Metro East Sun

Rep. Charles Meier (R-Okawville) has been declared the runaway winner over Don Moore in their Republican primary battle in the 108th District.

With 83 of 106 precincts reporting, Meier bagged 73.31 percent of the vote, for a total of 7,360 votes, to Moore’s 26.69 percent or 2,679 votes.

Throughout the campaign, Moore took Meier to task over his vote in favor of the new state budget that carries a 32 percent permanent income tax hike.

Don Moore

Moore directly blamed lawmakers enactment of various taxes with spurring the state’s rising out-migration problem.

"I had the pleasure of speaking with hundreds of voters while collecting signatures to get my name on the ballot for state representative,” he posted on Facebook soon before voters went to the polls. “Unfortunately, my opponent is not listening to their biggest concern – high taxes.”

In the end, Meier was able to fend off all the criticism and now moves on to the general election. The only candidate in the democratic primary field was write-in candidate J. David Parker.

The 108th House District includes parts of Clinton, Madison, St. Clair and Washington counties.