As we look ahead to November’s elections, Wentzville Patch is devoted to bringing you the information you need about every race in town. Here's our start on the candidates and issues we'll be covering as November draws near. 

In addition to our own coverage, we will be inviting candidates in every race to upload information about their campaigns directly to this site. You will definitely want to bookmark this page for updates.

A sample ballot is available attached to this story.

Not sure of your polling place? Click here for a search tool on the St. Charles Election Authority website that will help you find it.

National Races

President/Vice President:

Barack Obama/Joe Biden - Democrat
Mitt Romney/Matt Ryan - Republican
Gary Johnson - Libertarian

U.S. Senate:

 Claire McCaskill - D
Todd Akin - R
Jonathan Dine - Libertarian

U.S. House of Representatives:

District 3

Eric C. Mayer - D
Blaine Luetkemeyer - R
Steve Wilson - Libertarian

Redistricting brought on by the latest Census results has eliminated the old 9th District. Wentzville and Lake Saint Louis are now part of the 3rd District.

State Races

Missouri Governor:

Jay Nixon - Democrat

Dave Spence - Republican

Jim Higgins - Libertarian

Missouri Lieutenant Governor:

Susan Montee - Democrat

Peter Kinder - Republican

Matthew Copple - Libertarian

Cynthia Davis - Constitution

Missouri Secretary of State:

Jason Kander - Democrat

Shane Schoeller - Republican

Cisse Spragins - Libertarian

Justin Harter - Constitution

Missouri Attorney General:

Chris Koster - D
Ed Martin - R
Dave Browning - Libertarian

Missouri Treasurer:

Clint Zweifel - D
Cole McNary - R
Sean O'Toole - Libertarian

Missouri State Senate:

This is not an election year for District 2.

Missouri State House of Representative:

The map was redrawn for the State House districts this year. 

District 63:

Republican: Bryan Spencer
Democrat: Bill Stinson

District 64:

Republican: Robert Cornejo
Democrat: Wayne Henke

District 107:

Republican: Ron Hicks
Democrat: Rod Hoffman

District 108: Incumbent Republican Chuck Gatschenberger is unopposed.

Statewide Ballot Issues

• Proposition A, which if passed, would put the City of St. Louis Police Department under local control.

• Constitutional Amendment 3, would reform the judicial selection process in Missouri at the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals level. Proponents of the amendment have abandoned their campaign for the measure, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported, citing bias in the ballot language approved by Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnhan.

• Proposition B, would increase tobacco taxes $0.0365 per cigarette and 25% of the manufacturer's invoice price for roll-your-own tobacco and 15% for other tobacco products, according to the ballot language. Estimated revenues of at least $283 million would fund public education in Missouri along with smoking prevention programs.

• Proposition E would prohibit the Governor or any state agency, from establishing or operating state-based health insurance exchanges unless authorized by a vote of the people or by the legislature.

County Races

St. Charles County Council

District #1 (Includes Wentzville generally north of I-70)
2012 is not an election year

District #2 (Includes Lake Saint Louis generally west of LSL Boulevard and south of I-70 and Wentzville south of I-70)

Incumbent Joe Brazil (R-Defiance)
No Democrats, Libertarians or Constitution Party members have filed, so Brazil will be unchallenged in November.

District #4 (Includes part of Lake Saint Louis generally east of Lake Saint Louis Boulevard and south of I-70)

David Hammond (R-O'Fallon)
Michael L. Boyd (D-St. Peters)

County Issues

ST. CHARLES COUNTY BALLOT ISSUES

• Question 1: Amends the St. Charles County Charter in four ways;

1. The county would give written notice to other municipal governments that they will be included in the master plan if they want.
2. The county would have to post ordinances that include a penalty for violation on the County's website and in six public places instead of having to post it in a local newspaper.
3. A technical amendment that clarifies the length of time for bills to be presented to the County Executive, and requires a veto override vote to be taken within 30 days of veto.
4. The County Executive would have to submit a proposed budget to the County Council by Nov. 5 or the first working day after Nov. 5 each year. 

• Question 2: This would allow the County Executive to appoint someone to fill a vacancy on the County Council who is a member of the same political party as the person who left, subject to approval by the council. The appointee would serve until the next general election.

• Question 3: This amendment would give the County Executive oversight of the working conditions of employees in the county, as well as the ability to investigate harassment and discrimination.

• Question 4:  This amendment would prohibit officers and employees of the county from accepting a service or thing of value from someone who has dealings with the county.

• County Proposition A: This would amend the charter to require a council member to forfeit his office if he is physically absent from 12 consecutive meetings of the council unless excused. 

• County Charter Question Law Enforcement: This would establish a County Police Department and make the Sheriff's Department in charge of only court services, security and prisoner transport. Read more here.