BLOOMINGTON - A mayor's race in Chenoa and sales tax measures in LeRoy and Lexington highlight April 17 elections in McLean County outside Bloomington-Normal.

The Pantagraph will publish separate stories on the Unit 5, District 87 and Olympia school districts, and on council races in Bloomington and Normal.

A look at contested races and referendums follows:

Chenoa

Incumbent Mayor Walter W. Hetman, who is retired from Illinois State Police, faces Randy H. Skaggs, who works for the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Four candidates want two open city commissioner spots. Candidates are Jack D. Skaggs, who is retired; Eric T. Rhoda; Jayne Zeller, a drywaller; and Troy R. Aldrich, who works at the McLean County Highway Department.

LeRoy, Lexington, Colfax

In LeRoy, Ward 3 incumbent George "Butch" Cook faces Nancy L. Bentley, who operates a home tanning salon. Ward 4 incumbent Jerry Henson faces Dawn M. Hanafin, who works at a hardware store in LeRoy.

In Lexington, Ward 3 incumbent Richard D. Althouse faces retiree Henry (Hank) Brill.

In Colfax, four people seek three seats for village trustee. Candidates are incumbent Lonnie Meiner; Bruce A. Green; farmer Laurence Baker; and nursing home worker Donna S. Poppe.

School districts

In LeRoy, three people seek two seats. Candidates are incumbent Thomas Birge; Tammy Cook; and Robert M. Spratt.

In Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley, four people seek three seats. Candidates are Janel Duquette, Gibson City, who works in a chiropractic office; Tom Taylor, Gibson City; Mike McCall, Gibson City, who works for a gas company; Greg Kerber, Anchor, is a farmer.

In El Paso-Gridley, eight people seek four seats. Candidates Eric Zehr and Curt Stoller both work for Country Insurance & Financial Services, Bloomington; DeLois Wilkey works for an auction business; David L. Mool is production manager of a Eureka farm; Shelbie K. Bigger is a lab supervisor; Debra S. Gillespie works for State Farm Insurance Cos.; Casey Knobloch drives for Illinois Department of Transportation; Dale Schlipf is a farmer.

In Congerville-Eureka-Goodfield, four people seek three seats. Candidates Elizabeth A. Danner, Kurt Blunier and Chad M. Leman all live in Eureka; Edward Lee Leman lives in Congerville.

Referendums

In LeRoy, voters will decide whether to approve a one-half of 1 percent municipal sales tax that would help pay for a recreation center.

In Lexington, voters will decide whether to approve a one-half of 1 percent municipal sales tax that will help create a sanitary sewer system.

Voters in Bellflower Township will decide on a tax for cemetery matters and Towanda Library District voters will decide whether to increase the library tax rate.

Voters also will be asked to choose members of boards for parks, libraries, regional school boards, land commissioner and fire protection districts.