By Tom Weber, KWMU
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kwmu/local-kwmu-524438.mp3
St. Louis, MO – Political science professor Jeff Smith, the only candidate for 4th district state Senate who has never held elective office, won Tuesday's primary to catapult to the seat being vacated by the term-limited Pat Dougherty.
In a race politicos had predicted would be a nail-biter, Smith made it more of a cake walk, besting the second-place vote-getter by 11%.
Smith had 6,755 votes, or 36%. State Representative Yaphett El-Amin garnered 4,618 votes, or 25%, only slightly ahead of former state Representative Derio Gambaro, who was just 357 votes behind El-Amin.
State Representative Amber Boykins and former alderman Kenny Jones had 13% and 3%, respectively.
At his victory party Tuesday night, Smith said he hopes more Democrats will join him in moving the state more progressive. "I'd like to be part of a growing crop of Democrats in the state senate this year," he said to a crowd packed into the home of a supporter. "Because I do believe we're going to pick up a number of seats in the state House and state Senate this year."
Smith now advances to the November general election; however, he's all but assured the seat because no Republicans or third party candidates filed to challenge Smith. The fourth district rougly spans the western half of St. Louis City.
(Hear Jeff Smith's victory speech by clicking the 'mp3' icon above)
| Results (candidates in ballot order, 100% reporting) | ||
| Votes (%) | ||
|
Yaphett El-Amin | 4,618 (25%) | |
|
Derio Gambaro | 4,261 (23%) | |
|
Amber Boykins | 2,360 (13%) | |
|
Jeff Smith | 6,755 (36%) | |
|
Kenneth Jones | 558 (3%) | |
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| Election 2006 - Aug. 8 primary Statewide Races, Questions | |||||
| U.S. Senate - GOP | State Auditor - GOP | ||||
| Candidate (99% reporting) | Vote (%) | | Candidate (99% reporting) | Vote (%) | |
| Isaiah Hair, Jr | 6,535 (2%) | | Jack Jackson | 84,812 (28.5%) | |
| x - Jim Talent | 288,028 (89%) | | Mark Wright | 38,201 (13%) | |
| Joyce P. Lea | 11,681 (4%) | | Al Hanson | 14,260 (5%) | |
| Roxie Fausnaught | 4,915 (2%) | | Sandra Thomas | 86,611 (29.1%) | |
| Scott Babbitt | 13,173 (4%) | | John Loudon | 73,735 (25%) | |
| U.S. Senate - Democrat | | State Auditor - Democrat | |||
| Candidate (ballot order) | Vote (%) | | Candidate (ballot order) | Vote (%) | |
| Bill Clinton Young | 66,978 (19%) | | x- Susan Montee | 218,140 (70%) | |
| x- Claire McCaskill | 281,677 (81%) | | Darrell Wattenbarger | 91,551 (30%) | |
| Missouri Constitution - Amendment 1 | |||||
| Shall the state sales tax for state parks and soil conservation be renewed? | Vote (%) | ||||
| x - Yes | 482,855 (71%) | ||||
| No | 199,403 (29%) | ||||
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| Election 2006 - Aug. 8 primary Congressional Races | ||
| 1st Congressional District - GOP (* winner faces Democrat Lacy Clay, who is unopposed in his primary. *) | ||
| Candidate | Votes (%) | |
| Mark Byrne | 6,893 (73%) | |
| Leslie Farr | 1,401 (15%) | |
| Lou Mansfield | 1,194 (13%) | |
| 2nd Congressional District - GOP | ||
| Candidate | Votes (%) | |
| Todd Akin (inc.) | 41,487 (88%) | |
| Sherman Parker | 5,587 (12%) | |
| 2nd Congressional District - Democrat | ||
| Candidate | Votes (%) | |
| Rich Lesh | 5,649 (24%) | |
| George Weber | 6,986 (30%) | |
| John Hogan | 4,580 (19%) | |
| Charles Karam | 6,340 (27%) | |
| 3rd Congressional District - Democrat (* winner faces Republican David Bertelsen & Libertarian R. Christophel, who were unopposed in their primaries. *) | ||
| Candidate | Votes (%) | |
| Russ Carnahan (inc.) | 36,869 (76%) | |
| Jim Frisella | 11,459 (24%) | |
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| Election 2006 - Aug. 8 primary Ballot Questions | |||
| St. Louis City | |||
| Question | Yes (%) | No (%) | |
| Prop G - raise business license fees? (3/5 needed) | 15,294 (52%) | 14,403 (49%) | |
| St. Louis County | |||
| Question | Yes (%) | No (%) | |
| Clayton - should eminent domain be limited? | 1,186 (71%) | 490 (29%) | |
| Edmundson - sales tax for capital improvements? | 66 (86%) | 11 (14%) | |
| Oakland - impose sales tax for storm water control & parks? | 175 (79%) | 46 (21%) | |
| Shrewsbury - ban pit bulls? | 586 (51%) | 570 (49%) | |
| University City - impose sales tax for econ. dev.? | 3,626 (65%) | 1,901 (34%) | |
| Valley Park - impose condo sewer fee? | 239 (55%) | 197 (45%) | |
| Vinita Terrace - impose telecommunications tax? | 22 (69%) | 10 (31%) | |
| Black Jack Fire - levy property tax for pensions? | 2,030 (48%) | 2,212 (52%) | |
| West Overland EMS & Fire- property tax increase? | 530 (67%) | 260 (33%) | |
| St. Charles County | |||
| Question | Yes (%) | No (%) | |
| County Charter amended to let Council stop legal actions? | 18,169 (53%) | 15,928 (47%) | |
| Lake St. Louis - $5.5 million bond for infrastructure? | 2,269 (80%) | 574 (20%) | |
| Lake St. Louis - $2 million bond for new Public Works facility? | 1,828 (65%) | 997 (35%) | |
| Lake St. Louis - $1.4 million bond for new parks? | 1,821 (64%) | 1,008 (36%) | |
| East Central College - borrow $15.8 million for new construction? | 156 (61%) | 98 (39%) | |
| West Alton Fire - extend district boundaries? | 113 (78%) | 32 (22%) | |
| Wentzville School District- increase property taxes to pay general costs? | 3,507 (41%) | 5,122 (59%) | |
| Jefferson County | |||
| Question | Yes (%) | No (%) | |
| Hillsboro - $8.5 million in bonds for water & sewer? | 220 (87%) | 32 (13%) | |
| Pevely - impose sales tax for new city hall? | 510 (73%) | 189 (27%) | |
| Dunklin Fire - increase property tax for more hiring? | 733 (57%) | 558 (43%) | |
| Dunklin Fire - increase property tax for pension? | 657 (51%) | 632 (49%) | |
| Goldman Fire - increase property tax? | 351 (56%) | 278 (44%) | |
| High Ridge Fire - impose sales tax, lower property tax? | 2,052 (67%) | 1,023 (33%) | |