Local Elections to Look Out For
With November 3rd only about 60 days away at time of publishing, the time to hit the voting booths is drawing nigh. While the two presidential candidates are hogging the vast majority of media bandwidth, local races largely go unnoticed. Illinois, especially Warren County and Monmouth in particular, will be playing host to plenty such local races. For all our readers interested in learning more about these local elections, the Courier has you covered.
Offices local to Warren County that citizens are being asked to vote on this upcoming election include a Judgeship in the Ninth Judicial Circuit, the State House seat for the 93rd District, and the State House Seat for the 94th District.
The first of the races listed above is between Democratic appointee and incumbent Judge Emily Sutton versus County State’s Attorney Andrew Doyle. Judge Sutton’s campaign is focusing on her professionalism and history as a dedicated public servant. Doyle’s campaign is focusing largely on his extensive experience as State’s Attorney and tougher stance on crime as why voters should choose him. Scott Stoll is challenging Republican incumbent Norine Hammond for the 93rd District State House Seat. Hammond has about 10 years’ experience serving the 93rd District and currently serves on six different legislative committees in the Illinois House and wishes to continue her work fostering the growth of small businesses and agriculture in the 93rd. Scott Stoll’s campaign promises involve making healthcare more affordable and accessible as well as working to support small businesses in Illinois. In the neighboring 94th District, incumbent Republican Randy Frese is being challenged by Democrat Angel Smith. Frese currently serves on seven State House committees and touts his long history as a business friendly and budget conscious politician as reasons he should be re-elected. Frese’s challenger Angle Smith has come out strongly in support of bolstering unions and local agriculture and has also endorsed the fair tax proposal on the Illinois ballot November third.
Two national seats that will be voted on this November third in Illinois include the 17th Congressional District for the House of representatives, currently held by Cheri Bustos, and one of Illinois’ two Senate seats, currently held by Dick Durbin. Bustos, current chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, is running for re-election on a platform centered around ensuring affordable healthcare for all Americans, growing small businesses, and protecting benefits such as Medicare and Social Security. Her opponent, Esther Joy King is running on a platform that hews closely to the national Republican platform in terms of abortion, national security, the second amendment, and so on. Finally, the Senate race between Democratic incumbent Dick Durbin and challenger Mark Curran. Durbin’s campaign is focusing on his already impressive career in the Senate as well as on gun control, criminal justice reform, and the expansion of healthcare access. Mark Curran is highlighting his career as Lake County sheriff and is promising that he will protect the second amendment and fiercely defend law enforcement.
Joseph Doner - Staff Writer
