MARIES COUNTY— The city of Belle will greet a familiar face during the June 9 city meeting when Steve Vogt is sworn into the mayoral office after ousting incumbent Josh Seaver by 12 votes.

Vogt received 88 votes in Maries County Belle and 15 in Osage County Belle for a total of 103 votes, taking the win.

“Either way I gave it my best try,” Vogt said. “Every vote counts and I hope my experience makes a difference.”

The city of Belle’s voting polls on Tuesday afternoon showed promise of achieving the optimistic 8 percent voter turnout predicted by Maries County Clerk Rhonda Rodgers.

Rodgers said prior to the election that there are 4,678 voters in the county, of which 374 were expected at the polls. As of Monday the county clerk’s office had about 45 absentee ballots voted, which generally indicates a low voter turnout.

By 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday 152 had cast their ballot at the Maries County Belle precinct at the Catholic Church and 60 at the Osage County precinct at the Belle-Bland Community Center. Polling judges at the Catholic Church precinct closed the day with 242 ballots cast.

Seaver received 72 votes in Maries County Belle and 19 in Osage County Belle for a total of 91 votes.

“I wish the best of luck to the winner and I will still be around if anybody needs anything,” Seaver said.

Kayla Bray received 68 votes in Maries County Belle and 10 votes in Osage County for a total of 78 votes.

“I still want to thank everyone who came out and voted in support of me and the other candidates,” Bray said. “I’d like to congratulate the winner of the race.”

Terry Connors took 18 votes in Maries County Belle and six in Osage County Belle for a total of 24 votes.

Ward 1 Alderman Jeanette Struemph ran unopposed and received 60 votes to retain her seat.

Sundi Jo Graham took the Ward 2 alderman seat from incumbent Ken Stanfield by 13 votes total. Graham received 93 votes while Stanfield received 80.

Proposition KID

Maries County Proposition KID, the No Tax Increase Bond Issue, passed to retain the .44 cent debt service levy with 310 yes to 61 no votes.

The No Tax Increase Bond Issue will generate $2.5 million in new bonds while not raising current taxes, generating more revenue for capital improvements by extending the bonds for nine years or less from 2026 to 2035. It required a four-sevenths majority to pass, which is 57.14 percent.

The bonds will be used for safety improvements, entrench efficiency, building renovations and additions, and improvements to the parking lots and track.

Maries R-1 school board candidates ran unopposed. Penny Beth Schoene received 334 votes; Victoria L. Bade received 317 and Cindy Petershagen received 310 votes total.

Percent turnout

Maries County had a total of 13.85 percent voter turnout according to Rodgers at 9:04 p.m. Tuesday evening, adding that the day went, “wonderful with no problems today at all.”