The Illinois primary election is just a few weeks away, and Madison County voters will have several choices to make for Republican contested seats and referenda questions.
The March 19 primary election in Madison County is particularly important this year as there will be only two county seats contested in November’s General Primary: County Board seats for Districts 12 and 13. All other county seats have candidates competing for the Republican nomination or are unopposed entirely.
Madison County Clerk Linda Andreas stressed the importance for voters to participate in the primary election next month.
“Primaries determine who goes on to become the nominee in the general election,” Andreas said. “It is so very important to vote in a primary. This is a good opportunity to get to know the candidates and take part in the process of choosing your leaders. You won’t have a chance to vote for your best candidate in the general election unless they win in the primary.”
“Too many people skip the primary, so your vote counts even more than it does in a general election,” she continued. “Your local, state, and Congressional candidates are chosen in our primary. All these positions make a difference in your life.
Andreas explained that according to Unite America, only one quarter of the voting-eligible population voted in the presidential primaries in 2020. Additionally, just 10% of voters selected 83% of the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Think of that in terms of your local candidates as well,” Andreas said.
Early voting at the Madison County Administration Building began last week during normal business hours. Early voting begins March 4 elsewhere in the county, including the Scott Bibb Center in Alton, the Bethalto Village Hall, the Granite City Township Building, the Collinsville Senior Citizen Center, the Godfrey Village Hall, the Weinheimer Community Center in Highland, the Madison Fire Station, the Troy City Hall, and the Wood River Township Office.
Additionally, early voting begins March 13 at the SIU Morris University Center in Edwardsville.
Voters participating in the primary election will see the following referenda questions on the ballot for applicable residents:
- Shall the Rosewood Heights Fire Protection District levy a special tax at a rate not to exceed .10% of the value of all taxable property within the District as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue for the purpose of providing funds to pay for the costs of emergency and rescue crews and equipment?
- Shall the maximum annual tax rate for operations and maintenance purposes for Collinsville Community Unit School District Number 10, Madison and St. Clair Counties, Illinois, be increased and established at 0.72 percent upon all the taxable property of said School District at the value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, instead of 0.50 percent, the present maximum rate otherwise applicable to the next taxes to be extended for said purposes?
- Shall the maximum annual tax rate for educational purposes for School District No. 21, Clinton and Madison Counties, Illinois, be increased and established at 1.12 percent upon all the taxable property of said School District at the value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, instead of 0.92 percent, the present maximum rate otherwise applicable to the next taxes to be extended for said purposes?
- Shall the Village of Marine have the authority to arrange for the supply of electricity for its residential and small commercial retail customers who have not opted out of such program?
- Shall the number of commissioners on the board of the St. Jacob Park District be reduced from seven to five?
Voters will also have to select Republican nominees for two county-wide seats and five County Board seats.
For County Board Chairman, voters will choose between incumbent Kurt Prenzler of Edwardsville and Chris Slusser of Wood River, who currently serves as Madison County Treasurer.
For Circuit Clerk, voters will choose between Patrick McRae of East Alton, not to be confused with his father and current Circuit Clerk Tom McRae, and Stephen J. Adler of Godfrey.
For County Board District 7, voters will choose between incumbent Michael Turner of Godfrey and Linda Ogden of Brighton.
For County Board District 15, voters will choose between incumbent Terry Eaker of Bethalto and Bob Coles of South Roxana.
For County Board District 22, voters will choose between incumbent Ryan Kneedler of Collinsville and Linda Wolfe of Collinsville.
For County Board District 24, voters will choose between former state representative Dwight Kay of Glen Carbon and former Edwardsville Township Supervisor Fred Schulte of Edwardsville. Current District 24 representative, Republican Skip Schmidt, will not seek reelection.
For County Board District 26, voters will choose between incumbent Jason Palmero of Glen Carbon and Douglas Matthews of Glen Carbon.
For the remaining county-wide seats, incumbent Tom Haine is running unopposed for State’s Attorney, incumbent David Michael is running unopposed for Auditor, and current Granite City Police Chief Nicholas Novacich is running unopposed for Coroner following the retirement of Democrat Steve Nonn.
For the remaining County Board seats, incumbent Frank Dickerson of Worden is running unopposed for District 3, incumbent Paul Nicolussi of Collinsville is running unopposed for District 23, and incumbent Chris Guy is running unopposed for District 25.
Republican Donald P. McMaster of Wood River will challenge Democrat incumbent Robert Pollard of East Alton for District 12 in the general election, and Republican Brynn D. Kincheloe of East Alton will challenge Democrat incumbent Matthew A. King of East Alton for District 13 in the general election.