FORMER PULASKI SHERIFF DAKIN WINS OFFICE AGAIN

PULASKI, Ill. -- Russell E. "Rusty" Dakin is back in a familiar position, but he won't be in familiar surroundings in his new sheriff's office.

Dakin, a Republican who served two terms as Pulaski County sheriff from 1978 to 1986, was returned to the sheriff's office in Tuesday's general election.

Dakin, of Mounds, polled 1,708 votes to defeat Democrat Jeff Caudle, who has been serving as chief deputy for Sheriff Gene Dixon. Dixon didn't file for re-election. Caudle, of Karnak, received 1,200 votes.

Dakin will be moving from the treasurer's office at the county courthouse in Mound City to the Tri-County Criminal Justice Center, a new, private prison near Ullin. The sheriff's department is in the process of moving to the new prison building.

Dakin has been working in the treasurer's office as deputy treasurer.

The sheriff's race was one of four county races in Pulaski County Tuesday. Another race of big interest was that for a new county clerk. The present county clerk, Democrat C.E. "Pete" Windings, is retiring, and did not file for re-election.

Tanna S. Goins, a Democrat from Grand Chain, is the new county clerk. She collected 1,843 votes to defeat Republican Rita K. Flummer of Mounds, who had 1,026 votes.

Goins has worked in the county clerk's office seven years.

In other contested races, incumbent Republican Robert "Robbie" Moore of Mounds defeated Democrat Venita Kerr Hancock of Villa Ridge, 1,744 to 1,088, for treasurer, and Republican Bill Atherton, an Ullin barber, won over Democrat Bob Gilley, 1,802 to 1,037.

The race for treasurer was a repeat of the 1994 race, when Moore defeated Hancock in a closely contested race, 1,436 to 1,397.