Callaway County Eastern District Commissioner Randy Kleindienst will serve a third term after winning Tuesday's election.
"It's very humbling to know that over 6,000 of your friends and neighbors want you to continue (handling) the affairs of the county," he said Tuesday evening. "I want to thank all the Eastern District voters who put their trust in me again. I'll do my best to be there for them."
Kleindienst, 58, was born in Callaway County and has lived here ever since. He graduated from South Callaway High School in 1980. He and his wife of 37 years, Christine, have three children.
Kleindienst worked for 20 years as a real estate agent, and he has also been involved with 54 Country, owned by one of his sons. He began working at Callaway County's road and bridge department 32 years ago, staying with the department until he was elected commissioner in 2012.
"We've got a lot of work to do for the county now," he said. "Apparently, I've been doing some things they think are right."
During his campaign, Kleindienst emphasized the importance of continuity in leadership while the county works on major projects, including the jail expansion and new justice center.
"I'd hate to change horses in mid-stream," he said.
Kleindienst's stated funding priorities include continuing improvements to Callaway County's 800-plus miles of roads, as well as better pay for 911 operators and sheriff's deputies.
He had a hard time narrowing down a first order of business for his third term.
"We're right in the middle of COVID, right in the middle of new justice center and jail, there's always road issues, it's budget time take your pick," he said Tuesday. "There's plenty on our plate, that's for sure."
Kleindienst defeated Democrat opponent Donnie Horstman, earning 67.98 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results posted by the Callaway County Clerk's Office. Official results will follow after the vote is certified. Horstman earned 29.24 percent. In total, Callaway County voters filled out 9,615 ballots in the race, including 12 unresolved write-in votes.
Reached by phone Tuesday evening, Horstman said he was getting ready to call Kleindienst and offer congratulations.
"I was going to post something on Facebook tomorrow thanking everyone for support through all of this, especially the people who let me put signs in their yards and mowed around them," he said. "I appreciated everybody's support."
Horstman said he'd been hoping for a closer race, but "it's pretty clear Callaway County's Republican."
Kleindienst noted he and Horstman are longtime friends: "Donnie's a good man."
Western District Commissioner Roger Fischer is also back for another term. A Republican, Fischer defeated his sole opponent during the August primary election. However, the Callaway County clerk reported 213 unresolved write-in votes Tuesday, compared to 9,938 votes for Fischer.
Uncontested Callaway County races included those for sheriff (Clay Chism), assessor (Jody Paschal), treasurer (Debbie Zerr) and public administrator (Karen Digh Allen).
See also:
November 3, 2020, General Election Results Here are results from statewide and Mid-Missouri elections, as well as election wrap-up stories.