By BRENT MARTIN

St. Joseph Post

Western District Buchanan County Commissioner Ron Hook ekes
out a victory, winning by 20 votes according to the unofficial vote tally
reported by the Buchanan County Clerk’s office.

Hook, a Democrat, says he’s shocked his race against
Republican challenger Everett Goddard, Jr. was so tight.

“It’s still baffling to see that it was even this close after
the 16 years I’ve put into nothing but this community,” Hook tells KFEQ/St.
Joseph Post. “I mean I’m happy with the 20 extra votes over my opponent, but I
never thought it’d be this close.”

Unofficial results released by the Buchanan County Clerk’s
office has Hook up on Goddard 7,851 to 7,831, a split of 49.96% to 49.83%.
There remain some votes to count, according to the clerk’s office. Provisional
ballots have yet to be processed and overseas military ballots have until
Friday to arrive.

Hook, a Democrat who has been in office since 2009, acknowledges
his political party affiliation likely cost him votes.

“There’s probably a lot of first-time voters out there,” Hook
says. “There’s a lot of people that just want the courthouse to be completely
Republican and red and whether you do a good job, I guess, or not in this
community it doesn’t make any difference.”

Hook also blames social media for the closeness of the race.
Hook claims there was a lot of “trash” put out on the Internet, such as Goodard’s
claims that his political signs had been stolen and Republican insinuations
that he hadn’t submitted required paperwork with the Missouri Ethics
Commission. Hook explains he didn’t have to submit the paperwork, because he
spent less than $1,000 on his re-election campaign.

“And so, there’s just a lot of trash out there and trash by
people that just obviously don’t know me,” Hook says. “It’s just the way it is.
That’s the way they want this community to be ran and it just baffles me. It
really does.”

Hook says he expects a recount in the race.

You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.