St. Charles County Election Results: Voters Approve Creating County Police Department

St. Charles County voters narrowly approved a proposition to create a St. Charles County Police Department and split off law enforcement duties from the Sheriff's Department. 

Voters approved the proposition by a margin of 1,154 votes, with 50.36 percent voting yes and 49.64 voting no. 

The proposition also created a new position of St. Charles County Police Chief, and set forth various requirements for the position. A chief will be hired and the new department created in 2015. Sheriff Tom Neer's term is up in 2014. It's unclear whether he plans to run for the position.

Harold Kohrs, of O'Fallon, said he was in favor of the creation of the St. Charles County Police Department. "I think it'd be good to get the politics out of the Sheriff's Department," he said.

The county also had several other charter amendments on the ballot, all of which passed with at least 69 percent voting in favor of each one. 

Carl Bearden, a former state rep and lobbyist, said he was opposed to all of the St. Charles County charter amendments. He said they were put on the ballot without enough public discussion.

"They should have had more public input," he said.

St. Charles County Voting Machine Problems

Several voting machines jammed Tuesday in St. Charles County, leading Director of Election Authority Rich Chrismer to call again for St. Charles County Council to approve his request to purchase new machines. 

"We had three or four machines that aren't reading," he said. "Or the rollers are sticking."

Read more: Voting Machine Problems Reported in St. Charles County 

ST. CHARLES COUNTY BALLOT ISSUES

• Question 1: Amends the St. Charles County Charter in four ways including requiring the county to post ordinances on the County's website and requiring the County Executive to submit a budget by Nov. 5. (74.35% Yes, 25.65% No). 

• Question 2: This would allow the County Executive to appoint someone to fill a vacancy on the County Council who is a member of the same political party as the person who left, subject to approval by the council. The appointee would serve until the next general election. (69.61% Yes, 30.39% No). 

• Question 3: This amendment would give the County Executive oversight of the working conditions of employees in the county, as well as the ability to investigate harassment and discrimination. (78.15% Yes, 21.85% No). 

• Question 4:  This amendment would prohibit officers and employees of the county from accepting a service or thing of value from someone who has dealings with the county. (85.70% Yes, 14.30% No). 

• County Proposition A: This would amend the charter to require a council member to forfeit his office if he is physically absent from 12 consecutive meetings of the council unless excused. (91.73% Yes, 8.27% No). 

• County Charter Question Law Enforcement: This establishes a County Police Department and make the Sheriff's Department in charge of only court services, security and prisoner transport. (50.36% Yes, 49.64% No). 

St. Charles City Election Results: 

• St. Charles Votes Down Bonds for City Parking Garage Repairs

• Parkinson Wins Election to State Rep 105 District

• Sommer Wins Election to State Rep. District 106

National, Statewide Election Results:

• Barack Obama Re-Elected President

• Mitt Romney Wins Missouri

• Todd Akin Concedes to Claire McCaskill in Missouri Senate Race

• Nixon Wins Re-Election; Spence Concedes Governor's Race

• Peter Kinder Wins Third Term As Missouri Lieutenant Governor

• Clint Zweifel Re-elected as Missouri State Treasurer

• Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer Wins District 3 U.S. House of Representatives