Pair of Use Tax issues pass and hotly contested races decided on Election Night (Tuesday, April 7)

Here is an update on the contest Norwood R-I School Board race as of 1:32 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8:

No winners will be certified until the afternoon on Friday, April 10 for the Norwood R-I School Board race.

Though the original Douglas County election results released did not show any write-in totals, there were write-in votes.

There was a qualified write-in candidate for both Wright and Douglas counties in the race.

Wright County Clerk officials said they will be meeting with Douglas County Clerk officials after 12 p.m. on Friday due to that being the earliest time they can work on the matter due to a state statute regarding military votes.

Their hope is to get everything certified by 3 p.m. At that time, the Norwood R-I School District will be notified.

As of now, here are the current vote totals: (three seats up for election)
Isaac Lawson - 138
Write-In - 116
Curtis Smith - 116
Arie Wedge Jr. - 100
Donavan Finch - 90

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A pair of use tax questions were approved by voters and a couple of hotly contested races were decided by those who took to the polls on Tuesday, April 7.
Proposition U regarding the Use Tax did pass in the City of Mountain Grove.
With 244 votes from Wright County and 19 in Texas County, the “Yes” vote won by a 263-198 margin over the “No” votes. The “No” breakdown was 177 in Wright County and 21 in Texas County.
In regards to the Wright County question, voters passed the use tax measure by a slim margin of 873 “Yes” to 854 “No”.
As for the hotly contested Mountain Grove R-III School Board race the features votes coming from Wright, Texas and Douglas counties, three winners were chosen by voters.
Cody Secrest (682), Sheena White (649) and James Ryan Allen (647) were the big winners.
“I just want to thank everyone who took time out to go vote today,” Secrest said. “I am amazed by the voter turnout and I want to thank everyone that worked behind the scenes for their support. All the candidates were great and it’s very humbling to be selected. I am looking forward to serving the district and community! Thank you.”
White is an incumbent and was voted back by the voters.
“I am incredibly honored and grateful to have been re-elected to the school board,” White said. “Thank you to everyone who supported, encouraged, and believed in me throughout this journey. This community means so much to me, and I’m committed to listening, learning and working hard for our students, families and staff of Mountain Grove schools.”
Allen was also voted to a position on the School Board.
“I’m proud that Mountain Grove had so many people willing to serve on the school board,” he said. “It says a lot about our community. I’m ready to get to work serving our great district.”
Incumbent Ryan Morris (372) did lose is bid for getting back on the Board.
“Congratulations to Sheena and new board members, Cody and Ryan,” he said in a statement. “I wish them well and know the district will be in good hands. I am grateful to have served on the Board for nearly five years.”
The remaining candidates were Katie Shannon (249), McKenzie Williams (227) and Kory Charpentier (224).
City of Mountain Grove
In the City of Mountain Grove, Brenda Clark won the Ward II race against Adam Jenkins, 55-31.
In unopposed races, the winners were Mark Bushong (mayor, 403), Webb Friend (Ward I, 148), Jon Dewitt (Ward II, 57), Jamie Davis (Ward II, 58), and Dale Atchison (Ward IV, 91).
City of Mansfield
In the City of Mansfield unopposed races in Wright County, Andrew Sullivan (28) won the Ward One race and Luke Lawson won in Ward Two (31).
Norwood
As for the Norwood R-I School Board race, there is an attempt to get more clarity from the Wright County Clerk’s office due to a total of 116 write-in votes coming in from election day.
With three seats up for the election, the current breakdown of totals from Wright and Douglas counties show Isaac Lawson (138), write-in (116), Curtis Smith (110), Arie Wedge Jr. (100) and Donavan Finch (90). There were no reported write-in votes coming out of Douglas County for the race.
As for the turnout, just 1,804 of Wright County's 13,071 registered voters cast a vote in the election.
Texas County notables
The Houston Reorganized R-I Proposition K.I.D.S. measure passed with 742 “Yes” votes to 451 “No” votes. This approved a $2.95M school bond for a track and other district improvements.
In the Texas County Hospital Trustee race, Joleen Durham defeated George Sholtz, 1,262-659.
(-Ron Schott and Aaron Matthiesen contributed to this election night story.)