Voters in eastern Pettis County are closer to retaining Israel Baeza on the county commission, but their western neighbors are making a change.

Republican voters in the county’s Eastern District moved Baeza onto November’s general election with 57 percent of the vote. Baeza tells KMMO News he’s humbled to have received a majority of votes against two challengers.

Baeza claimed victory with 1501 votes, while his closest challenger Bob Ramey had 804 votes. Leonard Salmons picked up 320. Meanwhile, voters in the Western District indicated their preference for Mark Edwards, who earned 47 percent of the vote. Edwards and his 1480 votes unseated incumbent Jim Marcum, who received 968 votes, while Mark Rieckhoff claimed 702. Baeza commended Marcum for his 12 years of service on the commission, as well as everyone who stepped forward to run for public office.

Baeza and Edwards will not have a Democratic challenger on November’s general election ballot.

Republican county officers in Pettis County not facing opposition included treasurer Kim Lyne, coroner Robert “Skip” Smith, sheriff Brad Anders, and assessor Christopher Woolery. Democrat public administrator Charli Ackerman will have a Republican challenger this November, Brandy Arnett.

Pettis County Primary Results (unofficial)