Two challengers prevail in Moniteau County commission race

Moniteau County Courthouse in California, Mo.
Moniteau County Courthouse in California, Mo.

Moniteau County will see two new names on the November ballot for County Commission seats, along with the incumbent county assessor.

Clint Hoellering won the First District commissioner primary election Tuesday over incumbent Noland Porter, garnering 1,008 votes to Porter's 729 and earning 58.03 percent of the vote.

Hoellering previously said he wishes to bring accountability and presence to the position, doing things like personally going to speak to taxpayers and trying to address the situation at hand with the resources available while using a common-sense approach.

Fellow newcomer Rick Messerli took 689 votes for 54.34 percent of the vote in the Second District commissioner primary, besting incumbent Greg Robinson - who claimed 407 votes for 32.10 percent of the vote - and candidate Wesley Kirchner, who earned 13.56 percent of the vote.

Prior to the election, Messerli said Moniteau County needs to move forward in a positive direction with common-sense values and positive leadership, listening to its citizens and all county departments and considering all needs when making decisions.

Marcy Oerly, who was appointed by Gov. Mike Parson to serve as Moniteau County assessor in April, beat challenger Bill Figgins - who served as interim assessor from Jan. 1 until Oerly's appointment - with 2,209 votes, 75.24 percent of the vote.

Oerly previously said her goals include integrating customer service, community building and integrity in all she does.

Hoellering, Messerli and Oerly join sheriff candidate Tony Wheatley, public administrator candidate Cher Caudel and coroner candidate Marty Ramsdell on the November ballot. Wheatley, Caudel and Ramsdell, all incumbents, ran unopposed in Tuesday's primary.

Since there are no Democratic candidates running for any county positions, each will run unopposed for a four-year term Nov. 3.

This article was edited at 2:50 p.m. Aug. 5, 2020, to correct that Marty Ramsdell is the incumbent coroner.