(Editor's note: The Record is working on getting a copy of the new precinct map and will update the article with the map when we are able)
EAST ST. LOUIS - Consolidation of East St. Louis precincts resulted in ten incumbent Democratic precinct committee members running against other incumbents.
City election commissioners reduced the number of precincts from 25 to 13 last year in compliance with legislation setting 1,200 voters as a target for precincts.
Commissioners combined precincts 9 and 16 into precinct 7, resulting in a contest between precinct 9 incumbent Robert Eastern III of North 23rd Street and precinct 16 incumbent Raymond Bonds of Post Place.
Commissioners combined precincts 11 and 13 into precinct 8, resulting in a contest between precinct 11 incumbent Terrance Harlan of Monroe Avenue and precinct 13 incumbent Harry Hollingsworth of North 43rd Street.
Commissioners combined precincts 19 and 20 into precinct 11, resulting in a contest between precinct 19 incumbent Kimberly Shanklin of N. 68th Street and precinct 20 incumbent Danielle Moore of North 75th Street.
Commissioners combined precincts 3 and 4 into precinct 3, resulting in a contest between precinct 3 incumbent Ricky Eastern of Russell Avenue and precinct 4 incumbent Henry “Spud” Ballard of Wilford Avenue, who filed to run as a write in candidate.
Two incumbents and a third candidate filed to run in precinct 5, which commissioners created by combining precincts 6, 7, and 8.
The race features precinct 7 incumbent DeJuan Byrd of St. Louis Avenue, precinct 8 incumbent Kevin McCaster of Alexander Place and James Ross of Cleveland Avenue.
In precincts where incumbents didn’t collide, competition has flourished anyway.
Commissioners combined precincts 5 and 25 into precinct 4, where precinct 25 incumbent Kinnis Williams Sr. of Market Avenue and Dewey Carpenter Jr. of Converse Avenue filed to run.
Precinct 5 incumbent Charles Powell III of Bond Avenue did not run.
Commissioners combined precincts 14 and 15 into precinct 6, where precinct 15 incumbent Lisa Woodhouse of North 24th Street and Henrietta Boyd of North 22nd Street filed to run.
Precinct 14 incumbent Lonnie Slater of North 30th Street did not run.
Commissioners combined precincts 17 and 18 into precinct 10, where precinct 17 incumbent Troy Mosley of North 39th Street and Menyoun Jordan of North 40th Street filed to run.
Precinct 18 incumbent Kenneth “Bug” Watts of North 61st Street did not run.
Commissioners combined precincts 21 and 22 into precinct 12, where precinct 21 incumbent Terrance Stith of North 80th Street and Tenisha McIntosh of North 79th Street filed to run.
Precinct 22 incumbent Jesse Lewis of North 85th Street did not run.
Commissioners combined precincts 23 and 24 into precinct 13, where precinct 23 incumbent Michael Collins of Loisel Drive and Tommy Dancy Jr. of North 88th Street filed to run.
Precinct 24 incumbent Alvin Parks Jr. of Woestbuel Avenue did not run.
Commissioners did not change the boundary of precinct 12 but changed its number to 9.
Precinct 12 incumbent Frank Smith of Lincoln Avenue and Roderick Brown of Audubon Avenue filed to run there.
Among the 13 precincts, only precincts 1 and 2 lack competition.
Commissioners did not change the boundary or the number of precinct 1, where incumbent Michael Rump Roberts of Lynch Avenue runs without an opponent.
Commissioners created precinct 2 by combining precincts 2 and 10.
Precinct 10 incumbent Timothy Lockett Sr. of Washington Place filed to run and precinct 2 incumbent Oliver Hamilton Jr. of Cleveland Avenue did not.
Precinct committee members keep voters in touch with elected officials and keep elected officials in touch with voters.
They don’t work full time, but the party pays them on election day.
Primary election day is March 19.