News published on Madison - St. Clair Record in November 2020

MOUNT VERNON – Victory margins for Republicans keep growing at the Fifth District appellate court, where that party holds five of six seats.

In an historic victory for taxpayers, Gov. JB Pritzker’s income theft amendment, the proposed change in the Illinois Constitution to usher in a graduated income tax, was defeated.

An Alhambra commercial property sold for $675,000 as part of the Madison County real estate transactions Sep. 21-25.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois reported the following activities in the suit brought by Stephen R. Simons against Commissioner of Social Security on Nov. 2.

An O'Fallon industrial building sold for $1,500,000 as part of the St. Clair County real estate transactions Aug. 3-7.

There were three foreclosures in St. Clair County Oct. 23-28.

After having spent $56 million of his own money on a “Vote Yes” campaign, Gov. JB Pritzker's progressive income tax proposal appears to have failed, according to several media sources reporting on more than 90 percent of Illinois votes counted.

When Illinois state lawmakers wrote the mail-in voting law, they decided voters who did not seek a mail-in ballot should receive a letter from the state, and then another.

The following cases categorized as "personal injury" were on the docket in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois on Oct. 27. All case details are allegations only and should not be taken as fact:

Madison County judges Ruth and Threlkeld have law cases scheduled on the civil docket Nov. 9-13.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois reported the following activities in the suit brought by Breze Chahta against Bureau of Indian Affairs and Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma on Nov. 2.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois reported the following activities in the suit brought by Joseph Beardsley and Michele Kipnis against AbbVie Inc. and Apollo Endosurgery US, Inc. on Nov. 2.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois reported the following activities in the suit brought by Hanibal Dwan Eason against Alen Pasley, J. B. Pritzker, Jane Doe 1, John Doe 1, Menard Correctional Center, Rob Jefreys, Unknown Party and Wexford on Nov. 2.

The following cases categorized as "555 prison condition" were on the docket in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois on Oct. 27. All case details are allegations only and should not be taken as fact:

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois reported the following activity on Oct. 27 in the suits below:

Republican Tom McRae was elected Madison County Circuit Clerk over Democratic opponent Amy Gabriel in a vote of 54 to 46 percent.McRae, who currently serves as a Madison County board member, received 71,215 votes with Gabriel receiving 60,509 votes. Current Circuit Clerk Mark von Nida, Democrat, announced last year that he would not seek reelection. 

Madison County board member David Michael, Republican, defeated Democratic opponent Joe Silkwood by a margin of 56-44 for County Auditor.

Madison County voters overwhelmingly support referendums seeking to save taxpayer money. By a margin of 78-22, voters approved a binding resolution lowering the maximum tax rate to .18 percent. Voters also opposed the non-binding resolution asking if they supported double dipping, which is when retired county employees and officials draw a pension while also drawing a salary paid for by taxpayers. The resolution was rejected in a vote of 70 to 30 percent. The most significant margin was in support of a non-binding resolution asking if Illinois General Assembly legislators should not receive automatic pay increases. Voters overwhelmingly supported the question by a vote of 87 to 13 percent.

By a 10-point margin, Republican Amy Elik of Alton has defeated Democrat incumbent Rep. Monica Bristow (D-Alton) for the 111th House District.

Republican Tom Haine is elected Madison County State’s Attorney, defeating opponent Crystal Uhe by a 55-45 margin.