Finch Wins by 68 votes
Dean Finch was re-elected to a third four-year term as Wayne County Sheriff. He won by just 48 votes.
This was the only contested local race. Unofficial returns Tuesday evening show Finch, a Democrat, with 2881 votes and Woody Massa, a Piedmont police officer, with 2813 votes. The two men are familiar foes and faced off in the 2016 sheriff’s race.
Finch took an early lead. When absentee ballots were counted, Finch led 514-363. Greenville results widened the incumbent’s lead. Finch had 443 votes to Massa’s 226.
Massa carried Williamsville 195-157, the Highway Church 180-101, and Lowndes 96-86.
Both candidates reside in Patterson. Finch carried his home precinct with 364 votes to Massa’s 241.
The two men split votes in Turkey Creek, each receiving 69 votes.
In Mill Spring, Massa cut into Finch’s lead, receiving 151 votes to Finch’s 110.
Finch widened his lead some, when Piedmont/Peach Tree votes were counted. Finch received 765 and Massa 646.
With just one precinct remaining, Finch led 2609-2167. Massa campaigned heavily in Wappapello and results showed that. Wappapello had a large voter turnout and Massa carried the precinct by over a 2-to-1 margin. he received 646 votes to Finch’s 272 votes.
Other local candidates were unopposed. Doug Wood was elected Eastern District Commissioner and Steve Foster Western District Commissioner. Tara Smith will be the new assessor. Bradley Miller was elected public administrator and Mike Allen coroner.
Holly Rehder Elected Senator
Republican Holly Rehder was elected 27th District State Senator. With 84 of 103 precincts reporting, Rehder led Democrat Donnie Owens 56-218-17450. Rehder dominated Owens in Wayne County 4681-971.
Wayne County voters also preferred Donald Trump for president, Mike Parson for governor, Mike Kehoe for lt. governor, John R. (Jay) Ashcroft for secretary of state, Scott Fitzpatrick for treasurer, and Eric Schmitt for attorney general. Each received at least 83 percent of the popular vote in Wayne County.
Jason Smith was Wayne County’s pick for Eighth District Congress. He received 84.13 percent of the votes in Wayne County.
