Kyle Troutman: The ball is in your court on November 5th

On Tuesday I will cast my fifth vote for a president of this great United States.

To be completely honest, I'll be happy to reluctantly mark this oval and move on. Presidential elections attract most of the public's attention, but unless you live in a swing state — or the Electoral College has been abolished — a vote for Trump or Harris in Barry County is more symbolic than influential.

According to poll numbers from FiveThirtyEight.com, Trump's hold on the state has increased from 11.9 points to 13.4 points in the last month, losing our 10 electoral votes.

As with previous elections, this election also features far more interesting voting results and constitutional amendments and proposals for each state. In these cases, your vote could make the difference.

The U.S. Senate race between Republican incumbent Josh Hawley and his Democratic challenger Lucas Kunce has been extraordinarily heated. At the Missouri Press Association's annual meeting, the two were scheduled to debate alongside the Green Party's Nathan Kline and petitioner Jared Young, with Hawley dithering into the event but showing up a few minutes before the scheduled start time.

Much like our current national political climate, it was contentious. The full stream of the debate can be found here: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=pW8kgBWv_ Mon.

Hawley and Kunce will face off in another Halloween televised debate on Fox KRBK. However, don't turn your TV up too loud or you'll scare off potential trick-or-treaters.

As voting continues, Barry County voters will have a choice between the races for Missouri Senate and Missouri House of Representatives.

Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, is seeking his second consecutive term in Senate District 29, which would be his final four-year term due to term limits. Moon's challenger is Democrat Ron Monnig of Eagle Rock.

Scott Cupps, R-Shell Knob, is seeking his third consecutive two-year term in House District 158 ​​and would be eligible for another term in 2026. His challenger is Democrat Yma Sautbine of Eagle Rock.

I submitted a series of 10 questions to all four of these candidates on October 4th with a deadline of October 13th, with the goal of going through half the answers on October 16th and the other half on October 23rd. The first few questions were procedural in nature, but the latter addressed many issues affecting Barry County voters, from how candidates feel about the initiative petition process and how they plan to help small businesses in their district to their intended vote on Amendment 3 and their opinion on the application of organic solid land to local farms.

After further calls and assurances that they would send answers, neither Moon nor Monnig provided any. Additionally, Cupps did not respond to emails, text messages, or phone calls regarding the questionnaires.

My philosophy as a publisher is to do as much as possible during elections to inform voters. That's why I had four sheriff's questionnaires and two Northern Commissioner's questionnaires over the summer – not to mention the local forums for both races that included all candidates and a combined total of nearly 200 people.

At the Ozark Press Association conference on October 17, I was one of three publishers who sat on a panel called “Advocate or Disfavor.”

Unlike my colleagues, I was firmly in the “do not advocate” camp. It is not my job to express my opinion about one candidate or another; Rather, my job is to give my readers the tools to make informed decisions.

It's worth noting that only one candidate in our state races – Sautbine – has bothered to think about the questions I asked and taken the time to answer them for you. Regardless of your political affiliation, I encourage you to read it online or in the newspapers on the 16th and 23rd. We have extra copies in the office, so stop by and pick one up.

Beyond the races, there are numerous amendments and proposals up for consideration. The full text of these measures, as well as polling locations and a sample ballot for Barry County, can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/2jupz7ap.

Amendment 2 would legalize sports gambling in Missouri to help public education. Assuming auditor Scott Fitzpatrick's revenue estimate of up to $29 million is correct, the funds would have little impact on teacher salaries statewide. However, all states that border Missouri allow sports betting. So should these tax dollars stay here?

Amendment 3 would effectively restore access to abortion care up to 24 weeks after conception. This question almost always depends on personal beliefs, often based on religion. I'm excited to see how the state votes.

Amendment 5 would allow casino gambling at Lake of the Ozarks, but any hopes that the projected $14 million a year in revenue would have a significant impact on education would also be misguided.

Amendment 6 would support salaries and benefits for current and former sheriffs, prosecutors and district attorneys. Supporters say it will help improve access to justice and the opposition has raised concerns about public finances and budget management.

Amendment 7 would allow only U.S. citizens to vote in Missouri, but the language also includes a ban on ranked-choice voting. Considering that the Missouri Constitution has prohibited non-citizens from voting since 1924, the measure's diversionary tactics could limit election officials' ability to adopt an electoral system their voters might prefer. In elections with more than two candidates, ranked-choice voting ensures that one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote without the need for costly, lower-turnout runoffs.

Proposition A would increase the minimum wage to $13.75 per hour in January 2025, increase it by an additional $1.25 in January 2026, and adjust it each year thereafter based on the consumer price index. It would also force employers with 15 or more employees to provide one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Proponents say the increase will increase the purchasing power of minimum wage workers, benefiting small businesses; and opponents say the burden on businesses from COVID is still too great and will lead to price increases that will be passed on to consumers.

If you have not yet looked into our state candidates and the measures we will be voting on, I strongly encourage you to do so.

As editor of the best small-town weekly newspaper in Missouri, I believe I've done my best to help you find your way. The ball is in your court!

Kyle Troutman has been editor of the Cassville Democrat since 2014 and owner/publisher since 2023. His name was William E. James/Missouri was named the 2017 Outstanding Young Journalist for Daily Newspapers and is a two-time winner of the ISWNE Golden Dozen Award. He can be reached at 417-847-2610 or [email protected].