Jeff Bloemker Next Effingham Mayor; Other Municipal Races

Full Effingham County election returns are located here

Jeff Bloemker won a three-way race for mayor of Effingham Tuesday. The longtime businessman and current executive director of Heartland Human Services totaled 896 votes, 90 votes more than former city commissioner Larry Micenheimer, who garnered 806 votes. Former city police officer Herman "Junior" Willis finished third with an even 500 votes.

(JEFF BLOEMKER)

Bloemker believes it is a desire to get back to the days when Effingham was led by a member of the business community that was a major factor in his victory. He said it is a dream he's held most of his life to serve as mayor.

Bloemker will be joined on the City Council by current mayor Merv Gillenwater, who was the leading vote-getter for commissioner, pulling 1,196 votes. Another incumbent, Don Althoff, finished second with 1,017 votes. Newcomer to the Council Kevin Esker received 951 votes and former city police officer and Junior Willis' brother, Kevin Willis, was the fourth person elected commissioner with 926 votes.

The results means a major shakeup on the Council for the second straight election. Althoff will be the only person on the current Council who will remain in that position on the incoming Council. Gillenwater achieved his goal of staying active on the Council while stepping away from the demands of the mayor's job. With Esker and Willis as newcomers, much change will be forthcoming.

Current commissioners Alan Harris and Matt Hirtzel did not seek re-election, and Brian Milleville fell short in his bid for a second term, finishing fifth with 818 votes. Challengers Michael Williamson, Dustin Reardon and Tim Koester rounded out the vote count, with 783, 629, and 620 votes, respectively.

The new Council will take office at the first meeting in May.

Bloemker said the City senior staff has already scheduled a series of briefings to get him up to speed on matters needing addressed.

Elsewhere in Effingham County, a change in leadership in the City of Altamont.

Challenger Jason Rippetoe defeated longtime incumbent Larry Taylor in the mayor's race, 214 to 139. The race for commissioner was pretty academic, with four candidates for four seats. The three incumbents seeking re-election, Jason Williams, Richard Frailey and Bill Jones, received 282, 248, and 241 votes, respectively, while newcomer Todd Slingerland was elected with 234 votes. Longtime incumbent commissioner Gerry White did not seek re-election.

In Beecher City, there were three trustee seats to be filled, but only one candidate on the ballot, Philip Childress, who received 30 votes.

In Dieterich, there was a race with four candidates for three trustee seats. Those elected were Steven Kibler with 105 votes, Carrie Galbreath with 99 votes, and Jennie Vail with 72 votes. Todd Dial received 38 votes.

In Edgewood, Karen Mahaffey was running unopposed for another term as village clerk and received 26 votes. There were two candidates for three trustee seats in Edgewood, with John Limes receiving 23 votes and Robert Burgess garnering 19 votes.

In Mason, there were two candidates for three trustee seats, with Lisa O'Leary receiving 26 votes and Joseph Henderson 25 votes.

In Montrose, there were two candidates for three seats, with Lindsey McKinney Mette getting 25 votes and David Browning receiving 19 votes. 

In Shumway, there was one candidate for three seats, with Suzanne Long getting 42 votes, and Joe Kemme was the only candidate for a two-year unexpired term, receiving 48 votes.

In Teutopolis, there were three candidates for three trustee seats on the village board, with Daniel Zerrusen receiving 159 votes, Joe Schumacher 151, and Kenneth Esker 132 votes.

In Watson, Larry Cline was unopposed for village clerk, receiving 97 votes. There were three candidates for three trustee seats, with Dennis Yocum receiving 70 votes, Kevin Koester 68 votes and Curt Sidwell 66 votes.

Altamont and Effingham elect their entire Council at the same time, while the other municipalities in the county stagger the terms of their councils or boards.