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Local and state candidates file for Feb. 5 primary

Posted November 05, 2007 10:00 pm

Karen McDonald

State Rep. Mike Smith will jockey with a familiar face in the Feb. 5 primary.

Smith, D-Canton, is being challenged by Democrat Marvin Bainter of Lewistown for the third time since 2004 in the 91st District. Bainter and Smith both filed petitions for election by Monday's deadline, the last day to file to appear on the primary ballot.

Smith first was first elected in 1994 and had not had a primary challenger until 2004. Bainter was unsuccessful in his challenges against Smith in both 2004 and 2006.

No Republicans filed for that seat. The 91st District includes parts of Fulton, Tazewell and Peoria counties.

Others who filed for office by Monday's deadline:

State House of Representatives

92nd District: Two Democrats will vie for the nomination Feb. 5 and face off against a Republican in the November general election. Democrats Jehan Gordon and Allen Mayer and Republican Cindy Ardis-Jenkins, all of Peoria, filed petitions.

Rep. Aaron Schock is not seeking re-election to the seat. He is running for the congressional seat being vacated with U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood's retirement.

All other state representatives in the area are seeking re-election and have no opponents. They are: David Leitch, R-Peoria (73rd); Keith Sommer, R-Morton (106th); Don Moffit, R-Gilson (74th); Frank Mautino, D-Spring Valley (76th); Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth (87th); Dan Brady, R-Bloomington (88th); Rich Myers, R-Colchester (94th); Rich Brauer, R-Petersburg (100th) and Jil Tracy, R-Mount Sterling (93rd).

State Senate

38th District: Features the only primary race where Republican Gary Dahl, R-Granville is being challenged by two Democrats - Rudy Martin Jr. of Minooka and Steve Stout of North Utica. The primary Democratic winner will face Dahl in the November general election.

The 38th District includes parts of Bureau, Putnam, LaSalle and Livingston counties.

Other state senators seeking re-election are without opponents: Bill Brady, R-Bloomington (44th); John Sullivan, D-Rushville (47th); Larry Bomke, R-Springfield (50th) and Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa (53rd).

Peoria County

It's deja vu for the Peoria County coroner's race.

Coroner Johnna Ingersoll, a Republican, again faces a challenge from the same two men who wanted the seat in 2004.

Republican George G. Blackburn is challenging Ingersoll for the Republican nomination in the Feb. 5 primary. Whoever gets the nomination will face Democrat Steven P. Schmidt - who also ran against Ingersoll in 2004 - in the November 4, 2008 general election.

In other filings:

Auditor: Incumbent Carol VanWinkle, a Democrat, will be challenged against fellow Democrat Kent A. Rotherham.

State's Attorney: Incumbent Kevin Lyons, a Democrat, is seeking re-election. He will be challenged by Peoria attorney Darin LaHood, a Republican in the November general election.

Circuit Clerk: Incumbent Democrat Robert 'Bob' Spears is seeking re-election. He is unopposed.

County Recorder: Incumbent Republican Brad Horton is seeking re-election unopposed.

County Board District 2: Incumbent Junior Watkins, a Democrat, is running unopposed.

County Board District 4: Democrat Andrew A. Rand is seeking the seat currently held by Democrat James Thomas, who is not seeking re-election.

County Board District 6: Republican Jeffrey C. Lickiss is seeking the seat currently held by G. Allen Mayer, a Democrat, who is running for the Illinois House of Representatives. No Democrats filed for this position.

County Board District 8: Incumbent Phillip Salzer, a Democrat, is running unopposed.

County Board District 10: Incumbent Timothy D. Riggenbach, a Republican, is running unopposed.

County Board District 12: Incumbent Robert E. Baietto, a Republican, is running unopposed.

County Board District 14: Incumbent Brian Elsasser, a Republican, is running unopposed.

County Board District 16: Incumbent Eldon Polhemus, a Democrat, faces a challenge from Republican Brad Harding.

County Board District 18: Incumbent Patricia J. Hidden, a Democrat, is running unopposed.

Tazewell County

The race for Tazewell County Board Chairman includes four challengers to long-time incumbent Jim Unsicker.

Republican Unsicker is vying to keep his job among fellow GOP candidates David Zimmerman, Vivian Hagaman and Timothy Church in the February primary. The winner will advance to the November general election to face Democrat Larry Noreuil.

Circuit Clerk: Incumbent Democrat Pam Gardner is unopposed.

Recorder of Deeds: Incumbent Democrat Robert Lutz is seeking re-election. He will run against current County Board member Carroll Imig, a Republican, in the November general election.

State's Attorney: Incumbent Republican Stewart Umholtz is seeking re-election unopposed.

Coroner: Incumbent Dennis Conover is seeking re-election unopposed.

Auditor: Incumbent Vicki Grashoff is seeking re-election unopposed.

County Board District 1: Democrat incumbents Terry Von Boeckman and Rosemary Palmer filed for re-election and newcomers Darrell Meisinger and Monica Connett also filed. The Republican candidates are John Olsen, Robert Burress and Christopher Yount. There are three available seats.

County Board District 2: Republican incumbents Greg Sinn, Jan Donahue and Dean Grimm all filed. Since there are three seats open, all likely will be re-elected.

County Board District 3: Republican incumbents Michael Harris and Michael Godar and former board member John Ackerman and newcomer Paul Hahn filed. Charles Broy, of the Constitution Party, also filed. There are three open seats.

The primary election is Feb. 5 with early voting beginning Jan. 14 and running through Jan. 31. The last day to register to vote is Jan. 8.

Woodford County

Come early February, most eyes in Woodford County will likely be on the race for state's attorney.

Mike Stroh, the Republican incumbent who has been the State's Attorney for nearly seven years after being appointed to fill the job vacated by Chuck Feeney in December of 2000, will face fellow Republican attorney Daniel M. Harrod in the February primary.

Circuit Clerk: Incumbent Carol J. Newtson, a Republican, is seeking re-election unopposed.

Coroner: Incumbent Tim D. Ruestman, a Republican, is seeking re-election unopposed.

County Board District 1: Republican incumbents John Krug, Terry Pille and Thomas Janssen will vie for three open seats against newcomers Mary Jo Adams and John R. Welch.

County Board District 2: Republican incumbent Gary Joseph will face newcomers Douglas D. Huser, Mike Hinrichsen and Russ Cotton for just two open positions. Current board member Joel Lemkemann did not file for re-election.

County Board District 3: Republican incumbents Tom Karr and Caroline F. Shertz will compete for two open seats against newcomers Andrew E. Martin and Gary Lambert.

Karen McDonald can be reached at (309) 686-3181 or kmcdonald@pjstar.com. Reporters Anita Szoke, Dave Haney and Kevin Sampier contributed to this report.

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