Elections

Chesterfield Election Guide: Today Is Primary Election Day, August 7

You will be voting within a Party, for candidates to run in November. There is also a library 6-cent tax on the ballot.

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Chesterfield's Highcroft Ridge Elementary School polling location had a trickle of community senior citizens 2-3pm.

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A look inside the polling area at Parkway Northeast Middle School in Creve Coeur.

Credit Gregg Palermo

Chesterfield's Highcroft Ridge Elementary School polling location had a trickle of community senior citizens 2-3pm.

Credit Jean Whitney

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With the August 7 Primary Election Tuesday, and then November’s presidential election, Chesterfield Patch is devoted to bringing you the information you need about every race.

Chesterfield Patch has invited candidates in every race to post their own information about their campaigns directly onto Chesterfield Patch, for you to see first hand—and draw your own conclusions.

You will definitely want to bookmark this page for updates on through to November 6.

We'll start with the candidates and issues:

U.S. Senate

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill's bid for re-election will be closely watched by the entire nation in part because of her close ties to President Obama's 2008 campaign.

The fiercely-fought Republican primary August 7 will see U.S. Rep. Todd Akin (R-Wildwood), former State Treasurer Sarah Steelman or Frontenac businessman John Brunner emerge as McCaskill's opponent.

The "Tea Party" movement will be a factor in the campaign, with one activist's comments about killing "the Claire Bear" drawing added security for McCaskill.

In the meantime, dueling Tea Party factions have given different endorsements in the Republican primary.

Congress

Missouri's new 2nd Congressional district—which includes Chesterfield—is guaranteed to see someone new elected, with U.S. Rep. Akin aiming for the U.S. Senate.

Former Republican National Committee (RNC) Co-Chair Ann Wagner has seen party stars like NJ Gov. Chris Christie and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee come into the fold to support her—enough so that it helped push Ed Martin to change races and run for state attorney general instead.

Former Webster Groves city councilman Dr. Randy Jotte has campaigned fiercely in the last weeks before the Republican primary, challenging Wagner to debate, prior to August 7.

Whoever wins the Republican primary for Congress would face in November an opponent from a field of largely-unknown Democrats, none of whom has attracted support from national party leaders.

First Congressional District: A drop in St. Louis population uncovered by the 2010 U.S. Census resulted in the elimination of one of Missouri's Congressional districts, forcing Democratic incumbents U.S. Rep. Willliam "Lacy" Clay and U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan to face off in the August 7 primary to see who will run November 6 to represent the city of St. Louis, areas south, and portions of St. Louis County stretching to the Maryland Heights border with Creve Coeur.

The Democratic primary winner for the First Congressional district would be an overwhelming favorite in the heavily Democratic district on the November 6 ballot, against either Republican—Robyn Hamlin or Martin Baker.

ISSUES

August 7, voters in West County will be asked to vote on a 6 cent tax increase to build a new St. Louis County Public Library headquarters, and fund improvements system-wide.

Voters will also be asked to decide on a measure proposing "a constitutional amendment guaranteeing a citizen's right to pray and worship on public property and reaffirming a citizen's right to choose any or no religion," according to the state law calling for the vote.

A Patch story on the issue generated nearly 100 comments earlier this year.

Remember to vote, Tuesday, August 7.