Published: February 20, 2009 09:16 pm      

Some towns to see new leaders

Several races heating up for April 7 election

GEORGETOWN — The top political spot is up for grabs in a number of cities and villages in Vermilion County on April 7.

Georgetown will see many changes regarding city leadership after residents head to the polls. Mayor Darrell Acord, who has served in the position since 1997, is not seeking re-election.

“I’ve been here for 12 years and I feel like it’s time to step back,” he said.

Acord has filled the role of Georgetown mayor as a full-time position, always holding regular hours at city hall from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. He said he has taken short vacations with family and even then, ran the city by cell phone.

“I want to enjoy my grandkids,” Acord said. “I feel like this door is closing and that one is opening.”

Four candidates are vying for the four-year mayor term there — two current aldermen, Darren Alexander and Rusty L. Berry; former Mayor Dennis Lucas; and newcomer Cathy Jenkins.

Four aldermen positions are also up for re-election in the city, as well as the treasurer spot. However, current aldermen with expired terms, Lee Reinier and Tom Adair, have decided against running for re-election. No candidates have stepped up to run in their place for Ward 1 and Ward 4. The treasurer position, currently held by Sonja Woods, is also open and has no candidate running.

Aldermen Darin Readnour, Gary Lamar, Tom Smith and Kim Shrout all continue to serve the remainder of their existing terms on the Georgetown City Council and are not up for re-election this cycle.

A contested race in Ward 2 will occur between Carl Lee Johnson and Thomas Seilhymer. In Ward 3, newcomer Wilma Wilming is the only candidate.

Other area villages have contested mayoral races of interest to voters this spring.

MAYORAL RACES

— Longtime Tilton Mayor David Phillips running with the Progressive party is being challenged by John L. Criswell of the People’s Choice party and independent candidate Robert “Jim” Watson.

— In Westville, current Mayor Jeff Slavik does not seek re-election. Current trustee Sheldon L. Smith and newcomer Jeff Ellis are vying for the open seat.

— In nearby Belgium, a contested mayoral race includes contenders Mitchell Valangeon and former Mayor Robert A. Martin.

— Ridge Farm Mayor Marvin Arnett also does not seek re-election, which leaves the vacancy for candidates Stanley Richardson and Sharon A. Simmons to vie for.

— Other surprises in the southern part of the county include the absence of Janet Nees’ name on the contenders list for mayor in the village of Sidell. She has been mayor there for 25 years. James A. Phebus is running for the position uncontested.

— In Allerton, the village president race is contested by candidates John R. Cutsinger of the Village party and Christine M. Richardson.

— No candidate is running for mayor in Fithian.

— In Rankin, the village president race is highly contested with four candidates vying for the position. Vicki Allison, Dede Brogdon, Thomas Page and Aaron Warren all seek the top spot.

OTHER SEATS

Other candidates filing for open seats regionally include:

— ALLERTON: Village trustee, four-year term (vote for three), Gary Lanne, Richard W. McComas, Douglas Thompson, all running under the Village party.

Village trustee, two-year unexpired term (vote for one), David Down, Village party.

— ALVIN: Village trustee, four-year term (vote for three), Michael Reffett, Melissa Bell, Brian Cohen, Carrie Ferrell, Michael Cassidy.

— BELGIUM: Village trustee, four-year term (vote for three), John Nelk, Ralph R. Woods, Delores Curry, Loretta A. O’Banion, Jim Delhaye.

Clerk, four-year term (vote for one), Harriett Nelk.

— BISMARCK: Village trustee, four-year term (vote for three), Mildred M. Cook, Julie A. Boersma, Lawrence Lee High, Dwayne C. Gettleman.

Village trustee, two-year unexpired term (vote for one), Karel L. Volpert.

— CATLIN: Commissioner, two-year unexpired term (vote for one), David Brady, Alisa Prosser.

— FAIRMOUNT: Village president, four-year term (vote for one), David W. Ferber.

Clerk, four-year term (vote for one), Vonda L. Kirby.

Village trustee, four-year term (vote for three), Edward D. Cheuvront, Bryan Darr, Jenny Nargelenas.

— FITHIAN: Clerk, four-year term (vote for one), Dorothy A. Engelman.

Village trustee, four-year term (vote for three), Tod Terry, John W. Harrison Jr., Donald J. Huckaby, Lisa Powell.

— HENNING: Mayor, four-year term (vote for one), Jerry Paxton.

Clerk, four-year term (vote for one), Jamie Elson.

Village trustee, four-year term (vote for three), Ruth Johnson, Penny Ford, Lisa L. Elder.

— HOOPESTON: Mayor, four-year term (vote for one), Bill Cruisinberry.

Clerk, four-year term (vote for one), Gail Lane.

Treasurer, four-year term (vote for one), no candidate.

Alderman, Ward 1, four-year term (vote for one), Bill McElhaney.

Alderman, Ward 2, two-year unexpired term (vote for one), Jeff Jehonson.

Alderman, Ward 4, four-year term (vote for one), Carl Ankenbrand.

Alderman, Ward 3, four-year term (vote for one), write-in candidates are Susan Comstock and Tony Hasbargen.

Alderman, Ward 4, four-year term (vote for one), Bill Goodwine.

— INDIANOLA: Village president, four-year term (vote for one), Donnie Turner.

Clerk, four-year term (vote for one), Ralphine Smiley.

Village trustee, four-year term (vote for three), Pam Potter, DeAnn Smiley, Thomas E. Gooch III.

Village trustee, two-year unexpired term (vote for one), Jordan Reese.

— MUNCIE: Mayor, four-year term (vote for one), Jerry McGlaughlin.

Clerk, four-year term (vote for one), Debbie Mennenga-Chow.

Village trustee, four-year term (vote for three), Helen Welch.

— OAKWOOD: President, four-year term (vote for one), Tom Cook, Citizen’s party.

Village trustee, four-year term (vote for three), with the Citizen’s party are candidates Robert Parr, David Parker and Jessica Ritter.

— POTOMAC: President, four-year term (vote for one), Bernard “Bernie” McCarty, People’s Progressive party.

Village trustee, four-year term (vote for three), Michael “Mike” Highfill, People’s Progressive party; Darlene Brooks, People’s Progressive party; Elizabeth Osborn, People’s Progressive party; Lucas Esteppe and Jason Buhr.

— RANKIN: Clerk, four-year term (vote for one), Karen Burnes, Minette Warren.

Village trustee, four-year term (vote for three), Paul Blakey, Russell Matthews, Pamela Quicksall.

— RIDGE FARM: Clerk, four-year term (vote for one), Carolyn F. Ehlenfeld.

Village trustee, two-year unexpired (vote for one), John S. Goodwin, Howard K. Kruzan as a write-in candidate.

Village trustee, four-year term (vote for three), Shawn Schendel, Claude McCool, Philip E. Augustus, Steven Spurlock, Mark E. Garrison.

— ROSSVILLE: President, four-year term (vote for one), Terry S. Prillaman.

Clerk, four-year term (vote for one), Chris A. Pearson.

Village trustee, four-year term (vote for three), Dennis L. Barragree, Richard P. Queen, Charles D. Schadd, Tia N. Petersen.

— SIDELL: Clerk, four-year term (vote for one), Janet L. Brown.

Village trustee, two-year unexpired term (vote for one), Ron Brown.

Village trustee, four-year term (vote for three), Gary D. Snoke, Lin Bates, James Scott Osborn, Bradley, J. Prunkard.

— TILTON: Village trustee, four-year term (vote for three), with the Progressive party are Judith Barrett, Carl McDonald and William “Bill” Wear; with the People’s Choice party are candidates Robert “Bob” Finley, Dick Lappin and Conrad “Dutch” Wantland.

— WESTVILLE: Village trustee, four-year term (vote for three), Rick A. Jones, Dena Jenkins, William P. Cottrell.