Morrison, Emerick win county offices
Fayette County residents supported the Republican candidate for president, and they also favored the GOP at the local level.
In the presidential race, Republican Mitt Romney held a 5,950-2,848 edge over Democrat Barack Obama, who was elected to a second term.
In local races, Republican Kathy Emerick won the circuit clerk’s race, and Republican Joshua Morrison was the victor in the state’s attorney’s race.
Emerick captured 55 percent of the vote – an edge that she held throughout most of Tuesday night – in defeating incumbent Democrat Mary Sue Ruot, 4,898-3,973. Ruot was seeking a second full term in office after working in the circuit clerk’s office for more than three decades.
Morrison, who is currently serving as an assistant state’s attorney in Sangamon County, won 60 percent of the vote in defeating Democrat J. Matthew Chancey, 5,305-3,430. Chancey currently serves as the assistant state’s attorney in Fayette County.
Winning a hotly contested race, Morrison said he's "very excited" about coming to Fayette County, both to work and live.
As the county's lead prosecutor, Morrison said he will now "get do do whatever comes into the office."
He's also excited about his role as an office administrator, looking to build on the experience that he's gained in Sangamon County.
"My opponent tried to downplay my experience, but six years is still a long time, and I feel like I gained a lot of valuable experience in that time," Morrison said.
He attributes his victory to a lot of hard work.
"I was out there (in the county) all of the time, and I had a lot of people out there working for me. I can't say enough about all of those great people who helped me and played a role in my victory."
He will be moving to Fayette County, and the Pana native looks forward "being closer to family and friends."
Chancey said his "biggest fear" going into the election was an "anti-Obama sentiment" carrying through to local races.
"I think the numbers show that that's what happened," he said.
Chancey said he "feels I've done some good work here.
"Even before I began to work for Steve Friedel, what he always talked about was doing the right thing.
"I feel that that is what we always tried to do," Chancey said.
In his time, he has found Resident Circuit Judge S. Gene Schwarm to be "one of the finest judges that you will ever find, and I have been around a lot of judges."
Fayette County Coroner Bruce Bowen and Julie Wollerman, regional superintendent of schools for Bond, Fayette and Effingham counties, were elected without opposition.
Bowen received 7,855 votes in winning a fourth term as coroner.
Wollerman, who was appointed to the regional superintendent post in July of last year, received 6,324 votes.
The Fayette County Board remains the same after Tuesday’s election, with all 14 incumbents winning re-election.
The only contest was in District 6, where Republican Glenn Gurtner (731 votes) and Democrat Joe Kelly (621) were re-elected. Republican Bryce Kistler finished only five votes behind Kelly.
Other county board vote totals were:
• District 1 – Jean Finley-D, 768; and Loy Staff-D, 696.
• District 2 – Jeffrey Beckman-R, 732; and John Daniels Jr.-D, 621.
• District 3 – Stephen Knebel-R, 952; and Glen “Whitey” Daniels-D, 631.
• District 4 – Dean Bernhardt-R, 797; and John Blythe-R, 734.
• District 5 – Darrell Schaal-R, 930; and Keith Cole-R, 714.
• District 7 – Wade Wilhour-R, 877; and Troy Pattillo-R, 784.
Also on Tuesday, residents west and northwest of Vandalia voted against annexing into the Mulberry Grove Fire Protection District, 214-181.
Other Fayette County vote totals were as follows:
• State Constitution vote – 3,413, yes; and 3,798, no.
• 15th Congressional District – John Shimkus-R, 6,384; and Angela Michael-D-2,492.
• Illinois 54th Senate District – Kyle McCarter-R, 5,632; and Danny Stover-D, 3,136.
• Illinois 107th Representative District – John Cavaletto-R, 7,430. No Democratic candidate.
• 5th Judicial District – Stephen McGlynn-R-5023; and Judy Cates-D, 3,391.
Joshua Morrison
Kathy Emerick