INCUMBENTS AMONG WINNERS IN CAIRO PRIMARY

CAIRO, Ill. -- Incumbents in five wards won primary elections here Tuesday, and will face challengers in the April 13 general election.

A total of 25 names appeared on Cairo's primary election ballot Tuesday, narrowing the list to two candidates for each position -- except mayor. Mayor James Wilson is unopposed.

Six candidates gathered votes for the city's "at-large" council members. Joseph M. Thurston led all candidates in the at-large balloting, with 595 votes. Two tied for the second position: Donald Earl Rushing and Charles J. Koen, each received 215 votes.

A ruling on the tie will be determined today.

Other candidates and their vote totals:

Arnold Burris Sr., 202, Steve R. Wiesenmayer, 132, and Rodney L. Moore, 80.

Ward balloting results:

Ward I: Incumbent Elbert "Bo" Purchase led the ballot with 185 votes, and will oppose Fred H. Shelton, with 54 votes, in the general election. Pat Butts collected 37 votes.

Ward II: Incumbent Bobby Whitaker led candidates with 102 votes. Berlene Jones received 93 and who will face Whitaker in the general election. Other candidates included Joe Nelson, 60; Thomas M. Simpson, 28, and James Purdiman, 11.

Ward III: Incumbent Cordell McGoy led the balloting, with 107 votes. He will face Danny Brown, who collected 50 votes. Other candidates and votes were Gregory D. Walker, 21. and James Tony Mallory, 3.

Ward IV: There were only two candidates in Ward IV. Incumbent Nancy Wright received 266 votes and K.R. Duke Jones had 132.

Ward V: Incumbent Carolyn Ponting led the balloting in Ward V, with 168 votes, and will face James R. Wissinger, who finished with 71. Other candidates and votes were John R. Holman, 62, and Carolyn Faye Brown, with 25.