Republic voters give big ‘yes’ to $16 million school bond

Snider to be next mayor of Willard; Simpson bumps Hurley in Ash Grove race
 
Republic voters approved a $16 million bond issue for the Republic R-3 School Districtduring the election on Tuesday, April 6. According to official election results posted on the Greene County Clerk’s website, 1,168 people, or about 83-percent, voted in favor of the measure, while 241 people, or about 17-percent, voted against it. With the passing of the bond issue, the district will be able to issue $16 million in bonds, which will be used to build a new Early Childhood Center with an attached high-wind shelter on land owned by the district at the corner of Hines and Hampton, build a gymnasium and high-wind shelter for Schofield Elementary and to purchase property on which to build a new school building in the next four or five years. The  bonds will create no increase in the current tax levy, however, it will extend it.
In Ash Grove, voters turned down Proposition One. The proposition would have allowed the city to forego elections in contests where the number of candidates equaled the number of positions in the office to be filled in the election. Fortyseven people, or about 54-percent, voted against the proposition, while 40 people, or about 46-percent, voted in favor of it.
Countywide, voter turnout for the election was a scant 13.25 percent.
In other contested elections
Ash Grove Ward Two alderman:
Ash Grove voters chose Diana Simpson for the position of Ward Two alderman; she received 24 votes, or about 47-percent.Challenger Chala Baker received 13 votes, or 25.5-percent, while incumbent Pat Hurley received 14 votes, or about 27.5-percent.
Republic City Council:
Incumbent Brandon Self defeated challenger Kevin Haun to remain Ward One council member. Self received 158 votes, or about 77-percent, while Haun received 46 votes, or about 22-percent. There were also two write-in votes.
Incumbent Jim Deichman narrowly fended off challenger Clint Gerlek to remain Ward Four council member. Deichman received 119 votes, or about 51-percent, while Gerlek received 108 votes, of about 46-percent.
There were also seven write-in votes.
Willard Mayor:
Challenger Samuel Snider defeated incumbent Corey Hendrickson to become Mayor- Elect of Willard. Sniderreceived 187 votes, or 54-percent, while Hendrickson received 161 votes, or 46-percent.
Willard School Board:
Willard voters chose Matthew Young and Amanda Gooch for the Willard R-II School Board. Young received 759 votes, or 34-percent, while Gooch received 547 votes, or 24.43-percent. Coming in just behind Gooch was Jennifer Triplett, who received 546 votes, or 24.39-percent, while Stephanie Lynn Campbell received 368 votes, or 16.44-percent.
Unofficial election results of local interest for the April 6, 2021, Greene County, Mo., election
Ash Grove Board of Aldermen:
Ward 1
William Wagner - 30 (90%)
Write-in - 3 (9%)
Ward 2
Diana Simpson - 24 (47%)
Pat Hurley - 14 (27%)
Chala Baker - 13 (26%)
Ash Grove Candidates Question:
No - 47 (54%)
Yes - 40 (46%)
Republic Mayor:
Matt Russell - 818 (95%)
Write-in - 39 (5%)
Republic City Council:
Ward 1
Brandon Self - 159 (78%)
Kevin Haun - 46 (22%)
Write-in - 2 (1%)
Ward 2
Gerry Pool - 123 (93%)
Write-in - 8 (6%)
Ward 3
Shane Grooms - 247 (98%)
Write-in - 6 (2%)
Ward 4
Jim Deichman - 119 (52%)
Clint Gerlek - 110 (48%)
Write-in - 7 (3%)
Republic School District
Bond Issue:
Yes - 1,196 (83%)
No - 244 (17%)
Willard Mayor:
Samuel Snider - 187 (54%)
Corey Hendrickson - 161 (46%)
Willard School Board (Vote for two):
Matthew E. Young - 759 (34%)
Amanda Gooch - 547 (25%)
Jennifer S. Triplett - 546 (25%)
Stephanie Lynn Campbell - 368 (16%)