The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Republican Caravan
Saturday at "The Pink" in Lomax, and later at the American Legion in Stronghurst, Curt Eisenmayer, County Board member seeking re-election told twenty or thirty who assembled in each place, that the board has made cuts and have worked hard to keep expenses in line during these tough economical times.
"There are nine or ten of us who don't take the $35 plus mileage offered to board members," he said.
He was asked why the board meets at 8:30 on a Tuesday morning rather than in the evening when others who work could come, and he explained that it was so officers from the Courthouse could be present that really need to be there.
Albert Renken of Stronghurst who is also seeking re-election to the County Board, finishing his 8th year said he found the job as very challenging. He said he really got his eyes opened when he started on what the board does and how. He was raised in Biggsville and now lives with his wife in Stronghurst. He's served on many boards, church and ag related.
"I'm working not for self, but for the people of our county."
Renken and Eisenmayer were asked why the meetings aren't published in the newspaper and both said they would talk to Marcella Cisna who has to be at every meeting and keeps the minutes. "I'm sure she could put something in."
Curt invited people to come to the meetings.
They were asked why the meeting dates were no longer posted in the paper and he said the meetings are the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 8:30 a.m. in the county courthouse in Oquawka except in the month of November. The fiscal year ends on November 30th.
Phil Butler, rural Blandinsville and Bill Moody, Oquawka are both seeking election to the County Board.
Butler said he was running for the open position on the board. He farms and has served on the Farm Bureau board and believes in keeping boards in the black and running them as they should be. It's similar to a business, he said and wants to offer his services to his county.
Moody said he is retired from the Chemical business at Monsanto in Muscatine and married Sandra Fullerton and moved to the county 6 years ago. He is a veteran serving the U.S. during the Korean War. "I want to offer my services of handling your and my money as diligently as possible and work as one unit of government, open to the public. As John F. Kennedy said in his inaugural address in 1961: "Ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country," he said.
Henderson County Sheriff's candidate Todd Miller, a retired Illinois State Police trooper from Oquawka said he ran for sheriff because Henderson County had a drug problem and he wanted to see things done.
"I will be a working sheriff. It's not an 8 hour job but he will be putting in 12-14 hour days working in the office and patrolling in the evening. I will get out and about and keep people on their toes."
Miller feels his campaign is going well and its been very encouraging talking to the residents. "Something needs to be done with the drug issue-business as usual isn't working!" He said his experience as a trained Illinois State Trooper and his ability to work well with them will help his office be more effective. Miller said that just being a nice guy wasn't going to swing it. "We need some action."
Miller promises that crime will lessen and things will improve under his watch or he will not seek a second term.
County Treasurer Susan Meyer, seeking re-election, said she loves her job and that she has balanced down to the penny every time over her term as Treasurer handling $9 million dollars of taxpayers money. "I invest all my dollars within the county and attend zone meetings and conferences keeping up-to-date on legislation and conducting her office. "I am a working Treasurer. She commended the county board for their ability to work united and well together and says they do the best job they can do.
Meyer said there is 20 days left in the election and she is going door to door and feeling positive about the feedback. "It's encouraging and boosts my spirits," she said. "I've been Treasurer 8 years and Chief Deputy 4 years and at the Assessor's office 8 years making this year my 20th year working for the county.
Regional Superintendent Jodi Scott has dedicated herself to education. She started in the county in 1992 teaching Pre-K the first year of the new Union school building.
She became Assistant Regional Superintendent of Schools under Bill Braden and when he died in 2007 she was elected to fill out his term. She is now running for her first full-term that over sees nine school districts in four counties-Henderson, Knox, Mercer, and Warren. Her office is located in Warren County in Monmouth.
"We serve as a hub for districts to work together and we create programs" to help youth succeed in their education. We have a very hard-working staff and fund programs by writing federal grants."
Jodi said she appreciates the representation of Rich Myers in Springfield. "He's a legislator that listens."
Everything is going well as she works hard at the office and still tries to meet people and answer questions.
Jodi had a 6th grader who raced to qualify for state during the Saturday caravan and like many dedicated public servants, missed the event and felt quite emotional about the fact she wasn't there to cheer her daughter on. Although some have others take their place, "I don't have the privilege of doing that," she said.
Associate Judge Steven Bordner of Lewistown is running to capture the seat as Circuit Judge. He has been an associate Judge of the 9th Circuit for over 15 years and is the only Judge in the race and the only candidate recommended and qualified by the Illinois Bar Association.
He said he has talked to over 1,000 people door to door and the reception in 6 counties has been wonderful.
"My views on things I am finding is the same as the people in the district. I want to protect families, serve the community, and save taxpayer dollars."
He has served on the bench in both Henderson and Hancock County. Last week, the Illinois Supreme Court affirmed his decision, with their unanimous vote, to allow the death penalty in the Daniel Ramsey case. Ramsey had murdered three persons, and wounded 3 others including two toddlers in July of 1996 in Hancock County. The trial was held in Fulton County with Judge Bordner presiding.
Newly Appointed States Attorney in Henderson County Scott McClintock of Oquawka, said everything is going well since his July 2nd appointment to replace Attorney Ray Cavanaugh who was selected by the Circuit Judges as an Associate Judge. On August 1st, he and his wife Jill, moved from Monmouth to Oquawka over the weekend. He said the Henderson County Board members he now represents, really work together. "There's no in-fighting."
McClintock is seeing less criminal work, but says the civil work makes up for it. "We are still dealing with the flood of 2008, it's an on-going tug-of-war between FEMA and IEMA. It' will take some time."
McClintock told those assembled at the Legion in Stronghurst that he has an easy race. "I have no opponent and I've already voted, so I've already won," he laughed. McClintock will have to run again in 2012 for a 4-year term.
County Clerk Marcella Cisna is also running unopposed and reminded residents they were now in their grace period for registering, but when you do register during this time you must also vote in the office right then.
State Representative Rich Myers of the 94th District, Colchester, "I think it's going to be a wonderful year across the country. Maybe this year, we might have the majority and we can do things in the house to improve our state."
Myers had some health problems and is recovering from a stay in the hospital, but says it is good to be back with the people and that he will continue to stand up for western Illinois values demanding fiscal responsibility from government, supporting policies that promote job creation, and seeking education opportunities for our kids. He has 30 years farm experience, US Army Reserves Veteran and Western Illinois Graduate and elder in the Scotland Trinity Presbyterian Church.
He was accompanied by his wife Christine, an R.N. and they have one daughter Alison. He has served as Illinois State Representative since 1995.
US Congressional Candidate Bobby Schilling came with a lot of energy. "I decided 1-1/2 years ago as I watched the destruction of this great nation, that I couldn't sit back and let it happen," so he decided to run for office.
"This country is broke! There are so many folks out of touch with Washington D.C."
Schilling said Illinois was 48th out of 50 in job creation and the Midwest has the hardest working people in the nation.
"I want to keep jobs, but we have the second highest tax rate in the world. We need to lower them to keep what we have and bring work from outside the country here where there's the hardest working people in the world.
Our legislators should vote in our best interest, not Nancy Pelosi's. Schilling said he is rejecting the pension and the raises which he feels shouldn't be happening in the state of this economy in Illinois.
"I have ten kids and I have been married for 24 years," Schilling said, "and I'm not sitting back! We can take it easy or we can do something about it."
Schilling said Illinois and Washington D.C. are broke and its time to get to work. All they know what to do is raise taxes. The contrast is huge!
After going to The Pink in Lomax, and Stronghurst Legion, the Caravan moved on to Biggsville Country Fun for lunch and meet and greet and then to the Oquawka museum.