Good Day for Republicans in Effingham County Tuesday

Republicans ruled the day in election races Tuesday in Effingham County.

All three countywide contests went to the Republican candidates. 

John Niemerg defeated Democrat Pam Mathy in the closest contest, winning election as Circuit Clerk 8269 to 7968.  There was no incumbent in the race, as Mathy had defeated current officeholder Becky Jansen in the primary.

Bryan Kibler defeated Democrat Deb Niebrugge Reimers in the race for State's Attorney, 9761 to 6505.  Kibler will succeed Democrat Ed Deters, who did not seek re-election and is going into private practice.  Deters had narrowly defeated Kibler four years ago in a successful bid for a third term in office.

Duane Guffey defeated Democrat Tanya Overbeck in the contest for County Coroner, 8503 to 7736.  Guffey will succeed Democrat Leigh Hammer, who did not seek re-election.  Overbeck is the current chief deputy coroner, having replaced Guffey in the position when he resigned last year.  Hammer had endorsed Overbeck in the race.

Republicans also maintained a 7-2 edge on the Effingham County Board Tuesday.  District I switched from Democrat to Republican control as Joseph Thoele defeated Democrat Rebecca Gobczynski, 1445 to 633.  Democrat incumbent Larry Vahling did not seek re-election.

However, District G switched from Republican to Democrat hands as Doug McCain defeated Republican Ed Hoopingarner, 1010 to 853.  Republican incumbent and current Board Chairman Carolyn Willenburg did not seek re-election.

In the other County Board contests, Republican Lloyd Foster defeated Democrat Leonard Waldhoff, 1140 to 727 in a battle between two former board members.  Republican Wayne Russell, who was appointed to the seat earlier this year when incumbent Republican Jim Reeves resigned, did not seek election.

Republican Jim Niemann won re-election in District B, defeating Democrat Jim Hammer, 1152 to 723.

Democrat Karen Luchtefeld was re-election without opposition in District C, receiving 896 votes.

In a rematch from the last election, Republican incumbent David Campbell defeated Democrat Gene Jackson in District D, 1196 to 537.

In District E, Republican Mike Depoister was elected without opposition, receiving 1785 votes.  Depoister will succeed Republican Bob Shields, who did not seek re-election after 30 years on the Board.

In District F, Republican incumbent Jeff Simpson was re-elected without opposition, receiving 1300 votes.

In District H, Republican incumbent Rob Arnold was re-elected without opposition, receiving 1725 votes.

In judicial races, 5th District Appellate Judge Melissa Ann Chapman and 4th Judicial Circuit Judges Ron Spears, Sherri Tungate, Dan Hartigan and Kimberly Koester all received enough votes for retention to another term on the bench.

All of the electricity aggregation questions on the ballot in the county passed Tuesday.  The one in the unincorporated parts of the county passed 4620 Yes to 2867 No.  Here are the other votes, by community: Beecher City--Yes 103, No 35...Dieterich--255 Yes, 60 No...Effingham--3536 Yes, 1493 No...Mason--96 Yes, 31 No...Montrose--61 Yes, 37 No...Teutopolis--631 Yes, 197 No.

Beecher City residents voted to end a ban on the retail sale of alcoholic beverages, 60 residents voting to continue the ban, but 90 voting to lift the ban.