Both of Gasconade County’s associate commissioners faced re-election challenges in the Aug. 6 Republican Primary Election and only one will return to office in January.

Jim Holland will be unopposed in the November General Election after claiming an 835 to 651 vote win over challenger Todd R. Alferman for the Northern District Commissioner’s job. Holland won six of the nine northern precincts (see spreadsheet of results by precincts on page 3).

Incumbent Southern District Commissioner  Jerry Lairmore, of Owensville, will end a career that began in county government in 1997 when his term ends Dec. 31. Ron Hardecke, also an Owensville area resident, defeated Lairmore by a vote of 898 to 753.  There is no Democrat challenging either candidate for commissioner in November.

Hardecke won three of seven precincts in the southern end of the county but his numbers in each were considerably better than Lairmore.

Hardecke won the Rural Canaan precinct 274 to 215 over Lairmore and Tayloe at Bem by a count of 142 to 76. His win in Redbird was 78 to 45. Lairmore won both Owensville wards but the margins were small compared to Hardecke’s winning precincts.

Lairmore won Owensville Ward 1 but just 10 votes, 116-106. In Ward 2, his margin was two votes, 94-92.

The Bland/Canaan precinct was pretty evenly split with voters choosing Lairmore by a narrow 159-148 margin. Lairmore and Hardecke were split evenly in Rosebud with Lairmore receiving 35 votes to Hardecke’s 34. Those casting absentee ballots cast 24 for Hardecke to 12 for Lairmore.

Holland, conversely, won the larger northern precinct by larger margins over Alferman. Those included Hermann Ward 1 (140-70), Ward 2 (115-62), and Little Berger (206-114). He also claimed the Morrison/Rural Morrison vote 46-18 over Alferman.

Alferman claimed the Boulware (90-54) and Drake (97-42) precincts and claimed Swiss by three ballots, 72-69 among his best efforts.

Holland also claimed Third Creek with an 85-70 tally over Alferman.

Several county office-holders face no further opposition in their bids for another four-year term after winning uncontested primaries on the Republican ballot.

Running unopposed for 20th circuit judge in Division 1 was incumbent Craig E. Hellmann who received 2,590 votes in Gasconade County.

Unopposed for sheriff of Gasconade County was incumbent Scott Eiler who has received voter approval for a second term with 2,907 votes.

Julia L. Baker received 2,568 votes in her uncontested bid to replace Paul Schulte as county assessor. Schulte is retiring when his term expires Dec. 31. Baker has been working closely with Schulte as she prepares take over the elected assessor’s position.

Kelly “Brehe” Thomas will return for another term as the county’s public administrator. She received 2,618 votes in an uncontested race.

Jeff Arnold will continue as county coroner with 2,564 votes under his column on an uncontested ballot.

And, Jeremiah D. Pellin received 2,480 votes as an uncontested candidate for county surveyor. He will replace Vincent Klott who chose not to seek another term. Results were certified on Monday and are official.