ILLINOIS VOTERS HEAD TO POLLS FOR TUESDAY'S PRIMARY ELECTION

CAIRO, Ill. -- Louis Maze and C. E. "Gene" Farris, who have more than 30 years combined service on the Alexander County Board of Commissioners, are each seeking another term when voters go to the Illinois primary election polls Tuesday.

"I am serving my second four-year term now," said Maze last week. "Farris has more than 23 years in public office."

Maze, of Olive Branch, feels that the county is financially sound.

"We have a good team," he said. The third commissioner is Rollie Matlock of McClure, whose term does not expire.

Maze and Farris are among eight Democratic candidates who will be on the Tuesday ballot in Alexander County. Also on the list is James R. Wissinger of Cairo, a former commissioner. Wissinger previously served two terms as commissioner, and one four-year term on the Cairo City Council.

Other Democratic candidates include Charles "Chuck" Bonifield, of Miller City; Jack Sneed, William Miller and George Schultz, all of Cairo. An eighth Democratic candidate who filed earlier then dropped the race.

The Republican candidate is Joseph P. Thurston of Cairo. Thurston has served three years on the Cairo City Council.

Commissioner and sheriff races provide contests in all three immediate Southern Illinois counties -- Alexander, Pulaski and Union.

Incumbent sheriff Democrat Buddy Mitchell will face two opponents -- Harold McNelly of Thebes and John Grayson of Unity -- in the Alexander County Democrat primary. The Tuesday winner will face Republican John L. Abercrombie, of Tamms, in the general election.

Mitchell is a 16-year veteran of law enforcement and has been county sheriff 12 years. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois Police Training Institute, and is a veteran of the Navy, with three tours in Vietnam.

McNelly, a native of Alexander County and veteran of the Air Force, is currently administrator of the Alexander County General Assistance Office. He has served on the Shawnee College Board of Trustees and Egyptian School Board.

The sheriff's race in Pulaski County has also attracted four candidates, two Republicans and two Democrats.

Gene Dixon is incumbent sheriff of Pulaski County. Dixon, of Olmsted, is a member of the Southern Illinois Police Association, Illinois Sheriff's Association and Illinois Police Association. He is serving his second term as sheriff.

Dixon will face Lloyd Bosecker of Villa Ridge in the Democratic primary Tuesday. Bosecker is a native of Pulaski County and has 15 years experience in law enforcement. He served 11 years as a police officer at Mounds, Ill., five of them as chief of police.

Russell Daken of Mounds, a former sheriff, will seek the Republican nod for sheriff. He served as Pulaski County sheriff from 1978 to 1982, and served one term as Mounds City councilman. Daken will face Deon Peck of Karnak in the Tuesday primary. Peck previously served as mayor of Karnak.

The Pulaski County commissioner's race has also attracted a large number of candidates, six of them on the Democratic ballot and three on the Republican ballot, battling for two positions.

Democrats are John Price of Olmsted, Curtis Marshall of Olmsted, former commissioner Dallas Jackson of Mounds, Eddie Chase Madison of Grand Chain, Delbert "Wayne Kerley" and Gary J. Stevens.

Republican candidates for commissioner are incumbent Travis Rose Jr. of Olmsted, Jerry P. Thurston of Pulaski and Craig Rose, Olmsted.

Two more Pulaski County primary races will pit Democrats Bonita Kerr Hancock against Carl Meyer for county treasurer and Republicans Randy George, the incumbent, against LaVerne Anderson for circuit clerk.

Races have also developed in the sheriff's and county board races in Union County.

Incumbent Robin A. Dillon of Anna will face Harlen Coffman of Jonesboro in the Democratic sheriff's primary. The winner will face Republican Roy E. Walker of Dongola in the general election.

Four candidates, including Democrat incumbents Wayne "Doc" Manus and Lee Roy Rendlemen, have filed for commissioner. Republicans filing are Darryl Harvell and Larry A. Wheaton.

One of the regional races of interest is that of Mark Clarke against John Clemons for circuit judge for the nine counties of the First Judicial Circuit.

Clarke was appointed associate judge in 1992, then appointed circuit judge this year to fill the position of J. Phil Gilbert, who was named to the federal bench last year.

He served as Alexander County State's Attorney at Cairo two terms and was a special prosecutor throughout Southern Illinois. He has prosecuted more than 1,000 felony cases as well as numerous misdemeanor and traffic cases.

On the ballots:

Alexander County

Assessor

Democrat

Incumbent Dorothy Mayberry, Cairo.

County Clerk

Democrat

Incumbent Sue Harrington, Cairo.

County Treasurer

Democrat

Incumbent Frances Lee, Cairo.

County Commissioner

Democrat

Incumbent Louis Maze, Olive Branch; incumbent Gene Farris, Olive Branch; Chuck Bonifield, Miller City; Jack Sneed, Cairo; George Schultz, Cairo; James R. Wissinger, Cairo; William B. Miller, Cairo.

Republican

Joseph Thurston, Cairo.

Sheriff

Democrat

Incumbent Buddy Mitchell, Tamms; Harold McNelly, Thebes; John Grayson, Unity.

Republican

John L. Abercrombie, Tamms.

Pulaski County

County Clerk

Democrat

Incumbent C.E. "Pete" Windings

Circuit Clerk

Democrat

Kay Blanchard

Republican

Incumbent Randy George, LaVerne Anderson.

County Sheriff

Democrat

Incumbent Gene Dixon, Olmsted; Lloyd Bosecker, Villa Ridge..

Republican

Russell Dakin (former sheriff), Deon Peck, Karnak.

County Commissioners

Democrat

John Price, Curtis Marshall, Dallas Jackson, Eddie Chase Madison, Delbert Wayne Kerley. Gary J. Stevens.

Republican

Incumbent Travis Rose Jr., Olmsted; Jerry P. Thurston, Craig Rose.

County Treasurer

Democrat

Venita Hancock, Carl Meyer.

Union County

County Clerk

Democrat

Incumbent Bobby Toler Jr., Jonesboro.

County Treasurer

Democrat

Incumbent Bobby G. Myers, Cobden.

County Commissioners

Democrat

Incumbent Wayne "Doc" Manus, Anna, incumbent Lee Roy Rendleman, Jonesboro.

Republican

Darryl Harvell, Jonesboro; Larry A. Wheaton, Jonesboro;

Sheriff

Democrat

Incumbent Robin A. Dillon, Anna, Harlen Coffman, Jonesboro.

Republican

Roy E. Walker, Dongola.

Regional Filings

Circuit Court, 1st Circuit

(Alexander, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union and Williamson counties)

Democrat

Mark H. Clarke, Cairo

Republican

John Clemons, Murphysboro

Regional Superintendent

of Schools (Alexander, Johnson, Massac, Pulaski and Union counties)

Republican

Andrea M. Brown, Goreville, Richard D. Trampe, Metropolis

118th State House

Democrat

Incumbent David Phelps, Eldorado.

Republican

Edward K. Downey, Golconda.

59th State Senate

Democrat

Incumbent James F. "Jim" Rhea