We are here five days a week unless we are called away for other meetings,” Hampy said. “Pettis County is a very active community and it is one that requires the attention of the commission, which is what we are here for, to attend to business.”
Hampy pointed to recent work by the county to reconstruct several asphalt roads in addition to several bridge repairs and replacements.
“I think the Katy Trail Overpass Bridge is an example of a win-win for everyone,” Hampy said. “It has improved the safety for drivers but for bicyclists and walkers both today and in the future with traffic overflow we may see from possible construction on I-70.”
Hampy said many of the improvements were due to voter passage of the half-cent sales tax last April.
“One of the things I hope to do as I campaign between now and November is to meet and connect the dots for the voters on the importance of my work on the Economic Development Board,” Hampy said. “The more economic development we have in the county the broader the tax base.
“That in turn generates more sales tax revenue for the county that will allow us to turn more gravel roads into hard surface roads with no additional tax increase to the voters which is important from all aspects,” he added.
Challengers Slaughter and Robinson both congratulated their opponents and said they each planned to move forward with their work.
“I think I did everything I could do in the race and I congratulate Mr. Marcum,” Robinson said. “I’ll find something else that interests me; I’m not through with public service yet.”
Democratic primary winner McCormack, who Hampy will face in November, said he was pleased with the election results.
“I’m looking forward to the election in November and I hope to be able to serve the people in Pettis County,” McCormack added.
Cunningham was not available for comment by press time when contacted by the Democrat Tuesday evening.
