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County voters shoot down board reduction
By a 56-44 percent margin, Sangamon County voters Tuesday rejected a non-binding proposal to cut the county board from 29 to 15 members.
The vote totals were 51,912 against the plan and 41,510 in favor.
Many groups, including the County Farm Bureau and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, had come out against the proposal, which proponents
argued could save the county roughly $100,000 per year.
The statewide proposal for a constitutional convention was soundly defeated by more than a 2-to-1 margin.
Under the current constitution crafted in 1970, voters every 20 years must vote on whether they want a new constitution.
In Sangamon County, it was roughly 70 percent to 30 percent in opposition, mirroring the statewide count.
To replace retiring representative Ray LaHood, Peoria Republican Aaron Schock easily defeated Democrat Colleen Callahan and Green Party candidate Sheldon Schafer.
Schock, who at 27 years old will become the youngest Congressman when he is inaugurated in January, garnered 59 percent of the vote, with Callahan netting 38 percent.
Incumbent U.S. Senator Dick Durbin cruised to another term, whipping Dr. Steve Sauerberg.
In countywide races, it was a good night for Republicans, as Circuit Clerk Tony Libri was re-elected against Springfield city clerk Cecilia Tumulty (52.8 percent to 47.2 percent).
State’s attorney John Schmidt was also re-elected, beating Democrat Ron Stradt 53.8 percent to 46.2 percent.
Schmidt was first appointed to the post in 1999.
Incumbent Republican coroner Susan Boone easily dispatched Aby Phoenix, an emergency room nurse, by 17.2 percent (58.6 to 41.4).
Breaking the Republican strangehold on victory, Democrat Josh Langfelder was elected as the county recorder by over 10,000 votes over Republican Don Gray (55.3 percent to
44.7 percent).
The son of former Springfield mayor Ossie Langfelder, Josh Langfelder was recommended by current recorder Mary Ann Lamm to succeed her.
In county board races, in District 8 Republican incumbent Jim Good bested Rob Mehan by a 59-41 margin.
Fellow Republican Sarah Musgrave won in District 9, with almost 66 percent of the vote against Mike Broglin.
In other local races of interest, Republican congressman John Shimkus coasted to re-election, as did State Senator Larry Bomke (50th District), State Representative
Raymond Poe (99th) and State Representative Rich Brauer (100th); Brauer was unopposed.
President-elect Barack Obama easily won Illinois, and he won by a 51-47 margin over John McCain in Sangamon County.
Voter turnout was 72.64 percent, according to the county. A total of 100,462 people cast a ballot out of 138,299 possible.
By a 56-44 percent margin, Sangamon County voters Tuesday rejected a non-binding proposal to cut the county board from 29 to 15 members.
The vote totals were 51,912 against the plan and 41,510 in favor.
Many groups, including the County Farm Bureau and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, had come out against the proposal, which proponents
argued could save the county roughly $100,000 per year.
The statewide proposal for a constitutional convention was soundly defeated by more than a 2-to-1 margin.
Under the current constitution crafted in 1970, voters every 20 years must vote on whether they want a new constitution.
In Sangamon County, it was roughly 70 percent to 30 percent in opposition, mirroring the statewide count.
To replace retiring representative Ray LaHood, Peoria Republican Aaron Schock easily defeated Democrat Colleen Callahan and Green Party candidate Sheldon Schafer.
Schock, who at 27 years old will become the youngest Congressman when he is inaugurated in January, garnered 59 percent of the vote, with Callahan netting 38 percent.
Incumbent U.S. Senator Dick Durbin cruised to another term, whipping Dr. Steve Sauerberg.
In countywide races, it was a good night for Republicans, as Circuit Clerk Tony Libri was re-elected against Springfield city clerk Cecilia Tumulty (52.8 percent to 47.2 percent).
State’s attorney John Schmidt was also re-elected, beating Democrat Ron Stradt 53.8 percent to 46.2 percent.
Schmidt was first appointed to the post in 1999.
Incumbent Republican coroner Susan Boone easily dispatched Aby Phoenix, an emergency room nurse, by 17.2 percent (58.6 to 41.4).
Breaking the Republican strangehold on victory, Democrat Josh Langfelder was elected as the county recorder by over 10,000 votes over Republican Don Gray (55.3 percent to
44.7 percent).
The son of former Springfield mayor Ossie Langfelder, Josh Langfelder was recommended by current recorder Mary Ann Lamm to succeed her.
In county board races, in District 8 Republican incumbent Jim Good bested Rob Mehan by a 59-41 margin.
Fellow Republican Sarah Musgrave won in District 9, with almost 66 percent of the vote against Mike Broglin.
In other local races of interest, Republican congressman John Shimkus coasted to re-election, as did State Senator Larry Bomke (50th District), State Representative
Raymond Poe (99th) and State Representative Rich Brauer (100th); Brauer was unopposed.
President-elect Barack Obama easily won Illinois, and he won by a 51-47 margin over John McCain in Sangamon County.
Voter turnout was 72.64 percent, according to the county. A total of 100,462 people cast a ballot out of 138,299 possible.
Issue Date: Nov. 6, 2008
