Voters in Montgomery County will have several races and a measure to consider in the primary election on Aug. 4.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m.-7 p.m. on Aug. 4 in Bellflower, Jonesburg, Big Spring, Montgomery City, Wellsville, New Florence, Rhineland and Middletown. The Montgomery City polling place that was previously located at the Knights of Columbus Hall has been relocated to the Merchants Building at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.

Absentee voting may be cast at the Montgomery County Clerk’s office, located at 211 East Third Street in Montgomery City, between the hours of 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m.-noon on Aug. 1. Absentee voting began on July 21.

The County Clerk’s office will serve as the central polling place on Election Day.

“We do anticipate a higher voter turnout for the upcoming election compared to some recent elections due to several contested races on the ballot,” Montgomery County Clerk Carole Weeks said.

Missouri voters are required to present a valid government-issued photo ID in order to vote. Voters who want to find out their polling location or registration status may visit the Missouri Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.mo.gov.

Contested races
There are six contested races, five of them are on the Republican side. The contested Republican races are for presiding commissioner, circuit clerk, 61st District State Representative, 10th District State Senator and Montgomery Township Committeewoman.

Ryan Poston and Harry Cope are running for presiding commissioner. Poston, a 1995 MCHS graduate, has been the county’s presiding commissioner since 2010. A Truxton resident, Cope works as a fourth-generational farmer at Cope Grass Farm.

Lacy Fischer and Morgan DeTienne are the candidates for circuit clerk. Fischer, who graduated from MCHS in 2000, has worked as an office manager/clerk at the Montgomery County Courthouse for 19 years. DeTienne, a 2013 MCHS graduate, works at the circuit clerk’s office and holds a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Lindenwood University.

Bruce Sassmann and John Grady are the candidates for the 61st District State Representative. Sassmann has been the 61st District State Representative since 2023. Grady is a farmer from Rosebud and doesn’t have any political experience.

Montgomery City resident Mike Deering is running against Tricia Byrnes for 10th District State Senator. Deering is the executive vice president of the Missouri Cattleman’s Association and co-owns Nature’s Plow in Montgomery City with wife Julie. Byrnes is a member of the Missouri House of Representatives, representing the state’s 63rd House district.

The winner in the August primary will face either Democratic candidates John Wells of Holts Summit or Pablo John Los of Hermann in the November general election. The Wells-Los race is the only local Democratic race on the ballot.
Linda Hunn and Tammy Hoffmann are the candidates for Montgomery Township Committeewoman in the Republican seat.

Ballot question
High Hill residents will vote on whether a local use tax should be at the same rate as the total local sales tax rate, which is currently at one percent, on Aug. 4.

A use tax is a local tax that is applied to goods that are purchased from out-of-state sources, such as online transactions, that are delivered to and utilized within the City of High Hill.

Uncontested races
There are a number of uncontested races throughout the county.
Republican candidates who are running unopposed: Nathan Carroz, associate circuit judge; Carole Weeks, county clerk; Sheila See, recorder of deeds; Paul Boyd, prosecuting attorney; Jackie Spinks, collector; and Lori Stiers, treasurer.
Democratic candidates who are running unopposed are Amy Pritchard, 42nd District state representative; and Stacy Bax, 61st District state representative.