Bryan Spencer emerged as the Republican nominee for the new 63rd District House of Representatives seat and will face Democrat Bill Stinson in November.
In a battle of two Wentzville Republicans, Spencer finished with 1,938 votes, while Chris Gard had 1,802, according to unofficial results from Tuesday’s primary election.
The newly configured 63rd District covers Wright City, nearly all of Innsbrook and northwestern St. Charles County.
The race was decided in Warren County. Spencer, a teacher in the Francis Howell School District, received 519 votes compared to Gard’s 294.
In St. Charles County, Gard had 1,508 votes to Spencer’s 1,419. Gard currently is a Wentzville alderman.
Stinson was the only candidate seeking the Democratic nomination.
The state House race was one of only two local races that were contested in Tuesday’s primary. Voters in the North Hickory Grove Township elected Fred Heberer to represent them as a committeeman. He finished with 185 votes, or 57 percent. His opponent, Martin Craft, had 136 votes, or 42 percent. Three write-in votes also were tallied.
The voter turnout countywide for Tuesday’s primary election was 20 percent. Of the 21,957 registered voters, 4,397 went to the polls.
Uncontested Offices
The seven elected county positions that were up for election this year were uncontested as the incumbents were the only candidates to file.
The current officeholders are Northern District Commissioner Dan Hampson, Southern District Commissioner Hubie Kluesner, Sheriff Kevin Harrison, Assessor Wendy Nordwald, Public Administrator Jeff Hoelscher, Coroner Roger Mauzy and Surveyor Bob Lewis.
All seven incumbents are Republicans. They will each be sworn in again in January.
Tuesday’s primary also featured uncontested races for 12th Judicial Circuit judge and the 42nd District House seat.
Warren County Associate Judge Wes Dalton, a Republican, was the only candidate to file for circuit judge. The seat is currently held by Keith Sutherland, who is retiring. The circuit covers Warren, Montgomery and Audrain counties.
State Rep. Bart Korman, a Republican from High Hill, ran unopposed for the 42nd District House seat. The new district, slightly altered from the current 99th District that Korman currently represents, encompasses all of Montgomery County, a large portion of Warren County and extends into southwestern St. Charles County.
