Townships to elect several offices in Tuesday’s consolidated election

By Editor | March 31, 2021

Several townships throughout the county will be electing boards and officials in the Tuesday, April 6 consolidated election.

Following is a list of those townships and the candidates running for those offices.

Avena Township

Josh Ledbetter, a Republican, is the lone candidate for township supervisor in Avena Township. Ashanta Ledbetter, also a Republican, is the candidate for town clerk, and Kyle Scholes is the candidate for township assessor. He is also a Republican.

Doug Engeljohn is the candidate for highway commissioner. He is also a Republican.

For township trustees, four seats are available, however there are six seeking those positions. Running are Albert Niemeyer, Democrat; Lynn Tappendorf, David Ledbetter, David Abendroth, and Hunter Strauch, all Republicans, and John Stewart, Independent.

Bear Grove Township

Five candidates are running for township trustee in Bear Grove Township, to the west of Vandalia. The other positions are unopposed.

Candidates are: Kimberly Perkins, supervisor, Democrat; Kari Nugent, clerk, Republican; and Gary Haupt, highway commissioner, a Democrat.

For trustees, there are four seats available. Seeking to be elected to those seats are Darin Dugan, Steve Knebel, and Justin Stone, Republicans, and Gordon Thacker and Bryan Perkins, both Democrats.

Beth Tarter, non-partisan, is unopposed for multi-township assessor, which covers Bear Grove, Hurricane, South Hurricane, and Shafter townships.

Bowling Green Township

There are no contested races for Bowling Green Township this election cycle, and all candidates are Democrats.

Running for supervisor is Jeannie Mascher. John Mascher is the candidate for clerk and Rusty Roseberger is on the ballot for highway commissioner.

For trustees, four candidates are running for four seats. They are Charles Crouch, Dennis Chandler, Matt Hall and Ivan Rhodes.

There is no candidate for the multi-township assessor, which covers Bowling Green, Carson and Loudon townships.

Carson Township

The contest for highway commissioner will be the sole contested contest in Carson Township.

Seeking election to that office are Rocky Kramer, a Republican, running against Andy Carter, Independent.

Running unopposed for township supervisor is Democrat Linda Hall, and for clerk, is Republican Debbie Rowcliffe.

Four township trustees will be elected this cycle. Running are four Republicans, John E. Dowell, Kenneth L. Fookes, Jason M. Rhodes, and Bill A. Rowcliffe. Also running is a Democrat, Michael R. Hayes.

There is no candidate for the multi-township assessor, which covers Bowling Green, Carson and Loudon townships.

Hurricane Township

Hurricane Township is another area that will see contested races this election day.

For highway commissioner, Merle Saunders, a Democrat, will face Jared Cox, a Republican.

For trustee, two Republicans and three Democrats face off for four possible seats. They include Ricky Eller, Robert A. Depew and Cynthia Hebenstreith, all Democrats, and Randall R. Cox an Adam Hayes, both Republicans.

Beth Tarter is the multi-township candidate for assessor, which will serve Bear Grove, Hurricane, Shafter and South Hurricane townships.

South Hurricane Township

There are no contested races in South Hurricane Township,

For supervisor, Kathy Moreland, a Republican, is running for the office. Maggie Neeley, a Democrat, is the candidate for township clerk and Tiffany Summers, an Independent, is the candidate for highway commissioner.

One Republican, Dale Siebert, and three Democrats, Dennis Virden, Bryan Williams and Clifford Snider, are all running for the four seats on the township board.

Beth Tarter is the multi-township candidate for assessor, which will serve Bear Grove, Hurricane, Shafter and South Hurricane townships.

Kaskaskia Township

Kaskaskia Township has one contested race, for highway commissioner this election cycle.

Seeking the position are Jerry Mays, a Republican, and Jessie J. Ritchey, an Independent.

All of the remainder of the offices are unchallenged, with all candidates being Republicans. They are Heidi Ritchey, supervisor; Theodore (Ted) Miller, township clerk, and Jack Richards, Bradley Grandt, John Miller, and Greg Schaal, all for township trustee.

There is no candidate for the multi-township assessor, which covers Kaskaskia, Pope and Seminary townships.

LaClede Township

All races in LaClede Township are uncontested, and all candidates are Republicans, with the exception of a lone Democrat, running for the township board.

Barb Schaal is the candidate for supervisor, and Janet Roberts is running for town clerk. Leland “Teed” McGuire is the candidate for highway commissioner.

There are four seats available for township trustee. The sole Democrat on the ticket is Bill Kreke. The other three candidates, all Republicans, are Kevin Roberts, Keith Kramer, and Kevin Jahraus.

There is no candidate for the multi-township assessor, which covers LaClede, Lone Grove and Wilberton townships.

Lone Grove Township

Republicans fill the slate for all offices in Lone Grove Township, and there is none for the multi-township assessor.

For supervisor is Shawn Lotz, and Delores (Lody) Magnus is running for township clerk. Dane Harpster is the candidate for highway commissioner.

For township trustees are Curtis Jenne, Allen Magnus, Reggie Grandt, and Dennis Schaal.

Loudon Township

In Loudon Township, Linda Radloff, a Democrat, seeks to be elected to supervisor. Brad Wright, also a Democrat, is the candidate for clerk.

A republican seeks the nod for highway commissioner in the form of Robert Mark Reed.

Four township trustee candidates for the four seats available are all Republicans. They are Jacob Sapp, Monte Summers, Trey Wright, and Jason Himes.

There is no candidate for the multi-township assessor, which covers Bowling Green, Carson and Loudon townships.

Otego Township

Otego Township also sees no contested races in this year’s consolidated election. All are Republicans.

For supervisor is Jon Washburn, and Jack Shelton is running for clerk. Kenny Garrison will be elected highway commissioner.

For trustees are Judy Hoover, Leah Washburn, Laura Willms, and Tony Wollin.

There is no candidate for the multi-township assessor, which covers Otego, Sefton and Wheatland townships.

Pope Township

Pope Township will see a race between Democrat C. Wesley Cain and Republican John Paul Vosholler for highway commissioner.

Elizabeth Robb, a Democrat is unopposed for supervisor, as is Republican Michelle Cain, for township clerk.

For four township trustee seats are Cody Logan, William Walker, Russell Adams, and Korey Walker, all Democrats, and Gib Houston, Republican.

There is no candidate for the multi-township assessor, which covers Kaskaskia, Pope and Seminary townships.

Ramsey Township

Contrary to the village elections, the township races are uncontested in Tuesday’s election.

Independent Maryalice Estes is running for supervisor, and Steve Lay, a Democrat, is the candidate for township clerk. Kenny Joe Cook is the sole candidate for township assessor. He is a Democrat.

Richard Thull, also a Democrat, is running for highway commissioner.

For the township trustees, four democrats are seeking the four seats available. They are Catherine Cunningham, Roger Sargent, Ben Hortenstine, and Shane Hadley.

Sefton Township

Alice Davis-Stewart, a Democrat, is the candidate seeking election for supervisor for Sefton Township.

For township clerk, Linda R. Cunningham, a Republican, is running, and for highway commissioner, Gary L. Smith, a Democrat, is the candidate.

Looking at the open township trustee seats, Travis Stewart and Russell Springman, both Democrats, and Steven W. Behrends and Clint Feezel, both Republicans, are running for the four seats.

There is no candidate for the multi-township assessor, which covers Otego, Sefton and Wheatland townships.

Seminary Township

In Seminary Township all races are contested, from top to bottom.

Two candidates are running for supervisor, they are Bruce Sasse, a Democrat, and Ruth Ann Casey, an Independent. There are also two candidates running for township clerk, Mary Pennington, a Democrat, and Joelyn Collins, a Republican. For highway commissioner, Chris Smith, a Republican, and Randy Long, an Independent, are on the ballot.

With four seats up for grabs on the town board of trustees, six candidates are on the ballot. Running for the four seats are DeWayne Elam and Russell Knight, both Democrats; Lori Matthews and Ashton Smith, both Republicans, and Benjamin Emerick and Craig Kern, both Independents.

There is no candidate for the multi-township assessor, which covers Kaskaskia, Pope and Seminary townships.

Shafter Township

In Shafter Township, five persons are on the ballot seeking four seats on the trustee board. They are Bruce Braswell, a Republican; and four Democrats, Ray Kulesza, Warren Benson, Brad Brannon and Robert Campbell.

Jason Trexler, a Democrat, is unopposed for supervisor, as is Edward Smith, a Democrat, for township clerk.

Scott Wright is the only candidate for highway commissioner. He is a Democrat.

Beth Tarter is the multi-township candidate for assessor, which will serve Bear Grove, Hurricane, Shafter and South Hurricane townships.

Sharon Township

There are no contested races in Sharon Township for any of the offices up in Tuesday’s election, however one slot remains vacant for township assessor.

Joe Hill is unopposed for township supervisor. He is a Republican. For Township Clerk, Donna Johnson, a Republican, is the candidate. For highway commissioner, Terry Denton Sr. is the name on the ballot. He is a Republican.

For township trustees, Curt Alderson, Merrill Thull, Darryl Jaden, and JD Vieregge, are running for the four seats available. All are Republicans.

Vandalia Township

The same story rings true for Vandalia Township as with many others, in that there are no contested races. All running are Republicans.

For supervisor, Beverly Daniels seeks the office of supervisor. Gary Ehrat, is the candidate for township clerk, and David Dyer is running for township assessor. Bruce Henry is on the ballot for highway commissioner.

For township trustee, E. Michele Barker, Tim Metzger, Andrew Vaughan, and Lucas Emerick.

Wheatland Township

In Wheatland Township, Heather Miller, a Republican, is seeking the office of township Supervisor. For Clerk, James Mahon is the candidate. He is also a Republican. There is no one running for highway commissioner in the township.

For trustee, Lowell Hunsaker, Mark Lash, and Mark Pippin, all Republicans, are on the ballot, as is bob Brasel, Ed Durbin, and Stanton Stine, all Democrats.

There is no candidate for the multi-township assessor, which covers Otego, Sefton and Wheatland townships.

Wilberton Township

Democrats make up the majority of the candidates running in Wilberton Township.

Janet Williams is at the top of the township ticket, running for supervisor. For Clerk, Karen Torbeck is the candidate and Robert Gehle is seeking the office of highway commissioner.

Under the trustees, Scott Torbeck, Steve Walton, and Mary Beckmeier are Democrats, and Steve Beckmeier is the sole Republican on the ballot.