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Central Illinois races develop as filing period comes to end
By Pantagraph staff
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Races shaped up for the McLean County circuit clerk’s office and Logan County state’s attorney office when the filing period ended Monday.

Those who filed in contested races will face a February primary. The general election is in November.

McLean County

Republican Don Everhart, Normal, and Democrat Brian Plath, Bloomington, filed petitions for the circuit clerk post. Circuit Clerk Sandra Parker decided not to seek re-election.

Two of 10 County Board districts will have a three-way race. Two others each have two candidates seeking election.

District 9 incumbent Democrat Terry Baggett faces Republicans Dennis Brtva and Erik Rankin. All are from Bloomington.

District 5 incumbent Walter Clark faces Democrat Betty Kinser and Republican Sondra “Sonny” O’Connor. O’Connor previously held one of the two District 5 seats.

District 4 incumbent Republican Ann Harding of Normal faces opposition from Democrat Laurie Wollrab from Normal. District 3 incumbent Republican Diane Bostic of Normal faces Democrat Tom Korn of Danvers.

Incumbent County Board members without opposition are Bob Nuckolls, a Bloomington Republican, District 10; Paul Segobiano, a Bloomington Democrat, District 8; John Butler, a Bloomington Republican, District 7; George Gordon, a Normal Democrat, District 6; Rick Dean, a LeRoy Democrat, District 2; and Stan Hoselton, a Chenoa Republican, District 1.

Incumbents seeking re-election in countywide offices are Auditor Jackie Dozier, Bloomington, a Republican; Coroner Beth Kimmerling, Normal, a Republican; Recorder of Deeds H. Lee Newcom, Bloomington, a Republican; and State’s Attorney William Yoder, Bloomington, a Republican.

DeWitt County

In DeWitt County, a five-way race shaped up for the circuit clerk job, with a race also in place for state’s attorney.

Filing for circuit clerk were Leon Owens, Carlene Blue, Mindy Sessions, Lori Berger and Pam Barnes, all of Clinton. Filing for state’s attorney were Richard Koritz and Andrew Killian, both of Clinton.

Incumbent Alex Calvert of Clinton filed for coroner.

For County Board seats, Chuck Moore of Clinton, and Denny Rich and Dana Evans all filed for District A; David Newberg of Clinton and Ed Young of Farmer City both filed for District B; David Taylor and Larry Martin both filed for District C; Pete Daugherty and Melanie Tilley, both of Clinton, filed for District D.

Ford County

Two newcomers filed for circuit clerk. Kim Evans and Barbara King, both of Paxton, hope to replace Clerk Kamalen Johnson, who did not seek re-election.

Newcomer Matthew Fitton of Paxton filed for state’s attorney to replace Tony Lee, who decided not to seek re-election. Incumbent Coroner Douglas Wallace filed for re-election.

In county board races, incumbents Debbie Smith and Dave Hastings and newcomer Tom McQuinn filed in District 1.

Incumbent Pat Haskins and newcomer Robert Lindgren filed for two seats in District 2.

Incumbents Elynor Stagen and Randy Ferguson, both of Gibson City, will face Edwin Miller of Gibson City for two seats in District 2.

LaSalle County

The only race is for the new post of county board chairman and voters can choose from three Republicans: Randy Freeman of Lostant, Gary Carlson of Mendota and Russell Boe of Ottawa.

Until now, the post was filled by appointment of the full county board. The candidates are all incumbent board members and seeking re-election to their district seats.

All five Democrat incumbents of countywide offices up for re-election have filed as well as two Republicans. The newcomers are Tamra Bierbon of Utica for coroner and June Steder of Marseilles for circuit clerk. Incumbents filing were Coroner Jody Bernard, Circuit Clerk Joe Carey, State’s Attorney Brian Towne, Recorder of Deeds Tom Lyons and Auditor Jody Wilkinson.

All three board seats in the Streator area up for re-election on the county board saw petitions turned in by the incumbents. They were Democrat Don Jordan, 27th District, Democrat Bob Jakupcak, 28th District; and Republican Glenn Garretson, 29th District. Newcomer Democrat Harman “Bones” Bruns filed for the 29th District.

Voters will be asked to decide three countywide referendums. They will be asked for the fifth time whether to approve a half-percent sales tax surcharge and advisory questions on veterans’ health care and joining a six-county water district.

Livingston County

A number of County Board races has shaped up in Livingston County, but countywide incumbents face no oppoisition.

Filing were Republican incumbents Judith Cremer, circuit clerk; Michael Burke, coroner; and Thomas Brown, state’s attorney.

Filing for County Board District 1 were Pontiac Republicans Kathy Arbogast; incumbent William Fairfield; Carolyn Gerwin; incumbent Arnold Natzke; incumbent Eldon Ruff; and Marty Fannin.

Filing in District 2, all Republicans, were incumbent David Heath of Dwight, incumbent Dee Woodburn of Pontiac, Robert Young of Emington, Judy Campbell of Manville, Joseph Steichen of Kempton and Richard Thomas of Dwight.

Filing in District 3 were Democrat Susan Gero of Forrest and Republicans Mark Runyon of Fairbury, incumbent John Franey of Chatsworth, Vicki Allen of Cullom, incumbent Timothy Shafer of Fairbury and Robert Foltz of Chenoa.

Board members not seeking re-election are District 1, Republican Roger Wahls of Pontiac; District 2, Republican Jeanne Rapp of Esmen; District 3, Republicans John Spafford of Saunemin and Roger Kirkton of Waldo.

District 2 member Andrew Thompson resigned his seat in October.

Logan County

Incumbent Timothy Huyett will face Michael McIntosh in the state’s attorney’s race. Both are Republicans.

Running unopposed are Circuit Clerk Carla Bender and Coroner Robert Thomas. Both are Republicans.

For County Board seats, only Republicans filed. They are Bill Martin, District 1; incumbent Dick Logan and newcomer Jan Schumacher, District 2; incumbent Rick Aylesworth, District 3; incumbent George Mitchell and newcomers David Hepler and Nathan Turner, all in District 4; incumbent Patrick O’Neill, District 5; and newcomer Terry Carlton, District 6.

Woodford County

Eureka’s Dan Harrod filed to challenge incumbent Mike Stroh for the state’s attorney’s seat.

Coroner Tim Ruestman and Circuit Clerk Carol Newtson also filed for re-election. No one filed for countywide office on the Democrat ballot.

For County Board, a handful of candidates filed.

In District 1, incumbents Tom Janssen and Terry Pille of Minonk and John Krug of El Paso will face challengers Mary Jo Adams of Carlock and John Welch of Minonk.

In District 2, seats held by Gary Joseph and Joel Lemkemann are up for election. Incumbent Joseph of East Peoria filed for reelection. Newcomers Douglas Huser, Mike Hinrichsen and Russ Cotton, all of Metamora, also filed.

In District 3, seats held by Tom Karr and Caroline Schertz are up for election. Both incumbents — Karr of Congerville and Schertz of Lowpoint — will face challengers Gary Lambert of Carlock and Andrew Martin of Metamora.

Legislative

Five candidates have stepped forward to replace U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller, a Morris Republican who represents the 11th Congressional District. Filing petitions were state Sen. Debbie Halvorson of Crete, a Democrat; and Jason Wallace of Normal, Green Party. Republicans filing were Tim Baldermann of New Lenox, Jimmy Lee of North Utica and Terry Heenan of New Lenox.

Incumbent Rep. Tim Johnson, an Urbana Republican, and Democrat Steve Cox of Urbana are running for the 15th Congressional seat.

General Assembly

In races for the General Assembly, Republican state Sens. Bill Brady of Bloomington and Dan Rutherford of Chenoa will be uncontested in the primary. No Democrats have filed.

Also uncontested are Republican state Rep. Dan Brady of Bloomington and Republican state Rep. Keith Sommer of Morton. State Rep. Shane Cultra of Onarga will face David Tomlinson of Champaign in the Republican primary.

Three judge candidates for three vacancies in 11th Circuit Court filed for election. Thomas M. Harris Jr. of Lincoln filed as a Republican for the seat being vacated by Logan County Circuit Judge David Coogan. Associate Judge Robert Freitag of Carlock filed as a Republican to replace Circuit Judge Donald Bernardi and Associate Judge Jennifer Bauknecht of Pontiac filed as a Republican to run for the seat being vacated by Circuit Judge Harold Frobish.

Compiled by Mary Ann Ford, Doris Benter, Greg Stanmar, Tony Sapochetti, Patti Welander, Jason Shults and Marlo Guetersloh.<./i>

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Reader comments on this story - 6 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

WOW... wrote on Nov 6, 2007 1:19 PM:

" I don't live in his district, otherwise I would. I happen to like my representatives at the county level and feel no need to challenge them for a position. Moving in order to run against a guy for a county seat isn't exactly at the top of my list. Seems as though you are supportive of such behavior out of your elected officials. Perhaps you should consider why you support such individuals as leaders. "

GOP wrote on Nov 6, 2007 9:35 AM:

" Really? How can that be? I thought it was the Demoncrats who are the Tax & Spend party! You mean to tell me that all this out-of-control local taxing, borrowing and spending is being driven by a bunch of REPUBLICANS ??? That REPUBLICANS control every single function of these cities and county, yet our local governments are spending like drunken sailors on shore leave? WHAT KIND OF REPUBLICANS ARE THESE PEOPLE, ANYWAY? "

To GOP wrote on Nov 6, 2007 6:46 AM:

" Where are you coming from? They just noted a GOP Auditor, State's Attorney, Coroner, and Recorder. The County Clerk and Treasurer are also Republican. Of the 20 Board members, only 7 are Dems. The area IS under elected Republicans. The County IS under Republican control. Figure it out. "

To : Wow wrote on Nov 5, 2007 11:09 PM:

" so what ? Why dont you run ? "

WOW... wrote on Nov 5, 2007 10:42 PM:

" Amazing that a guy who pleads guilty to domestic battery related charges doesn't even get opposition... "

GOP ? wrote on Nov 5, 2007 10:32 PM:

" Why the heck can't we get some much needed Republicans elected in this community? If Republicans (the ONLY party that knows how to control spending)were in control of Bloomington, Normal and McLean County, maybe we wouldn't be gasping for air under the burden of ballooning local tax assessments. WE HAVE GOT TO GET MCLEAN COUNTY UNDER REPUBLICAN CONTROL TO STAVE OFF THIS TAX, TAX, TAX, BORROW, BORROW, BORROW, SPEND, SPEND, SPEND MENTALITY !!! "
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