Solverson prevails over Roberts in First Circuit race

Jackson County voters saw few contested races on Tuesday's primary ballot, although they still turned out in part to weigh in on a lively judicial race.
The most closely watched one -- that between Christy Solverson and Brian Roberts to fill the First Judicial Circuit vacancy of Judge William G. Schwartz -- came down to Solverson winning nearly three-quarters of the uncertified vote. On the Republican side, Steven Bost won an uncontested primary and will face Solverson in November's general election.
Also, Tyler Edmonds, the state's attorney of neighboring Union County, won an uncontested Democratic race to fill a second First Judicial Circuit vacancy, this one left by Judge Mark Clarke. Similarly, Republican Amanda Byassee Gott faced no opposition in securing her party's nomination for that seat.
A field of Democratic Jackson County incumbent office-holders -- County Clerk Larry Reinhardt, Treasurer Sharon Harris-Johnson, Sheriff Bob Burns and Assessor Maureen Berkowitz -- all won in their uncontested primaries.
In November, Reinhardt will face a Republican challenger for county clerk, Jay Alan Wittenborn, who was the sole candidate in the Republican primary. Likewise, Harris-Johnson will face a Republican challenger for treasurer this fall: current County Board member Emily Burke, who ran uncontested in Tuesday's Republican primary.