Ballot lengthy with state issues

BENTON - While there are few local issues facing voters Tuesday, the ballot will be lengthy with state races and issues to be decided.

Topping ballots in Scott, Mississippi and New Madrid counties is selection of the U.S. Senator. Incumbent Jean Carnahan, a Democrat who was appointed to the office, is being challenged by Republican Jim Talent, Libertarian Tamara A. Millay and Daniel (digger) Romano, Green Party candidate.

Seeking to oust incumbent Democrat Claire McCaskill as state auditor are Republican Al Hanson, Libertarian Arnold J. Trembley and the Green Party's Fred Kennell.

Missourians will decide whether to retain Laura D. Stith as a Missouri Supreme Court Judge and if Nancy S. Rahmeyer should continue as the Southern District Court of Appeals judge.

Proposition A is a proposal to impose a 55-cent increase on a package of cigarettes along with a 20 percent increase on other tobacco products. The legislature has earmarked the revenues from these increases for a variety of programs including providing healthcare for low-income families and prescription drugs for seniors. Also the funding would go to anti-tobacco programs, early childhood wellness programs and life sciences research.

Constitutional Amendment 1 is about St. Louis home rule. Passage of the amendment would allow St. Louis to adopt home rule, letting the city residents determine which of its offices are elected or appointed.

Constitutional Amendment 2, which was brought about by an initiative petition, would permit firefighters, ambulance personnel and dispatchers for fire and ambulance districts to organize and bargain collectively.

Constitutional Amendment 3 will amend the state's term limit laws. Currently, if a legislator is elected in a special election to fill an unexpired term - even if for one day - the entire term is counted toward his limit of eight years in any one chamber. The change would exclude partial terms if less than one-half of the full-term of being counted toward the limit.

Constitutional Amendment 4 would allow cities to join together to build large power plants.

The Missouri constitution provides that every 20 years Missouri voters be asked whether a constitutional convention be called to revise and amend the state's constitution. This question is also on Tuesday's ballot.