Pool Issue Defeated – Kovarik To Face Haudrich For Commissioner

Monroe County Clerk Dennis Knobloch, right, supervises the counting of the ballots on election night at the courthouse. Processing the ballots are Platinum Election employees Kitty Johnson, left, and Mary Pat Bennett.

More than one third of Monroe County’s nearly 23,000 registered voters turned out for yesterday’s general primary election, despite a steady rain, chilly temperatures and the threat of severe thunderstorms. There were 7,931 voters at area polls, with 3,654 ballots issued to Republicans, 4,271 to Democrats, and six ballots cast for the Green party.

The only non-partisan item appeared on the ballots of Waterloo Park District voters, who were asked to vote for the third time on a referendum to fund the construction of a new swimming pool. It failed by a nearly 2-to-1 margin, with 1,694 “no” votes to 950 “yes” votes. Park District representatives have said the existing pool will close at the conclusion of the upcoming swimming season.

On the Democratic ticket, uncontested Monroe County races included Commission candidate Mike Kovarik, who garnered 3,546 votes. Monroe County State’s Attorney Kris Reitz received 3,611 votes, and his father, longtime Monroe County Circuit Clerk Aaron Reitz, received 3,686 votes. Neither Reitz faces a Republican candidate in the November general election.

Presidential candidate Barack Obama edged out Hillary Clinton 2,059 votes to 2,015. In Southern Illinois, Fifth Judicial District Appellate Judge James Wexstten defeated Metro-East trial lawyer Judy Cates by a margin of 2,230 to 1,691 to retain the position to which he was appointed a year ago when then-judge Terrence Hopkins died.

In the other uncontested state Democratic races, U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin received 3,704 votes, and State Rep. Dan Reitz received 3,736 votes.

On the Republican ticket, Monroe County Commission President Dale Haudrich defeated former County Commission President Frank Kohler by a margin of 1,895 to 1,253. Haudrich will face Democratic challenger Mike Kovarik in the November election.

Presidential candidate John McCain received 1,530 votes, followed by Mitt Romney with 1,143 votes, Mike Huckabee with 734 votes, and Ron Paul with 137 votes.

In the Republican race for U.S. senator, Steve Sauerberg’s 1,455 votes were enough to handily defeat Andy Martin, who received 1,050 votes and Mike Psak, who received 245. Tim Richardson Jr. won an uncontested race for U.S. representative with 2,621 votes.

There were six votes for Green party candidates. In the presidential voting, Keith Mesplay had three votes, Jared Ball received two and Cynthia McKinney had a single tally. Rodger Jennings received all six votes for U.S. Representative.

Blood Drive Next Week: The American Red Cross will have a blood drive in Columbia on Tuesday, Feb. 19. It will be from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Turner Hall. All presenting donors will receive a gift from Steffenauer & Becker, Certified Public Accountants of Columbia.