It is election day across Missouri, and polls are open statewide today from 6 am until 7 pm.
There are several key races in Boone County. Public safety has been a major issue in Columbia’s hotly-contested three-way mayoral race. Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, who is seeking a second term, has a new mailer to voters which says she’s committed to Columbia’s public safety. Mayor Buffaloe notes she pushed to create the new Office of Violence Prevention and says she’s raised the public safety budget by more than $12-million. She says she wants to fully staff the police department. Mayor Buffaloe is being challenged by businessman Blair Murphy and by journalism instructor Tanya Heath. Mr. Murphy has been endorsed by the Columbia Police Officers Association (CPOA) and by Boone County Sheriff Dwayne Carey. Murphy’s new mailer says our police need support now and he’s calling for more police and patrols and less crime. Mr. Murphy is also supported by Mizzou football coach Eli Drinkwitz. Ms. Heath is calling for police to have their retirement fully funded and a fully-staffed CPD, along with having the equipment they need to do their job.
There’s also a race in Columbia’s fourth ward, where Councilman Nick Foster faces challenger Ron Graves. Three candidates, Erica Dickson, Ken Rice and CPS school board president Suzette Waters, are seeking two seats on Columbia’s school board.
Voters in the Hallsville School District are casting ballots today on a $6.5 million bond issue. It would fund numerous things, including new classrooms at the Hallsville primary school and security upgrades at district schools.
Voters in the Boone County Fire Protection District are casting ballots on a $6-million bond issue. Passage for the fire district requires a four-sevenths majority, which is 57 percent.
