Peoria County State's Attorney

Via Peoria Journal-Star

The county's top prosecutor, seeking a fifth term in office, faces a challenge Nov. 2 from a Mossville lawyer who says he'd file more charges and work closer with area police if elected state's attorney.....

......"Our police officers have not been given serious consideration and allowed to make recommendations in deciding who to charge," he said. "The efforts of the police and taxpayers' money that is spent on investigations is often tossed aside because charges are not filed by the office of the state's attorney."

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Lyons, 48, has been the state's attorney for nearly 16 years and formerly served on the Farmington School District 265 School Board for a decade.

He counts his achievements as state's attorney as including the "careful and successful hiring of commendable" prosecutors from a shrinking pool of interested law school applicants and creating specialized units for domestic violence, drug court, investigations and drug money forfeiture......

....."I describe the state's attorney's office as a 'legal emergency room' because good plans can easily be sidelined by a startling homicide, a City Hall scandal, political changes, a criminal escape and so on," he said.

Why would I, a Republican, vote for Kevin Lyons in this race? Quotes just like the last one. I now, I know. It's totally the wrong reason, but that guy really is Mr. Soundbite. I remember watching on TV some of the things he came out with at the Jarvis Neely trial last summer and it was brutally honest. I don't really think Lyons is doing a bad job....of course, I don't know of 98% of the cases the State's Attorney's office tries. Like I've said before, I don't know how to vote for a State's Attorney. Most people that vote against an incumbent have been prosecuted against. I would say most people just vote for the incumbent just becasue.....why fix it if it ain't broken?

Fieldcrest School District 6 Referendum

Via Peoria Journal-Star

Fieldcrest School District 6 residents will get a second shot Nov. 2 at approving a tax increase to raise more money for their children's education.

District officials say voters must approve the 55-cent referendum to help keep the district financially afloat until 2008 and bring in an estimated $531,000. The maximum tax rate in the education fund would increase to $3.52 from the current rate of $2.97.

"If land values start to increase and we still hold expenses down, then the district can be in the black for a longer period of time," Superintendent Michael Stagliano said........

......"The board has demonstrated to the voters that they have made the tough calls in cuts by cutting $1,177,000 in the past two years," Stagliano said. "The 55-cent increase is more palatable and affordable than 90 cents."

Yeah, I don't know. Most people are ANGRY right now about school funding. I don't think schools should be asking tax payers for more, but Fieldcrest HAS made cuts and they're getting by this year. I always wonder what will happen if voters keep rejecting referendums....will schools just close? Then what? parents are going to be even angrier......

If the referendum fails, Stagliano said fees for extracurricular activities will continue, elementary class sizes could increase, elementary art and physical education classes would not be reinstated and the district likely would have to borrow more money.

Oh well. As long as the kid can read, write and do a little math...they'll make it...they might be fat, but is it our schools responsibility to keep kids then?

Putnam County State's Attorney

Via Peoria Journal-Star

(Norman) Raffety, who had been elected to five consecutive terms beginning in 1980, was edged out in the 2000 Democratic primary by Mindy Sammons. She later was defeated by (James) Mack, a Peru native who had been practicing privately and serving as an assistant public defender in Putnam County for the previous five years.

Mack says he's proven himself to be an effective and more aggressive prosecutor than his predecessor as reflected in both the number of felony cases prosecuted and the convictions in comparable 42-month periods of their respective terms.

"Through the hard work of law enforcement and the assistance of the community, I have raised the felony conviction rate 31 percent, while prosecuting 64 percent more cases as compared to the prior office holder," Mack said. "I feel like I'm a tough-on-crime prosecutor, no matter what your name or background is."

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Raffety disputes his opponent's claims of being a more aggressive prosecutor. If there have been more felony cases, that's simply an indication the crime rate has been increasing in recent years, he said.

"That means there's even more of a need for real experience in a prosecutor," Raffety said.

"I think Mr. Mack is still in the early stages of his learning curve."
Raffety added he has gotten some additional and extremely valuable experience in that regard in his role as an assistant state's attorney in Lee County. He said the volume and diversity of cases he's handled will make him an even better prosecutor in his home county.

Yeah, I was kinda leaning with Raffety on that......more crime equals more convictions. Guess you'd have to pull the police records from the county to see who's the better prosecuter

Peoria County Board District 10

Via Peoria Journal-Star

"I want the people in District 10 to be more informed of what's going on in the County Board," said (John "Corky") Birdoes, 50, of 5113 N. Martha St. "Being a taxpayer and seeing it in the newspaper, it's too late."

If elected, he would knock on doors and talk to more constituents, informing them of issues the County Board will be voting on and asking what they care about.

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It's not that simple, said (Jeffery) Riggenbach, 45, of 521 W. Stonegate Road. The Peoria County Board has always been a relatively low-profile elected office. He talks to community groups anytime he is offered the chance. But sending out routine mailings to every resident in the area is something he can't afford.

And furthermore, Riggenbach said, it's unfortunate, but most people don't know who their elected officials are, from Peoria City Council members to state and federal representatives.
But he wants the people of District 10 to know he's fighting for their interests and will continue if elected to a second term.

That's it? Your running on that? Your right, I don't know who my board member is. In fact, I just had to go find my voter registration card to see if this was my district.....I don't really care. The county board doesn't effect the people of Peoria as much as the City Council does.

Both he and Birdoes support ongoing consolidation efforts between the city and county and a regional economic plan. They both support the county-run Bel-Wood Nursing Home and want to see it continue to improve its patient care and budget bottom line.

So, it's a push

Peoria County Board District 16

Via Peoria Journal-Star

(Eldon) Polhemus, 69, of 4516 Hanna City/Glasford Road, Hanna City, has been on the board for 16 years and wants to keep doing what he's doing.

"I just think experience counts," he said. "I've got experience on the board, and I know the county very well."

He wants the chance to finish the work he's started as chairman of the County Board's facilities committee in setting a 10-year capital improvement plan.
Among his other works, he said he played a significant part in putting plans into motion for the sheriff's department to use the county landfill site for ATV training. Polhemus also wants to establish a firing range there for the deputies.

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Forrest's goals are more broad. He wants to see the County Board get more involved in regional economic plans, such as the Port Authority and the MedTech District.
And though his district is rural, Forrest, of 209 N. Daniels St., Elmwood, doesn't think that takes anything away from its right to have a voice in area matters.

"It doesn't cost the taxpayers a dime for my big mouth to be there, advocating for the rurals," he said.

If elected, the first thing he would do is organize a Peoria County Rural Prosperity Forum and invite local civic leaders, elected officials, school, church and business leaders, parents, volunteers and anyone else interested in getting together for an all-day brainstorming session.

I'm pretty sure Polhemus just secured his reelection by getting the Zoning Commission to deny recommendation for I-74 Raceway Park. As much as I'm against the denial, I think he made the right political move. Especially when his opponent is talking about getting involved in the Port Authority and Med-Tech District. Explain to me exactly how the peopl of Brimfield, Elmwood, etc will be effected by the Med-Tech District in Downtown Peoria? Not a good way to run for office.

Peoria County Board District 6

Via Peoria Journal-Star

Both candidates for Peoria County Board District 6 on Nov. 2 are in favor of consolidating government services, support the county-run nursing home and want to see economic development grow.

What they disagree on, however, is the style a politician should take to get it done.
Democrat G. Allen Mayer, 1111 W. Ridge Road, will again challenge incumbent Jeff Lickiss, 907 Stratford Drive, to represent a district roughly bordered by Lake Street on the north, North Street on the east and Interstate 74 on the south and west. In 2002, he lost to Lickiss by 52 votes.

As a board member, Lickiss cites his commitments as: opposing property tax increases, exposing and eliminating wasteful spending, supporting community growth and economic development, improving the living and financial conditions of Bel-Wood Nursing Home, listening to taxpayers' concerns and "doing what is right even if it is unpopular with powerful politicians."

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Mayer feels he has the expertise with government to be on the County Board. What sets him apart, he thinks, is his willingness to listen to all the residents in his district.

"I think that for a challenger, I obviously have an awful lot of experience in government and public policy," he said. "I am not a bomb thrower. I'm someone who works to build coalitions, to listen. That's a much more effective way to lead."

The obvious difference between these two are people skills. Lickiss is not always the easiest guy to get a hold of or talk to, but actions should always speak louder than words and Lickiss does have a pretty good record on the board. What the board accomplished with Bel-Wood last year was quite impressive and Lickiss was a major part of that.

Mayer really has no track record with the public. He works in Dan Hynes office right now, but that's really not qualifications enough to lead the district. His people first approach is a good idea, but not something I think is 100% necessary to be a public leader.

Peoria County Circuit Clerk

Via Peoria Journal-Star

Just as she did two years ago, Mischele Arbogast believes her 20 years of professional office experience and 25 years of customer service skills make her the best qualified candidate for Peoria County circuit clerk.......

........In the time since, Spears, 46, counts among his achievements improving the cost effectiveness of his staff, establishing an Internet payment option and introducing a traffic amnesty program that officials estimate should bring in about $800,000 in back traffic and court fines by years' end.

His goals for next term include improving staff training, enhancing the computer system and instituting telephone payment for fines, fees and costs.

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Arbogast, 45, an administrative assistant in the county zoning office, plans to increase training and put in new computers and software and also put out customer service comment cards and invite the public to suggest changes for easier access to the circuit clerk's office.

They both sound like they have the same goals to me. Not sure how to vote in this one. Have I mentioned I hate county these partisan county elections. What freakin difference does it make to me if there's a Republican or Democrat in office? They're not policy makers.

Peoria County Coroner

Via Peoria Journal-Star

Both candidates for Peoria County coroner on Nov. 2 feel their education and experience gives them the edge over their opponent.

Republican Johnna Ingersoll has been a deputy coroner for the past 15 years, the last seven as chief deputy coroner. Beyond that, she's supplemented her high school education with scores of death investigation courses. She's one of only six people in the state - and fewer than 100 nationwide - recognized as a board-certified Medicolegal death investigator.

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Democrat Steve Schmidt has worked for the Peoria County Sheriff's Department for more than 26 years, the last 20 as an accident investigator. He has a bachelor of science degree from the University of Wisconsin at Platteville and has completed 15 hours of graduate work.

Don't you think Johnna's experience and education is enough to elect her? She's kinda been screwed over for the last year with Dan Heinz pending retirement. The Peoria County Board wouldn't let him retire because the Dems on the board were worried about Johnna running as an "incumbent" and it'd give their candidate a disadvantage. The only disadvantage the Dems have is Johnna has the freakin credentials to be a coroner. Mr. Scmidt may be working on it, but right now, Johnna's more qualified and this is one of the races where the more qualified candidated NEEDS to win.

Among the poor decisions, he (Schmidt) said, was Heinz's decision in the face of budget cuts to discontinue use of a private service to remove bodies from crime scenes. Schmidt believes having coroner's office staff members perform that task ties up time they could be using to investigate cases.

The coroner could, and should, do a better job of ensuring there is enough money in his budget to provide the highest level of services. Schmidt believes he can do this, and without a tax increase.

Guess that's why I'm not a CSI. I would think you'd want the coroner to remove the body so they can control how it is handled so it doesn't hamper an investigation.....but, then again, I'm not an officer, coroner or investigator, so I really don't know anything about this.

Marshall County State's Attorney

via Peoria Journal-Star

The race for Marshall County state's attorney has heated up a bit in the wake of appointed office-holder Paul Bauer's refusal to meet challenger Matt Kidder in an open debate.

"I'm amazed that somebody running for office is not willing to go in front of the voters and say, 'This is why you should vote for me,' " Democrat Kidder, 30, said Friday.

"I don't think (a debate) would be beneficial," said Republican Bauer, 40.

HA HA HA HA. I'm sure Bauer isn't much of a politician so the only person it would be beneficial to is himself, buty you would think lawyer's would be great debaters.

Bauer, who was appointed to the job last year to replace the retiring Donald Knuckey, said in an interview that, "The citizens of Marshall County already know the issues." And there's no reason for the candidates to debate, he maintained, because "state's attorneys are not policy-makers."
"My opinion on an issue really doesn't have any impact," Bauer said.
Kidder called that statement "absolute nonsense," pointing out that state's attorneys make such crucial decisions as whom to charge, what crimes to charge them with, what plea bargains to accept and what cases to take to trial.

Good points from both sides. State's Attorney's are always hard races for me to decide. Exactly how do you vote for a State's Attorney...I guess I usually just vote down party lines which is NOT the correct way to do it.

US House of Representatives 11th District

Via HOI

U.S. Senate Candidate Barack Obama was in the Twin Cities on Thursday to show his support for congressional candidate Tari Renner.

Well, why not? Obama doesn't have to run his own race anymore.

Both Obama and Renner say they want voters to know they plan to stay united not only through this race, but also through their terms in office if elected.

“Politics is not an individual sport, politics is a team sport. And if I’m going to be successful in Washington, then I’ve got to have a team of democrats going with me to Washington that can help me carry that progressive banner,” says Barack Obama, U.S. Senate Candidate.

“I support Barack Obama's smart corporations plan, I’ve offered to introduce the house version of that, which says we do not have to give corporate incentives for sending jobs abroad, but to create jobs in America,” says Tari Renner, Democratic Congressional Candidate.

Working together is nice.....I guess....and I do like Obama's smart corporations plan....I guess

Renner is running against current 11th District Congressman Jerry Weller.

His campaign tells Hoi-19 News Renner is trying to distract voters from the issues by constantly attacking him.

This tag sums up the race as I know it. So now I know two things abour Renner. He likes Barack Obama and doesn't like Jerry Weller.