With my revulsion for most of my options to vote for this year, my total disgust with the major party options, I have decided to try and make a more studied choice for all the options. But when I pull up the ballot I am going to get to vote for, there is so much stuff, researching it all makes me feel lazy and overwhelmed.
Anyway, below is the ballot for Clay County, MO. My intention between now and Nov. 8 is to look over this ballot and go over with who and what I am choosing and why, without defaulting to party affiliations. So take a skim at what we have, and be ready for more possible comments from me about the options.
And feel free to comment, before or after I do, to feed the discussion.
CLAY COUNTY MISSOURI GENERAL ELECTION
NOVEMBER 8, 2016
UNITED STATES OFFICIALS
FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT
(VOTE FOR ONE)
“A VOTE FOR CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT IS A
VOTE FOR THEIR ELECTORS.”
(Pending certification pursuant to section 115.399)
HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (Dem)
TIMOTHY MICHAEL KAINE
DONALD J. TRUMP (Rep)
MICHAEL R. PENCE
GARY JOHNSON (Lib)
BILL WELD
DARRELL L. CASTLE (Cst)
SCOTT N. BRADLEY
JILL STEIN (Grn)
AJAMU BARAKA
MISSOURI STATE OFFICIALS
FOR UNITED STATES SENATOR
(VOTE FOR ONE)
JASON KANDER 1001 BROOK TROUT CT, COLUMBIA, MO 65203 (Dem)
ROY BLUNT 350 S JOHN Q HAMMONS PKWY APT 15-A, (Rep)
SPRINGFIELD, MO 65806
JONATHAN DINE 5116 NW KALIVAS DR APT 62, (Lib)
RIVERSIDE, MO 64150
FRED RYMAN 2838 SCHOTT RD, (Con)
JEFFERSON CITY, MO 65101-9010
JOHNATHAN McFARLAND 3410 A VIRGINIA AVE, (Grn)
ST LOUIS, MO 63118
FOR STATE GOVERNOR
(VOTE FOR ONE)
CHRIS KOSTER 201 W MCCARTY ST APT 7, (Dem)
JEFFERSON CITY, MO 65101-1566
ERIC GREITENS 4522 MARYLAND AVE, ST LOUIS, MO 63108 (Rep)
CISSE W SPRAGINS 3425 GLADSTONE BLVD, (Lib)
KANSAS CITY, MO 64123
DON FITZ 720 HARVARD AVE, (Grn)
UNIVERSITY CITY, MO 63130
LESTER BENTON (LES) TURILLI, JR. PO BOX 948, STANTON, MO 63079 (Ind)
FOR STATE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
(VOTE FOR ONE)
RUSS CARNAHAN 3150 ALLEN AVE, ST LOUIS, MO 63104 (Dem)
MIKE PARSON 940 N REDEL PL, BOLIVAR, MO 65613 (Rep)
STEVEN R. HEDRICK 103 N DEVASHER RD UNIT 7, (Lib)
WARRENSBURG, MO 64093
JENNIFER LEACH 809 E 30TH ST, KANSAS CITY, MO 64109 (Grn)
FOR STATE SECRETARY OF STATE
(VOTE FOR ONE)
ROBIN SMITH PO BOX 68, EUREKA, MO 63025 (Dem)
JOHN (JAY) ASHCROFT 12138 MIRROR LAKE DR, ST LOUIS, MO 63146 (Rep)
CHRIS MORRILL 5747 MARDEL AVE, ST LOUIS, MO 63109 (Lib)
FOR STATE TREASURER
(VOTE FOR ONE)
JUDY BAKER 3075 S RANGELINE RD, COLUMBIA, MO 65201 (Dem)
ERIC SCHMITT 937 BROWNELL AVE, ST LOUIS, MO 63122 (Rep)
SEAN O’TOOLE 3425 GLADSTONE BLVD, (Lib)
KANSAS CITY, MO 64123
CAROL HEXEM 12712 COEUR DU MONDE CT APT K, (Grn)
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO 63146
FOR STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL
(VOTE FOR ONE)
TERESA HENSLEY 112 ARAPAHO TRL, (Dem)
LAKE WINNEBAGO, MO 64034
JOSH HAWLEY 5215 E HWY 163, COLUMBIA, MO 65201 (Rep)
FOR U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
5TH DISTRICT
(VOTE FOR ONE)
EMANUEL CLEAVER II 8217 E. GREGORY BLVD, (Dem)
KANSAS CITY, MO 64133-6325
JACOB TURK 417 SE ANNETTE ST, LEES SUMMIT, MO 64063 (Rep)
ROY WELBORN 4911 WALROND AVE, KANSAS CITY, MO 64130(Lib)
FOR STATE SENATE
17TH DISTRICT
(VOTE FOR ONE)
- RANEN BECHTHOLD 5302 NE VIVION RD, KANSAS CITY, MO 64119 (Dem)
RYAN SILVEY 11231 N PENNSYLVANIA AVE, (Rep)
KANSAS CITY, MO 64155
FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE
18TH DISTRICT
(VOTE FOR ONE)
LAUREN ARTHUR 4135 NW WILLOW DR, (Dem)
KANSAS CITY, MO 64116
CLAY COUNTY OFFICIALS
FOR EASTERN COMMISSIONER
(VOTE FOR ONE)
STACY NICKERSON 411 SPRING AVE, LIBERTY, MO 64068 (Dem)
LUANN RIDGEWAY 19405 PLATTE COUNTY LINE RD, (Rep)
SMITHVILLE, MO 64089
FOR WESTERN COMMISSIONER
(VOTE FOR ONE)
GENE OWEN 4512 N. MULBERRY DR, (Dem)
KANSAS CITY MO 64116
PAM MASON 9701 N KENWOOD CT, (Rep)
KANSAS CITY, MO 64155
FOR SHERIFF
(VOTE FOR ONE)
BENJAMIN TROUPE 20215 NE 161ST ST, KEARNEY, MO 64060 (Dem)
PAUL VESCOVO 4 CARVER PL, SMITHVILLE, MO 64089 (Rep)
FOR COUNTY ASSESSOR
(VOTE FOR ONE)
CATHY RINEHART 1203 NE 52ND TER, KANSAS CITY, MO 64118 (Dem)
LISA KEEFER 15316 HILLS RD, KEARNEY, MO 64060 (Rep)
FOR TREASURER
(VOTE FOR ONE)
TED GRAVES P.O. BOX 624, LIBERTY, MO 64069 (Rep)
FOR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR
(VOTE FOR ONE)
DEBBIE GWIN 7128 N. HICKORY, KANSAS CITY, MO 64118 (Dem)
SARAH MILLS 8028 N. LYDIA AVE, KANSAS CITY, MO 64118 (Rep)
MISSOURI SUPREME COURT JUDGE
Shall Judge RICHARD B. TEITELMAN of the Missouri Supreme Court be retained in office?
YES
NO
CIRCUIT JUDGE
7TH Judicial Circuit
Division No. 1
Shall Judge SHANE T. ALEXANDER, Circuit Judge of Judicial Circuit No. 7, be retained in office?
YES
NO
Division No. 3
Shall Judge K. ELIZABETH DAVIS, Circuit Judge of Judicial Circuit No. 7, be retained in office?
YES
NO
ASSOCIATE CIRCUIT JUDGE
7TH Judicial Circuit
Division No. 7
Shall Judge LOUIS ANGLES, Associate Circuit Judge of Judicial Circuit No. 7, be retained in office?
YES
NO
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NO. 1
Proposed by Article IV, Section 47(c)
Missouri Constitution
(SJR 1, 2005)
Shall Missouri continue for 10 years the one-tenth of one percent sales/use tax that is used for soil and water conservation and for state parks and historic sites, and resubmit this tax to the voters for approval in 10 years?
The measure continues and does not increase the existing sales and use tax of one-tenth of one percent for 10 years. The measure would continue to generate approximately $90 million annually for soil and water conservation and operation of the state park system.
YES
NO
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NO. 2
Proposed by Initiative Petition
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:
- establish limits on campaign contributions by individuals or entities to political parties, political committees, or committees to elect candidates for state or judicial office;
- prohibit individuals and entities from intentionally concealing the source of such contributions;
- require corporations or labor organizations to meet certain requirements in order to make such contributions; and
- provide a complaint process and penalties for any violations of this amendment?
It is estimated this proposal will increase state government costs by at least $118,000 annually and have an unknown change in costs for local governmental entities. Any potential impact to revenues for state and local governmental entities is unknown.
YES
NO
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NO. 3
Proposed by Initiative Petition
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:
- increase taxes on cigarettes each year through 2020, at which point this additional tax will total 60 cents per pack of 20;
- create a fee paid by cigarette wholesalers of 67 cents per pack of 20 on certain cigarettes, which fee shall increase annually; and
- deposit funds generated by these taxes and fees into a newly established Early Childhood Health and Education Trust Fund?
When cigarette tax increases are fully implemented, estimated additional revenue to state government is $263 million to $374 million annually, with limited estimated implementation costs. The revenue will fund only programs and services allowed by the proposal. The fiscal impact to local governmental entities is unknown.
YES
NO
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NO. 4
Proposed by Initiative Petition
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to prohibit a new state or local sales/use or other similar tax on any service or transaction that was not subject to a sales/use or similar tax as of January 1, 2015?
Potential costs to state and local governmental entities are unknown, but could be significant. The proposal’s passage would impact governmental entity’s ability to revise their tax structures. State and local governments expect no savings from this proposal.
YES
NO
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NO. 6
Proposed by the 98th General Assembly
(Second Regular Session)
SS HJR 53
Shall the Constitution of Missouri be amended to state that voters may be required by law, which may be subject to exception, to verify one’s identity, citizenship, and residence by presenting identification that may include valid government-issued photo identification?
The proposed amendment will result in no costs or savings because any potential costs would be due to the enactment of a general law allowed by this proposal. If such a general law is enacted, the potential costs to state and local governments is unknown, but could exceed $2.1 million annually.
YES
NO
STATUTORY MEASURE
PROPOSITION A
Proposed by Initiative Petition
Shall Missouri law be amended to:
- increase taxes on cigarettes in 2017, 2019, and 2021, at which point this additional tax will total 23 cents per pack of 20;
- increase the tax paid by sellers on other tobacco products by 5 percent of manufacturer’s invoice price;
- use funds generated by these taxes exclusively to fund transportation infrastructure projects; and
- repeal these taxes if a measure to increase any tax or fee on cigarettes or other tobacco products is certified to appear on any local or statewide ballot?
State government revenue will increase by approximately $95 million to $103 million annually when cigarette and tobacco tax increases are fully implemented, with the new revenue earmarked for transportation infrastructure. Local government revenues could decrease approximately $3 million annually due to decreased cigarette and tobacco sales.
YES
NO
SPECIAL ELECTION
CLAY COUNTY, MISSOURI
PROPOSITION L
For the purpose of renovating and replacing aging library facilities, enhancing spaces and programming for children and adults, expanding services and collections to serve public demand, and for the general operation of public libraries, shall there be an eight cent tax increase over the thirty-two cent tax per hundred dollars assessed valuation for Consolidated Library District #3, known as the Mid-Continent Public Library?
YES
NO
CITY OF KANSAS CITY
SPECIAL ELECTION
QUESTION NO. 1,
(Park Property)
Should the City of Kansas City remove from the park system vacant property of about 1.2 acres located generally between E. 23rd Street and E. 24th Street west of Flora Avenue, which has been determined by the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners to be no longer necessary or appropriate for park, parkway, or boulevard use?
YES
NO
QUESTION NO. 2,
(Park Property)
Should the City of Kansas City remove from the park system vacant property of approximately 2.6016 acres located generally east of Lister Avenue and south of E. Linwood Boulevard, which has been determined by the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners to be no longer necessary or appropriate for park, parkway, or boulevard use?
YES
NO
QUESTION NO. 3
(Light Rail Sales Taxes)
Shall the City of Kansas City enact the following three sales taxes:
- a new 1/8¢ sales tax for 25 years beginning April 1, 2017, pursuant to sections 94.600 through 94.655, Revised Statutes of Missouri, the transportation sales tax; and
- a shifting of the current 3/8¢ sales tax currently devoted to the KCATA, for 25 years beginning April 1, 2024, pursuant to sections 94.600 through 94.655, Revised Statutes of Missouri, the transportation sales tax; and
- a new 1/4¢ sales tax for 25 years beginning April 1, 2017, pursuant to sections 94.575 through 94.577, Revised Statutes of Missouri, the capital improvements sales tax,
with the proceeds of said taxes and any other additional funds, which may include federal matching funds, to be used for the purpose of funding, or funding as much of as is possible, the construction, operation and maintenance of a citywide light rail transit system (rapid electric trains operating in their own right-of-way separated from traffic) to include a north/south line operating from Kansas City International Airport to the Cerner Campus at Bannister with scheduled stops at Twin Creeks, Vivion Road, North Kansas City, Downtown, Union Station, the Plaza, Brookside, and the Kansas City Zoo; and including an east/west line operating from Union Station to the Jackson County Sports Complex (utilizing Linwood Boulevard and the Rock Island Rail right-of-way) with scheduled stops at Troost Avenue and Prospect Avenue (to connect to the city’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system), and also including a fleet of electric mini-buses (to transport passengers to and from light rail stations) with all station stops at or near designated locations and with the light rail system utilizing, where possible, city parkland, medians of city boulevards, and existing rail right-of-ways, and including necessary bridges and other infrastructure?
YES
NO
SPECIAL ELECTION
SMITHVILLE R-II SCHOOL DISTRICT
CLAY, PLATTE AND CLINTON COUNTIES, MISSOURI
QUESTION NO. 1
Shall the Smithville R-II School District issue its general obligation bonds in the amount of $12,500,000 for the purpose of constructing, improving, furnishing and equipping school facilities, including renovating the Primary Elementary School, classroom additions and renovations at the High School, roofing and asphalt improvements, and security enhancements, resulting in no estimated increase in the District’s debt service tax levy?
If this question is approved, the District’s debt service tax levy is estimated to remain unchanged at the current levy of $1.0467 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation.
YES
NO
QUESTION NO. 2
To provide funds for constructing, furnishing, equipping, operating and maintaining a third elementary school, shall the Board of Education of the Smithville R-II School District be authorized to increase the District’s operating tax levy ceiling by $0.79 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation, such levy increase to terminate after the earlier of (1) a period of 25 years, or (2) full payment of any obligations issued to construct, furnish and equip such third elementary school?
If this question is approved, the District’s operating tax levy ceiling is estimated to increase from $3.3808 to $4.1708 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation.
YES
NO
At The Rainbow 