Category: kmiz-local-news

Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Jefferson City Council’s Ward 3 and Ward 4 races were called at 8:05 p.m. Tuesday with the Ward 3 seat going to Derek Thomas and Ward 4 seat going to Julie Allen.

The Ward 3 totals were 458 for Derek Thomas and 406 for Erica Choinka. Ward 4 totals were 563 for Julie Allen and 405 for Kathi Harness.

Hot topics for April’s election in the Capitol City include how candidates plan to address the area’s affordable housing shortage and candidates’ thoughts on the conference center project.

Another major topic has been how the City Council plans to handle potential budget cuts to cover health care expenses, which includes talks of possible cuts to the city’s parks, public service and public works programs.

Ward 3

In a statement, Derek Thomas said Tuesday afternoon that he had already voted and will spend the beginning of the evening at the Downtown Business Association’s farewell to Jefferson City Public Works Director Britt Smith. Thomas will also host a watch party at the El Frison Mexican Restaurant at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Erica Choinka announced online Tuesday morning that she cast her ballot.

“From the beginning, this campaign has been rooted in something bigger than politics. It’s been about building a community where families thrive, where common sense leads, and where the next generation can grow up proud to call Jefferson City home,” Choinka said in the post.

Choinka adds that she expects to be at work when the results come in.

Ward 4

Julie Allen also announced online Tuesday morning that she voted. She also stopped by the library and attended bible study.

Allen plans to host a private party with her family at home.

Kathi Harness told ABC 17 News that she plans to work at the Capitol and has no major election plans for Tuesday night.

Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia’s mayor started Election Day at her polling place as she tried to fend off a challenge from three sides.

At the end of the day, she won reelection easily.

Barbara Buffaloe won her second term by getting 14,073 votes compared to 10,663 for her closest challenger, businessman Blair Murphy. Buffaloe told supporters gathered at a watch party that the victory was validation.

“I was a little bit anxious coming into tonight in part because we had a lot of money spent and when we have a lot of money spent it means that that creates a barrier supporting their community, running their local government,” Buffaloe said.

Buffaloe also ran against Tanya Heath and write-in candidate Lucio Bitoy.

In her victory speech, Buffaloe told supporters in her second term, she plans to continue focusing on public safety, infrastructure, and supporting the Office of Violence Prevention in tackling the root causes of crime. She also emphasized the importance of investing in the city’s core values.

Buffaloe said she wants to keep the city’s momentum going.

“It was because of this, our momentum of what is Columbia, is why I think we succeeded at the polls because Columbia is about caring for one another, its about focusing on the vibrancy of our community, and our progressive nature and how we protect one another,” Buffaloe said.

She added, “People recognize in Columbia our values matter regardless of what has happened at the federal and state level and we’re going to continue to invest in that and continue the momentum going forward,”

Buffaloe posted a photo on social media Tuesday morning saying she voted at her polling place — Campus Lutheran Church — at 7:30 a.m.

She was first elected mayor in 2022 after defeating Randy Minchew 8,528 to 7,728.

Buffaloe sat down with ABC 17 News prior to the April election and said that being Columbia’s mayor for the past three years qualifies her for reelection. She said she wants to continue the momentum on several projects in the city.

Buffaloe highlighted the implementation of trash roll carts in March 2024, improvements to the city’s wastewater treatment plant and electric transmission lines and improving compensation for city employees.

She also highlighted the creation of the Office of Violence Prevention, with a goal to go beyond police responses and address issues such as poverty and youth violence. In previous reporting, Buffaloe told ABC 17 News she created the office after a 3-year-old boy was shot in Columbia.

Homelessness remains a key talking point in the city, and Buffaloe said addressing it will continue to be a top priority if reelected. She called it a complex issue that goes beyond increasing housing. Investments in social services and having support for mental health, drug addiction recovery and more will help people get on their feet, Buffaloe said.

Buffaloe moved to Columbia from Illinois in the late 1990s to attend the University of Missouri, where she received her bachelor of science in environmental design and a master of science in environment and behavior. She then worked for MU Extension before becoming the city’s first sustainability manager.

She serves as chair on the Environment Standing Committee and has seats on the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, Regional Economic Development and Missouri Innovation Center.

Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Despite feeling confident Tuesday morning, Blair Murphy fell short of ousting Columbia’s incumbent mayor despite a well-funded campaign.

Incumbent Mayor Barbara Buffaloe defeated Murphy by more than 3,000 votes. When all the votes were counted, Buffaloe garnered more than 14,000 votes to Murphy’s 10,663, despite Murphy’s campaign taking in more than a quarter-million dollars.

Murphy told supporters at D. Rowe’s restaurant that he would not run again.

Murph also told supporters that the outcome of this election will sting because of the confidence he had heading into the night. He attributed much of that confidence to the many endorsements he had received and the endless hard work of his campaign.

“I never really showed it because I knew I had to keep my foot on the gas the whole time and not act like we had it,” Murphy said. “But, I mean I got to be 100% honest. …I felt very, very positive about this and so again, you won’t see me in 3 years doing it.”

Murphy made his speech alongside his wife and daughter. His daughter told his supporters that they did not view the night as a loss because they did everything possible throughout campaigning to get the win.

Murphy started his Tuesday morning voting at Woodcrest Chapel in southwest Columbia alongside his wife Melissa. He planned to spend the final hours before the polls close at 7 p.m. visiting more than 30 city voting precincts, according to his campaign manager, Scott Charton.

“Murph is feeling confident with the team’s efforts, which are going strong until the polls close at 7 p.m.,” Charton said. “He’s also both humbled and inspired by the support he has received as a first-time candidate.”

Murphy is a Columbia native, member of the Crimestoppers board and owner of Johnson Paint and Decorating in south Columbia. He told ABC 17 News in a sit-down interview before the election, he felt his many years of living in the city made him qualified for the job.

Murphy ran a campaign with a heavy focus on public safety and preventing crime and said that would be his No. 1 priority. He told voters outside the Woodcrest Church on Tuesday that he planned to support the police department.

He told his supporters Tuesday night that he doesn’t think there was much more he and his campaign team could have done, and he doesn’t have many regrets.

“We worked every day, every day but Sunday and we took that for our families and for other things,” Murphy said. ” We couldn’t have done anymore I mean at all and I’ll forever be grateful for all the support from all you guys.”

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Jefferson City man was charged with a felony and a misdemeanor after he allegedly threatened to pull a gun on a business owner following an argument involving a purse on Tuesday.

Christian Chenet, 28, was charged on Wednesday with first-degree harassment and fourth-degree assault, a misdemeanor. He is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond. An arraignment was held Wednesday afternoon.

The probable cause statement says that police were called to a business around 2:40 p.m. at 128 East High Street for a weapons offense. The victim in the case is the owner of the business, who claimed Chenet came to pick up a purse that was left by Chenet’s boss, the statement says.

The victim opened the purse to identify the owner and Chenet allegedly became angry, but the victim claimed he felt obligated to give the purse directly to the owner, the statement says. Chenet allegedly called the victim a racist and then threatened to grab a gun from his car, the statement says.

A witness also heard Chenet say something about grabbing a gun, court documents say. Chenet was arrested and police found a gun in his vehicle, the statement says. Chenet allegedly told police that he was pushed by the victim and claimed he mentioned shooting the victim while he was on the phone with dispatcher, the statement says.

Chenet defended his actions to police, court documents say. The victim and witness told police that no one pushed Chenet, court documents say.