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Friday, November 6, 2009 10:34 PM CST
OUR VIEW: Voters have few choices in 2010 elections
By the JG/T-C Editorial Board editorial@jg-tc.com
Candidate filings for primary elections in the area are a mixed offering.
Some offices, such as judge for the 5th Judicial Circuit, offer choices for voters, with four Republican candidates.
But there are no candidates from the Democratic Party at this point. If the Democrats do not appoint a candidate next spring, the winner of the Republican primary will be the next judge in the circuit.
“All politics is local” is a comment attributed to Tip O’Neill, former speaker of the U.S. House.
But local politics comes up short when voters don’t have choices.
In the February primary, other than the judge race, the only other contested race is for sheriff in Douglas County, where three Republicans have filed petitions.
That’s it.
In seven counties, there appear to be no other contested races in the primary, according to petitions filed in each of the counties. The filing period ended Monday.
As of now, there are no contested county races in Clark County either in February or in the November general election.
Other area county residents will have at least some choices come November.
Cumberland County residents will have candidates from both major parties for clerk, treasurer and sheriff, while two of three county board races are contested.
Douglas County has only a contested race for sheriff among the three countywide offices and several county board seats up for election in November. In addition to the three Republican candidates for sheriff, there also is one Democratic candidate.
Edgar County will have contested races for clerk, treasurer and sheriff but not for county board next fall.
Moultrie County will see a contest for sheriff and county board in November but not for clerk or treasurer.
Shelby County voters will have contested races in three of 11 county board districts but only one candidate for clerk, treasurer and sheriff.
It’s a similar situation here in Coles, with a contested race only for sheriff in November but not for clerk, treasurer or any of the six county board districts up for election in 2010.
It’s unfortunate there aren’t more people willing to get involved in local government.
We appreciate the service of those who do run for office on the local level, whether it is for city and village, school board or county offices.
We think people are served best when they have choices, when candidates are required to explain their positions and voters can see which of two or more candidates best matches their views.
With just a few contested races on the ballots, voters should have ample opportunity to focus on the qualifications of those candidates.
— JG/T-C Editorial Board
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NeoCon Academician wrote on Nov 7, 2009 8:59 AM: