COMMISSIONER, SHERIFF ONLY LOCAL RACES IN ALEXANDER COUNTY

CAIRO, Ill. -- Louis Maze is seeking his third term on the Alexander County Board of Commissioners. Warren "Buddy" Mitchell will be seeking his fourth term as Alexander County Sheriff.

Commissioner and sheriff races are the only locally contested races on the Nov. 8 Alexander County ballot.

Maze, a Democrat from Olive Branch, is one of three candidates for two commissioner spots. Other candidates include Democrat Charles "Chuck" Bonifield of Miller City and Republican Joseph P. Thurston of Cairo.

The two winners will join Rollie Matlock of McClure, whose term doesn't expire.

Maze and Bonifield survived an April primary field of eight Democratic candidates.

In the sheriff's race, incumbent Democrat Mitchell, a 16-year veteran of law enforcement, with 12 years as county sheriff, will face Republican John L. Abercrombie of Tamms.

Mitchell is a graduate of the University of Illinois Police Training Institute, and is a veteran of the Navy, with three tours in Vietnam.

In state races, incumbent Republican Gov. Jim Edgar faces a challenge from Democrat Dawn Clark Netsch, the first woman in Illinois history to be nominated for governor by a major party.

Netsch, the state's comptroller, defeated two primary candidates in the primary.

Also on the ballot is Libertarian candidate David L. Kelley.

Other state races pit Republican Jim Ryan against Democrat Albert F. Hofeld and Libertarian Natalie Loeder Clark for attorney general and Republican George H. Ryan against Democrat Pat Quinn and Libertarian Joseph Schreiner for secretary of state.

Loleta A. Didrickson is the Republican candidate for comtroller, facing Democrat Earlean Collins and Libertarian Michael J. Ginsberg. State treasurer candidates are Republican Judy Baar Topinka, Democrat Nancy Drew Sheehan and Libertarian Kati L. Korenlein.

Alexander County voters will also cast ballots in one U.S. congressional race, Democrat Jerry F. Costello will oppose Republican Jan Morris for representative for the 12th District.

One state race is on the ballot. Republican Edward K. Downey will face Democrat David Phelps for representative in the 118th district. Democrat James F. "Jim" Rea is unopposed for state senator in the 59th District.

Alexander County voters will cast ballots in 19 precincts, 10 of them in Cairo. Other precincts are at Thebes City Hall, East Cape Community Center, Olive Branch Chamber Building, McClure Fire Department, the Elco Building, Sandusky Community Building and Tamms Community Building. Miller City voters will cast ballots at the Highway Department in Olive Branch, and Cache voters will cast ballots at the Cairo Airport.

County candidates are for assessor, Dorothy Mayberry, a Democrat from Cairo; county clerk, Sue Harrington, a Democrat of Cairo; county treasurer, Frances Lee, a Democrat of Cairo; two for county commission, Democrats, Louis Maze of Olive Branch and Charles Bonifield of Miller City and Republican Joseph Thurston of Cairo; sheriff, Democrat Warren Mitchell of Tamms and Republican John L. Abercrombie of Tamms; regional superintendent of schools, Andrea Brown.

State legislative candidates for state Senate District 59, Democrat James F. Rea, and state House District 118, Democrat David D. Phelps, Republican Edward K. Downey. The 12th Congressional District candidates are Democrat Jerry F. Costello and Republican Jan Morris.