November 2012 Election Guide for Affton and Shrewsbury

As we close in on the August primary and look ahead to November’s elections, Affton-Shrewsbury Patch is devoted to bringing you the information you need about every race in town. Here's our start on the candidates and issues we'll be covering as Election Day draws near. 

And find a sample ballot as a PDF in the media section of this article.

LOCAL

St. Louis County Council 6th District (Mehlville, Oakville, Affton, Lemay)

Democratic incumbent Steve Stenger will run for re-election against Republican Anthony (Tony) Pousosa in November.

Stenger has represented the area since 2009. The Affton attorney was chairman of the council in 2011 and led the charge against County Executive Charlie Dooley when he announced 23 parks would close due to a budget crisis. 

Pousosa is the Ward 1 Green Park alderman and is serving in his third term since being elected in 2007.

Missouri House of Representatives

92nd District: Democrat Genise D. Montecillo takes on Republican Al Faulstich.

93rd District (Lemay and parts of Affton):

After winning the primary, Democrat Bob Burns will face Republican Tony Leech in the polls.

Burns was a major player in the effort to dissolve the tiny south St. Louis County municipality of St. George. He has served on the Affton School Board, worked as a staffer for Claire McCaskill and previously ran for the state House in the 2000s, losing narrowly to then-state Rep. Jim Lembke (R-Lemay). 

• Read a Letter to the Editor endorsing Bob Burns.
• Letter to the Editor: Voter Endorses Bob Burns for Missouri House

Tony Leech is a retired telecommunications businessman and a decorated United States Navy veteran.

94th District (Mehlville and parts of Green Park and Concord): Republican incumbent Cloria Brown faces Democrat Vicki Lorenz-Englund in the newly redrawn 94th district.

• For more: Third Time Around for Brown and Englund in November

Missouri Senate First District

Democrat Scott Sifton will face incumbent Jim Lembke in November. Lembke has represented the First District since 2009. While the redistricted 1st District is more Democratic, Lembke does have a sizable campaign war chest.

STATEWIDE 

U.S. Senate

Democrat Claire McCaskill and Republican Todd Akin have had arguably the most publicised local race in the state. Akin's comment that victims of "legitimate rape" don't become pregnant drew critisism and outrage from groups around the country, but Akin never seemed to question his committment to stay in the race. McCaskill recently stepped away from campaigning to care for her critically ill mother.

For more:

• Akin Fallout: Coverage of 'Legitimate Rape' Comment
• Red Arch Survey: More Support For Todd Akin To Stay In Senate Race
• Victims of Rape Speak in Latest Claire McCaskill Ads
• Claire McCaskill Off The Campaign Trail Because Of Critically Ill Mother

Jonathan Dine is the Libertarian candidate.

U.S. Representative, District 2

This race is among Democrat Glenn Koenen, Republican Ann Wagner, Libertarian Bill Slantz and Constitution candidate Anatol Zorikova.

For more:

• Election 2012: Koenen Knows He's An Underdog In Race For Congress
• Ann Wagner Wins Republican Nomination for 2nd Congressional District

Governor

The candidates for governor are Democrat Jay Nixon, Republican Dave Spence and Libertarian Jim Higgins.

Lieutenant Governor

Democrat Susan Montee, Repubican Peter Kinder, Libertarian Matthew Copple and Constitution Cynthia Davis will face off in this race.

Secretary of State

Democrat Jason Kander, Republican Shane Schoeller, Libertarian Cisse Spragins and Constitution Justin Harter face off in this race.

State Treasurer

Democrat Clint Zweifel, Republican Cole McNary and Libertarian Sean O'Toole face off in this race.

Attorney General

Democrat Chris Koster, Republican Ed Martin and Libertarian Dave Browning face off in this race.

STATEWIDE BALLOT ISSUES

• Proposition A, which if passed, would put the City of St. Louis Police Department under local control.

• Constitutional Amendment 3, would reform the judicial selection process in Missouri at the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals level. Proponents of the amendment have abandoned their campaign for the measure, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported, citing bias in the ballotlanguage approved by Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnhan.

• Proposition B, would increase tobacco taxes $0.0365 per cigarette and 25% of the manufacturer's invoice price for roll-your-own tobacco and 15% for other tobacco products, according to the ballot language. Estimated revenues of at least $283 million would fund public education in Missouri along with smoking prevention programs.
  • Read a Patch blog post supporting Prop B.

• Proposition E would prohibit the Governor or any state agency, from establishing or operating state-based health insurance exchanges unless authorized by a vote of the people or by the legislature.

St. Louis County Issues

• Proposition S would allow the Special School District of St. Louis County to increase the operating tax levy by $0.19 per $100.00 assessed valuation to fund education prorams, higher teacher salaries and school repairs.

• Proposition L would allow the St. Louis County Library District to increase the $.20 per hundred dollars assessed valuation tax to $0.26 per hundred dollars in order to renovate and replace aging facilities, enhance children's spaces and youth, adult and senior programs and more.