The powerful chairman of the Jackson County Legislature, Henry Rizzo, lost Tuesday, but the longest-serving legislator in the county’s history, Fred Arbanas, won another term.

Crystal Williams won, 50 percent to 43 percent, over Rizzo in a Democratic primary that essentially decided almost all of the races. Most of the winners face no opposition in November.

It may be no surprise then that the primary campaign was marked by an unusual number of hard-fought and big-moneyed battles with dueling TV ads and freeway billboards.

Arbanas won 56 percent to 42 percent over fellow Democrat Kansas City Councilman Terry Riley, who had championed term limits. Arbanas has served since the Legislature was created in 1973.

Arbanas noted Tuesday night that he had won and lost Super Bowls before national audiences. “But this election is important to me,” he said. “I’ve been involved in this community for many years and so has my whole family.

“I’d like to continue to be involved for four more years.”

Rizzo, appointed to the Legislature in 2004, is a familiar political figure in Kansas City. He served 19 years in the Missouri General Assembly and easily won re-election in 2006. He is the Legislature’s current chairman, a post that will be decided by the newly elected members next year.

Williams, a communications consultant, said Tuesday night that voters had opted for a more open and transparent county government.

Voters on Tuesday also approved changes in the Jackson County charter by a wide margin, 60 percent to 40 percent.

None of Tuesday’s winners, except in the 6th District, will face opposition in November. Results of contested races:

1st District at large: Theresa Garza Ruiz defeated challenger Ray Salva Jr., 70 percent to 30 percent, in the Democratic primary.

Garza Ruiz’s campaign coordinated with Williams’ push to defeat Rizzo.

2nd District at large: In a bare-knuckle primary battle, Williams, backed by political kingmaker James B. Nutter Sr., defeated Rizzo, who was promoted by unions, especially Local 42 of the International Association of Fire Fighters.

A third candidate, Patricia Flucas, won 7 percent.

Williams advocated bringing more openness to county operations, including the making of the county budget.

She criticized Rizzo for political gamesmanship, and she overcame the curious appearance on the ballot of a like-named foe. Williams went to court to force D. Crystal Williams to withdraw from the race.

3rd District at large: Arbanas weathered his first real challenge in years, defeating Riley, a Kansas City Council member.

Riley had campaigned on ending Arbanas’ long tenure, noting Arbanas first won election to the seat when Richard Nixon was president.

Arbanas, who decided to seek a new term after hip replacement surgery relieved him of longtime pain, pushed an agenda of steady leadership.

Arbanas said his focus would be on the county’s tightening budget.

3rd District: Dennis Waits, an Independence lawyer who has served on the Legislature since 1986, turned back challenger Curt Dougherty, 57 percent to 43 percent.

Dougherty, who had represented Independence in the Missouri House, had criticized Waits as a political insider who was more interested in benefiting his law practice than taxpayers.

Waits had promoted his accomplishments on the Legislature and suggested his experience would benefit taxpayers as the county struggles to cut its budget.

5th District: Gregory Grounds won the Republican primary easily with 54 percent of the vote. He will be unopposed in the upcoming general election.

Grounds, a former Blue Springs mayor, was challenged by political newcomers Jay Still, an Independence lawyer, who took 23 percent of the vote, and Pat Bottcher, a fiscal conservative who said she attended tea party rallies. She had 22 percent of the vote.

6th District: Greg Walters, a Raytown councilman, defeated Syed Asif, a Lake Lotawana businessman, 79 percent to 21 percent.

Walters will face incumbent Bob Spence in the general election, as Spence won the race for the Republican nomination on Tuesday, 52 percent to 48 percent, over Joseph Spallo, a Lee’s Summit councilman.