By WSIU Staff
Southern Illinois – Voter turnout in Williamson County topped 52-percent as nearly 23-thousand residents went to the polls.
In a high-profile and hotly contested race for Sheriff... interim Sheriff Bennie Vick defeated former Williamson County sheriff Dennis Presley. Vick received 60-percent of the vote to Presley's nearly 40-percent.
In the race for County Board. Incumbent Democrat Brent Gentry edged Republican Phillip Jeralds 52-percent to 48-percent.
And voters in Johnston City approved a ballot initiative that will make the community a home-rule unit of government.
Voter turnout was light in Jackson County with less than 35-percent of eligible voters going to the polls.
The only contested local races were for Jackson County Board where Bill Alstat defeated Daniel Carson; Daniel Bost beat Larry Hill; Will Stephens defeated Scotty Stanley; Robert Lorinskas beat Terri Bryant; Julie Peterson defeated Donald Barrett and Brent Ritzel.
Board candidates Tom Redmond and Allen Cissell ran unopposed.
Voters in Union County elected republican Darren Bailey as county treasurer. He defeated democratic incumbent Bobby Myers.
Republican Dale Russell won a county commissioner's race over democrat John Garner.
Union County voters said yes to electing five at-large members to the county board.
Incumbent Roger Mulch will remain the sheriff of Jefferson County.
The democrat won a three race over republican Eric Breeze and independent candidate Rick Taaka.
The county clerk's race went to democrat Connie Simmons over republican Dan Knox.
Republican Debbie Elliott Marlow won the county treasurer's race over democrat Steve Langa.
On the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners, republican Joey McDermott won in district one, democrat Charles McNealy in district four, the GOP's Scott Taaka in district six, republican John Keele in district nine and republican Tommy Hayes in district 11.
The lone contested race in Perry County was a tight one.
Republican Sam Robb edged democrat Rex Emery by just over 200 votes in the county commissioner race.
Marion County has a new County Clerk.
Republican Steven Fox defeated long-time Democratic Incumbent Steve Bailey. Fox garnered 53-percent of the vote to Bailey's 47-percent.
In the County board race... Dustin Rose defeated Pam Hawkins and roger Jones; Michael Ice defeated Earl White; and Terry Johnston defeated Gregory Smith.
Voter turnout in Marion County was a little over 43-percent.
An independent candidate won the sheriff's race in Hardin County.
Lloyd "Smokey" Cullison defeated Republican Jerry Fricker and Democrat Roger Little.
In the county board race, Republican David Robinson defeated democrat Larry Matthews.
In White County, voters said no to allowing the town of Carmi to impose a three-quarter percent sales tax to avoid an increase in property taxes.
Republicans swept all three county board races in Cumberland County.
Gregory Johnson defeated democrat Garry Stewart in the central district race. Robert Marti defeated democrat Ann Lawhead in the east district and Todd Beard downed democrat Richard Russell in the west district.
The GOP's Joy Sutherland won the county clerk and recorder's race over democrat Julie Gentry.
Democrats did have their moments in Cumberland County. Stephen Ozier won the sheriff's race defeating republican Larry Wicke.
In the county treasurer's race, democrat Jo Ellen Flood defeated republican Morris "Luke" Parr.
The Green Party won a seat on the Clinton County Board of Commissioners.
Dean Albers won the district five race over republican Keith Richter and democrat Jerry Albers.
In district two, democrat Bryan Wessel downed the GOP's Van Johnson.
The county treasurer's race went to republican Denise Trame over democrat Curt Winter, Jr.
Republican Mary Rakers won the county clerk's race over democrat Douglas Kuhl.
Clinton County voters said no overwhelmingly to a half-percent public safety sales tax increase.
They also said no to a one percent sales tax in Trenton.
But voters did say yes to a referendum allowing the Damiansville School District to issue bonds of more than one-point-two million dollars to demolish parts of old buildings and add new portions.
Randolph County has a new Sheriff.
Republican Challenger Mike Hoelscher defeated Democratic incumbent Fred Frederking 52-pecent to 47-percent.
Voter turnout was in excess of 56-percent as Randolph County voters re-elected Democratic County Clerk Pat Laramore. Laramore defeated republican James Odom 60-percent to 39-percent.
In the County Commission race Republican Davis Holder defeated Democrat Ken Slavens 55-percent to 44-percent.
A Green Party candidate earned a spot on the Fayette County Board.
Wade Willhouser edged republican Glenn Gurtner by less than 50 votes in the district six race.
Democrat Loy Staff was elected in district one over republican David Challans.
It was a big day for republicans in Wayne County.
Mike Everett easily defeated democrat Joseph Harrelson by nearly a ten to one margin.
The GOP's Heidi Hodges defeated democrat Glenda Young by a mere 36 votes.
Republican Michael Simpson won the Wayne County Board district five race over democrat John Keith Jones.
In Johnson County... Republican Robin Harper-Whitehead defeated Democrat Linda Tanner in the race for County Clerk.
And Republican Phil Stewart beat Democrat Kevin Breeden for the County board seat.
The four contested races in Massac County were split evenly between democrats and republicans.
The GOP's Ted Holder won the sheriff's race over democrat John Barr.
Republican John Taylor defeated democrat Sandra Rheeling for county clerk.
But democrat Floyd Sullivan beat republican Debbie Crockett for county treasurer.
And democrat Jerel Childers won a county board race over republican Jeffrey Weber.
Democrats won three of the four contested races in Pulaski County.
Randy Kern won the sheriff's race, Julie Sauerborn won the county clerk's race and David Sharp won the county commissioner's race.
Republican Robbie Moore won the county treasurer's race.
Pulaski County voters said yes to prohibiting the sale of alcohol at retail establishments in Olmstead.
They said no on the establishment of a one percent tax levy for municipal operations on people engaged in selling personal property for property tax relief.
Democrat Shannon Bradley easily won the sheriff's race in Gallatin County.
Bradley defeated the Green Party's Jim Duke Williams and the GOP's Lyndal Williams.
Former Gallatin County Sheriff Raymond Martin was forced out of office in September after a federal jury convicted him drug-trafficking and witness-tampering charges.
Timothy Brown won a very tight sheriff's race in Alexander County.
The democrat edged independent candidate Stephen Thomas by 26 votes.
Democrat Jerry Smith won the county treasurer's race.
Democrat Harold McNelly won the county commissioner's race with republican Mitzi Thomas taking the county clerk/recorder's race.
Democrat Russell Adams has been elected sheriff of Lawrence County.
He easily outdistanced republican Greg Chance.
The GOP's Will Gibson won the county clerk's race and the party's Barbie Morie won the race for county treasurer.
Democrats Bonnie Hann won the county board race in district two and Patrick Spidel won in district four.
Republicans William Gray won in district three and David White in district six.
Hamilton County voters elected Gregory Brenner for sheriff. He defeated democrat Kenny Shreve.
John Monnet was elected sheriff of Effingham County. The republican defeated democrat Herman "Junior" Willis.
Republicans also took three seats on the county board. James Neimann in district B, David Campbell in district D and Mark Percival in district H.
Pope County voters elected Jerry Suits as sheriff. The republican beat democrat Rick Bouman.
The GOP's Tim Wallace earned a spot on the county commission with a win over democrat Judy Turner.
Democrat Shelley Friend was elected county treasurer over republican Trish Murphy.
The lone contested race in Clark County went to democrat Bill Downey, who defeated republican Sue Kemp Guillemette for county clerk.
The Clay County treasurer's race went to democrat Jana Tolliver over republican Steven Stortzum.
Republican Janice Brooks won the county board race in district D over democrat Dale Weber.
There were no locally contested races in Edwards County.
But voters did say yes to allowing the village of West Salem to issue 220-thousand
dollars worth of bonds to buy a new fire truck.
Republican Charles Parker won the sheriff's race in Washington County...defeating democrat Harry Berger.
Republicans Jeffrey Evans, Chris Maschhoff and Charles Meier won seats on the county board.
Washington County voters also said yes to annexing the Ashley Public Library District.
Crawford County voters elected democrat Todd Liston for sheriff.
They also elected republicans Twyla Bailey for county treasurer, as well as the party's Gareld Bilyew and Charles Rains to the county board.
Voters also said yes to a two-tenths of a percent tax increase to maintain cemeteries in the Oblong Township.
The lone contested race in Wabash County went to republican Joe Keeling for sheriff.
He defeated democrat Ray Etzkom.
Voters have given the OK for the Flora School District to consolidate its four elementary schools into one.
Superintendent Bob Pierson says the consolidation will allow the district to provide better tools and resources for its teachers and students.
The decision at the polls will allow the district to issue bonds worth nine-point-five-million dollars to build a new elementary school in Flora near the middle and high schools.
Incumbents fared well in southern Illinois' legislative races...
In the 107th District, State Representative John Cavaletto easily defeated his Democratic challenger Josh Qualls garnering 71-percent of the vote.
In the 109th District, Republican Roger Eddy won re-election with nearly 77-percent of the vote over his Democrat challenger Tim Cyr.
In the 115th State House race, Incumbent Republican Mike Bost defeated Green Party challenger Charlie Howe, taking 75-pecent of the vote.
In the 116th House District, Incumbent Dan Reitz slipped by his Republican challenger Glenn Farley 56-pecent to 44-percent.
And in the 58th State Senate race, Republican incumbent Dave Luechtefeld defeated Democrat Jeremy Walker in what was one of the region's most hotly contested races... 63-percent to 37-percent.
Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney saw less success in this year's election than he did in 2006.
Four years ago, Whitney earned 10% of the vote, giving the Greens established party status in Illinois. This election, they fell short of the 5% needed to remain an established party.
During his concession speech Tuesday night from the SIUC campus, Whitney said he believes some of his votes were lost because of controversy in the Chicago area.
On some Chicago voting machines, Whitney's name was misspelled as "Rich Whitey."
Despite pulling only about 3-percent of the vote, Whitney says he thinks the Green Party ran a much more professional campaign this election season.
