Voters to cast ballots in primary on Tuesday

    Voters will head to the polls Tuesday, Feb. 2, for a general primary election. All polling places will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. at which time the Democrat, Republican and Green political parties will nominate or elect several different offices.

    Henry County residents will also decide whether or not to  increase local sales taxes by .25 percent.

    A consumer would pay an additional 25 cents in sales tax for every $100 of tangible personal property bought at retail. The additional tax would cease in 10 years, if not terminated earlier by a vote of the county board.

    Proceeds would go toward repairing the Henry County courthouse.

    Voters may pick up a non-partisan ballot if they want to vote on the sales tax increase, but not for candidates on the Democrat, Republican or Green party ballots.

    On the Democratic primary ballot, five individuals are running for the party’s nomination for U.S. Senator. They are Robert Marshall, David Hoffman, Jacob Meister, Alexander “Alexi” Giannoulias and Cheryle Jackson.

    Among Republicans, six individuals are competing to represent the party as the U.S. Senate candidate in the November general election. They are Donald (Don) Lowery, Mary Steven Kirk, Andy Martin, Kathleen Thomas, John Arrington and Patrick J. Hughes.

    Incumbent Democrats running without opposition are Bill Foster in the 14th Congressional District and Phil Hare in the 17th District.

    Hoping to oppose Foster are Republicans Randall M. “Randy” Hultgren and Ethan A. Hastert. Bobby Schilling is the party’s lone candidate in the 17th District.

    Democrats Pat Quinn and Daniel W. Hynes will take each other on in the governor race.

    Republicans interested in serving as governor are Kirk W. Dillard, Bill Brady, Adam Andrzejewski, Dan Proft, Jim Ryan and Andy McKenna.

    Robert J. “Bob” Schillerstorm will be on the ballot, but he has ended his campaign for governor.

    Six Democrats are running for lieutenant governor. They are Arthur L. Turner, Terry Link, Rickey R. Hendon, Scott Lee Cohen, Thomas Michael Castillo and Mike Boland.

    In the lieutenant governor race, Republican candidates include Don Tracy, Jason Plummer, Randy A. White Sr., Brad Cole, Matt Murphy and Dennis W. Cook.

    Seeking new terms are incumbent Democrats Lisa Madigan, state attorney general, and Jesse White, for secretary of state.

    Republican candidates for those positions are Steve Kim for attorney general and  Robert Enriquez for secretary of state.

    Three Democrats, David E. Miller, S. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Clinton A. “Clint” Krislov, are vying for state comptroller.

    Three Republicans are vying for the position of comptroller. They are Judy Baar Topinka, Jim Dodge and William J. Kelly.

    Justin Oberman and Robin Kelly will face each other in the state treasurer race on the Democratic ticket.

    Republican Dan Rutherford will run for state treasurer unopposed on the ticket.

    Three Democrats are running for Representative in the General Assembly, 71st District. They are Jerry Lack, Dennis Ahern and Porter McNeil.

    Republican Richard Morthland will square off with the Democratic winner in November.

    In Henry County races on the Democratic, Barb Link faces no opposition in continuing as county clerk/recorder.

    Republicans Rebekah McCaw and Doreen Vincent hope to face Link in the fall.

    Tim Wise is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination for sheriff.

    Three candidates will face off for the Republicans’ bid for sheriff. They are Joe Bedford, James “Jim” Padilla and Dan Collier.

    IncumbentRichard C. VerHeecke is the only one seeking the treasurer nomination on the Republican ballot. The Democrats have no one on their ballot.

    No one running for county board has any opposition.

    Democrats on the ballot are, in District 1, Jo Anne Hillman, Cliff Sack, Jesse Crouch and Betty Murphy, and District 2, Jim King.

    On the Republican ballot, county board candidates include Tim Wells and Daniel M. Swanson, District 1, and Dennis Anderson, Kippy Nelson, Kathy D. Nelson and Jon Zahm, District 2.

    Republican Angie Zarvell is the only one on either ballot listed for regional superintendent of schools, Bureau, Henry and Stark Counties.

    Frank R. Fuhr is seeking the nomination for Judge of the Circuit Court, 14th Judicial Circuit, to replace Hon. Joseph F. Beatty.

    Three individuals would like to replace Hon. Larry S. Vandersnick. They are Trish Joyce, Clarence “Mike” Darrow and Maritia Quinn Griffith.

    On the Green primary ballot, candidates include LeAlan M. Jones, U.S. senator; Rich Whitney, governor; Don W. Crawford, lieutenant governor; David F. Black, attorney general; Adrian Frost, secretary of state; R. Erika Schaefer, comptroller; Scott K. Summers, treasurer; Daniel J. Kairis, 14th District, Congress; Roger K. David, Representative of Congress, 17th District, Congress.

    There are no Green candidates for county offices.