Sanders campaigns at SIU
Democratic Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders addressed an overflow crowd of more than 4,000 Friday (March 4) at the Vadalabene Center on the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). Sanders outlined his plan for tuition-free public colleges and addressed foreign trade issues blamed for the shutdown of the Granite City steel mill. The talk came just 11 days ahead ofa Illinois’ March 15 primary election. It marked the first time a presidential candidate has ever visited the SIUE campus. (Photo courtesy: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville)

Democrats battle for Madison County recorder’s office in March 15 primary

In Madison County, the only contest for a countywide office during the March primary elections will be on the Democratic ballot, with incumbent Recorder of Deeds Amy Meyer facing a challenge from Edwardsville attorney Shannon L. Bradford.

Meyer, who won office in 2012 after defeating Republican Matt Rice, cites improved efficiency and innovation as hallmarks of her term in the office. She reports implementation of a new electronic deed e-filing system that she believes will set a new standard for recorder’s office across the state.

A new fraud alert system and fraud-detection staff training program have resulted in the issuance of criminal charges through the Madison County Sheriff’s and State’s Attorney’s offices, she says. Her office adheres strictly to state and federal anti-fraud legislation such as the 2006 Dodd-Frank bill, Meyers adds.  

She says the office operates within budget and has a same-day filing policy for all documents submitted by 2 p.m.  She works with local VFWs and the American Legion to ensure recording of veterans’ military records and offers the service at no charge.

She previously worked for seven years as an attorney with the Meyer Law Firm in Alton.

Bradford is an attorney specializing in family law with the Bradford Law Office in Edwardsville. A graduate of Edwardsville High School, she earned a bachelor’s degree at Florida State University and juris doctorate from Saint Louis University School of Law. Prior to law school, she worked as a clerk in the recorder’s office, where she served as an office union representative, and clerked with the state’s attorney’s office during law school.

She has also worked for two years at the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation, handling cases subject to the Violence Against Women Act, and is a pro bono attorney with the Madison County Legal Advice Clinic.

Primary to decide congressional race

In the 15th Congressional District, incumbent U.S. Rep. John Shimkus is being challenged in the March 15 Republican primary by state Sen. Kyle McCarter. The primary will effectively determine who will represent the district in Congress for the next two years as no Democrats or third party candidates filed for the seat.

In the 13th Congressional District, Incumbent Rep. Rodney Davis is being challenged in the Republican primary by Ethan Vandersand. The winner will face Democrat Mark Wicklund, a former Macon County Commissioner, and David Gill, the 2012 Democratic candidate in the district, now running as an independent.

In the 12th Congressional District, incumbent Rep. Mike Bost is unchallenged in the Republican primary, with C.J. Baricevic the sole candidate to file on the Democratic side. However, the Green Party will see a primary battle between Paula Bradshaw and Sadona Folkner.

Langenstein, Schimpf vying for GOP nod in 58^th District State Senate seat

With Illinois State Sen. David Luechtefeld, announcing he will step down after 20 years representing the state’s 58th Legislative District, two Republican are competing in the March 15 primaries to replace him. Murphysboro attorney Sharee Langenstern is squaring off against attorney Paul Schimpf of Waterloo.

The winner will face form Illinois Lieutenant Gov. Sheila J. Simon in the fall. Simon, the daughter of former U.S. Senator Paul Simon, is unopposed in next week’s Democratic primary.  

In the 56th State Senate District, incumbent state Sen. Bill Haine is running unopposed in the  Democratic primary and will face no Republican challenger in the fall.

CARD disincorporation effort fails

Disincorporation of the Collinsville Area Recreation District (CARD) will not be on the March 15 ballot in Madison County.  County Board Chairman Alan Dunstan and a group of local officials launched a petition drive for a referendum to dissolve the recreation district last year but failed to submit petitions with the required number of signatures by the primary filing deadline. The district operates the Splash City waterpark in Collinsville and other attractions.  It has come under fire from some local officials for its operating costs.

Controversial Cahokia Annexation on ballot

In one of the more contentious issues on the March ballot this year, the Village of Cahokia is seeking to annex a tract of adjacent, currently unincorporated land including the Parkfield Terrace subdivision.  The proposal was the subject of a heated and widely publicized exchange at a village board meeting last December, during which Mayor Curtis McCall had board member Jerry Nichols, Jr. ejected.

The issue was placed on the ballot after village attorney Robert Sprague told the board that a group of Parkfield Terrace residents had approached the village seeking annexation.  However, Nichols and other village residents have objected saying the subdivision is among most deteriorated and crime-ridden sections of the county and the move would be detrimental to current village taxpayers.

Nichols also contends the move is actually intended to bring more Democratic voters into the village at a time when St. Clair County appears to be swinging toward the GOP.

In other local issues to be determined during the March elections in Metro East, residents in St. Libory Consolidated School District 30 will be asked to approve a 266 percent increase in the district’s property tax rate.

The tax hike would increase local property tax funding for the St. Libory Elementary School to $306,046 annually from the current $114,608.  The school district’s property tax rate would increase to $2.4508 for each $100 of assessed valuation. The rate currently is set at $0.92. The St. Libory School District covers parts of St. Clair and Washington Counties.

Freeburg Fire Protection District voters will be asked to approve a $3.95 million bond issue for the construction and equipping of a new fire station.

–Metro East Area News Briefs–