Nicholas Kerns

08/08/2023

It’s a beautiful morning to go vote!

Here in Washington Township, there is an important tax levy question on the ballot. The Washington Township Board would like to adopt a special road & bridge tax levy in the amount of $0.35 per hundred dollars of assessed value. The Board Members say this tax levy, if passed, will help them provide better road maintenance to the people of Washington Township. If you have any questions about this levy, I urge you to contact the members of the Washington Township board.

There are two school board tax levy questions on the ballot as well. The Stewartsville School District would like to increase the operating tax levy by $1.0000 to $4.8869. And the East Buchanan School District would like to increase the operating tax levy by $0.6500 to $5.8736 until 2042. This money would help fund a new middle school and help meet other additional need of the district.

You can find the DeKalb County sample ballot, by clicking the “Publications” button here: https://www.dekalbcountymo.com/elections.html

04/03/2023

Just a reminder, the polls for the municipal elections will be open from 6AM – 7PM tomorrow! There will be several tax questions, school board members, city officials, and township officials on the ballot.

And if you live in Washington Township, please consider voting for me for Washington Township Board Member.

DeKalb county’s sample ballot can be found by clicking the “publication” button on this page: https://www.dekalbcountymo.com/elections.html

03/09/2023

I guess it’s official, my name will be on the ballot next month for a spot on the Washington Township Board.

Election Day is April 4, 2023!

All open municipal positions will be up for election. This includes city mayors, council members, school board members, and several tax questions. Local elections are very important, but unfortunately have the lowest voter turnout.

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Many people probably don’t realize that the township government even exists. But it is an important form of local government. The township form of government was first adopted by the people of DeKalb County in 1872. Back then, it had more responsibilities than it does now, and it served as more easily accessible form of government than the county government.

So, what does the township government do? Today, the township board is mainly responsible for paying bills presented to the township, setting and levying tax rates for township and road and bridge purposes, and maintaining county roads.

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You can see the sample ballot for DeKalb County by clicking this link and clicking on the “publication” button. https://www.dekalbcountymo.com/elections.html

Calvin Coolidge said, “What we need is not more Federal government, but better local government.”

If you have any questions about township government, feel free to contact me anytime!

11/08/2022

The polls are now open! Make sure you get out and make your voice heard!

10/31/2022

It's almost Election Day!!

Now is a great time to prepare for the vote on November 8! There's still enough time to research the questions on the ballot this year.

You can find useful links for more voting information on my website, nicholaskerns.com, or follow my page for more election information.

You can find the sample ballot for DeKalb County by following the link below and clicking the "Publications" button.

DeKalb County Sample Ballot: https://www.dekalbcountymo.com/elections.html

Other local sample ballots:
Buchanan County Sample Ballot: https://www.co.buchanan.mo.us/157/County-Clerk
Clinton County Sample Ballot: http://clintoncomo.org/elections/

DeKalb County, MO Election Information

10/26/2022

Less than two weeks until Election Day!!

Now is a great time to prepare for the vote on November 8!

You can find useful links for more information on my website, nicholaskerns.com, or follow my page for more election information. I have posted about each of the ballot questions this year.

Susan B. Anthony said, “Someone struggled for your right to vote. Use it.”

You can find the sample ballot for DeKalb County by following the link below and clicking the "Publications" button.

DeKalb County Sample Ballot: https://www.dekalbcountymo.com/elections.html

Other local sample ballots:
Buchanan County Sample Ballot: https://www.co.buchanan.mo.us/157/County-Clerk
Clinton County Sample Ballot: http://clintoncomo.org/elections/

DeKalb County, MO Election Information

10/25/2022

The final question on the ballot this year is the Constitutional Convention Question. This is an interesting one. The Missouri Constitution requires this question be asked on the ballot every 20 years. In 2002 the question was defeated with 65.5% of voters voting no. The question had similar results in 1962 and 1982. The last time Missourians voted to have a constitutional convention was in 1942. Supporter, Bob Priddy (former president of the State Historical Society Board of Trustees), said, "in the last 20 years, there has been a lot of stuff added to the constitution that shouldn’t be there." Ken Winn, a former state archivist, argues, "A constitutional convention right in the middle of a culture war would bring out ideologues of all stripes, and you would have the fiercest political strife. Everybody with an agenda would be trying to write their ideas into the constitution." Our current constitution has been amended 119 times since it was adopted in 1945.

10/24/2022

Amendment 5 would create the Department of the National Guard. Currently the Missouri National Guard is a part of the Department of Public Safety. Gov. Mike Parson (R) supports this amendment, and the amendment passed the State Legislature with bipartisan support. Supporters say that this bill will help with communication between the Governor and National Guard, but no examples were given for any time communication was a problem with the current system.

10/23/2022

Amendment 4 would allow the State Legislature to require a city to increase funding without state reimbursement for a police force established by a state board of police commissioners. Supporters for this bill include: State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer (R) and State Representative Doug Richey (R). The opposition includes: State Sen. Barbara Anne Washington (D), Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas (D), Kansas City Councilwoman Melissa J. Robinson (Nonpartisan). Unlike the other amendments proposed by the State Legislature this year this one does not have bipartisan support. In the State Legislature there were only four "yes" Democrat votes, and only four "no" Republican votes.

10/21/2022

The biggest question on the ballot this year is Amendment 3. This amendment would legalize recreational ma*****na for anyone over the age of 21 in Missouri. The amendment would, among other things, also impose a 6% tax on the sale of ma*****na. This amendment is expected to cost the state $5.5 million annually to maintain, but is expected to generate $40.8 million in revenue each year. Supporters of this amendment include: ACLU of Missouri, Empower Missouri, Missouri AFL-CIO, Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, among others. The Save Our State PAC is leading the opposition, but Governor Mike Parson opposes this amendment as well. The Legal Missouri PAC, which is sponsoring the initiative, has raised at least $2 million in support of the initiative. A recent poll of Missourians showed that 48% support the amendment, while 35% were in opposition and 17% were undecided.

10/20/2022

Less than three weeks until !

Now is the time to research the candidates and the questions on the ballot this year.

You can find useful links for more information on my website nicholaskerns.com, or follow my page for more election information!

Make sure you on November 8! Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “The future of this republic is in the hands of the American voter.”

You can find the sample ballot for DeKalb County by following the link below and clicking the "Publications" button.

DeKalb County Sample Ballot: https://www.dekalbcountymo.com/elections.html

Other local sample ballots:

Buchanan County Sample Ballot: https://www.co.buchanan.mo.us/157/County-Clerk

Clinton County Sample Ballot: http://clintoncomo.org/elections/

DeKalb County, MO Election Information

10/19/2022

There are five questions on the ballot this year. The first one is Amendment 1. This amendment would give the State the ability to invest in highly rated municipal securities. This is expected to generate an additional $2 million in revenue for the State per year. This had support by both Democrats and Republicans when it was voted on in the Missouri Legislature last year.