ANNA CITY BALLOT DECIDED BY LOTTERY; PRIMARY NEXT MONTH

ANNA, Ill. -- Ten candidates showed up here on the first day of filing for city elections last month.

"So many people came in at the same time that we had to have a lottery to determine the order of candidates for the primary election," said Anna City Clerk Steve Guined. "They were all here when the office opened at 8 a.m."

That was in mid-December.

Another candidate filed during the first day, and three more names were added to the list during the weeklong filing period.

"We have a total of 14 candidates 12 for council and two for mayor," said a spokesman at city hall. "This may not be a record number of candidates, but it tops the field of four years ago."

The primary here will take place Feb. 26, with the general election April 2.

Included on the list of candidates are five incumbents Mayor Ken Kohler, and council members Glenn Rosson, Jerry Isom, Dave Tellor and Roy Dillow.

Kohler's name was drawn first in the mayoral lottery, and will head the ballot, followed by challenger A.J. Jackson.

Incumbent Isom will top the list of council candidates, and will be followed, in order, by Rosson, Dillow, Tellor, Rick Tweedy, Lawrence Boyer, Allen James and Albert Lence, all determined by the lottery. The other four candidates will follow, in the order of filing: Ray Plott, Ella Earnhart, David Wingate and Tom Ellison.