CLINTON - Voters in DeWitt County don't want a chemical waste landfill south of Clinton, according to referendum results Tuesday night.

In the Republican primary for state's attorney, Richard Koritz was given the nod over Assistant State's Attorney Andrew Killian. The vote was 1,682 to 1,258.

Killian has served as a county prosecutor for six years.

At the end of the evening, when it appeared that he would not win the race, Killian said, "Obviously, we are disappointed with the results but we are proud of the campaign that we ran."

Koritz is a former state's attorney for DeWitt County.

Koritz said, "I'm very grateful and appreciative of the voters. I'm looking forward to being the state's attorney for the county again."

No Democratic candidate was on the ballot for the state's attorney's race.

Landfill vote

The vote against the waste at the landfill was 3,531 to 1,225.

The debate over allowing PCB-contaminated waste at the Clinton Landfill owned by Area Disposal Service of Peoria was sparked last fall when the DeWitt County Board gave its endorsement to the landfill project.

Tuesday's vote may have more political than legal implications. The approval of the landfill proposal would have to come from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, not the county.

DeWitt County Board Chairman Steve Lobb said the board would reconsider its endorsement of the chemical waste application if voters rejected the advisory proposal at the ballot box. Area Disposal's current landfill agreement with the county brings about $500,000 annually to the county.

Koritz opposed the Clinton Landfill project and criticized Killian's work on a county contract that would increase landfill fees paid to the county by $50,000 if the application is approved.

Killian countered that the state's attorney's office assists the County Board with legal work but does not set public policy.

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DeWitt County

Clinton Landfill (advisory)

Yes…1,225

No…3,531

State's attorney

Andrew Killian…1,258

Dick Koritz…1,682

Circuit clerk

Lori Berger…1,207

Mindy Sessions…308

Pam Barnes…645

Carlene Blue…492

Leon Owens…267