August 2012 Election Guide

As we close in on the August primary and look ahead to November’s elections, Sunset Hills-Crestwood 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 . You'll definitely want to bookmark this page for updates.

LOCAL

Missouri House of Representatives

90th District (parts of Sunset Hills, Kirkwood, Oakland, Glendale, Warson Woods): District 94 Rep. Rick Stream is shifting over because of redistricting to run in November against Democrat Deb Lavender. Lavender lost to Stream for a seat in the House in 2010.

91st District (Crestwood, Webster Groves, Shrewsbury, parts of Marlborough and St. Louis): 91st District Democratic Rep. Jeanne Kirkton is set to run against Republican Elizabeth Deal in the November general elections. Deal is up for her first elections, a communications professional and co-founder of Vellum, Inc.

92nd District (parts of Crestwood, Marlborough, Affton, Lakeshire, Sappington, Concord, Green Park, Grantwood Village, Wilbur Park): Democrat 66th District Rep. Genice Montecillo is also transferring over to District 92 to be on the ballot against Al Faulstich in November. Faulstich also campaigned and lost in 2010 for a spot representing the 85th District.

96th District (Sunset Hills, Fenton, Concord, Sappington): .

Missouri Senate First District

In August, .

(100th District) in the Missouri House for eight years, while Sifton was elected to the house in 2010 to represent Lemay and Affton in the former 96th District.

The winner will face incumbent Jim Lembke in November, who has no opposition for the primary. Lembke has represented the First District since 2009.

This race will be as redistricting put left-leaning areas such as Webster Groves and Maplewood in with South County. as it combined two senate districts into one. 

Missouri Senate 15th District

The 15th District has seen no response to run against incumbent Senator Eric Schmitt, who has also been in the State Senate since 2009, on either the Republican or Democratic side. 

STATEWIDE 

U.S. Senate

Claire McCaskill's bid for re-election will be closely watched by the entire nation in part because of her close ties to President Obama's 2008 campaign. 

The fiercely-fought GOP primary will likely see U.S. Rep. Todd Akin (R-Wildwood), former State Treasurer Sarah Steelman or Frontenac businessman John Brunner emerge as McCaskill's opponent.

The "Tea Party" movement will also be a factor in the campaign, with one activist's comments about drawing added scrutiny and security for McCaskill. 

In the meantime, dueling .

Congress

Missouri's new Second district is guaranteed to see someone new elected with Rep. Akin's decision to run for the Senate. come into the fold to support her, enough so that it helped push Ed Martin to change races.

Wagner would face one of a field of largely unknown Democrats, none of whom has attracted support from national party leaders. 

ISSUES

In August, voters will be asked to decide on a measure proposing "a constitutional amendment guaranteeing a citizen's right to pray and worship on public property and reaffirming a citizen's right to choose any or no religion," according to the state law calling for the vote.  earlier this year.

The fate of statewide ballot issues will not be decided until later this summer.

Voters in the St. Louis County Public Library system will be asked to vote on a measure, which  to fund improvements at facilities system-wide.

 The tax proceeds would benefit a long-term capital improvement plan -- if the proposition doesn't pass, the current supply would not increase or decrease, or generate interest. 

UPDATED: Friday, July 6 at 11:10 a.m.