MITCHELL WINS RACE FOR SHERIFF

CAIRO -- Democrat Warren "Buddy" Mitchell led the balloting in local Alexander County races Tuesday, piling up more than 1,800 votes to win his fourth term as Alexander County sheriff.

Mitchell, with three precincts left to be counted, led Republican John L. Abercrombie, 1,879-686.

Democrat Charles "Chuck" Bonifield was second leading vote getter in his bid to land a berth on the Alexander County Commission, with 1,689 votes with 16 of 19 precincts reporting.

Democrat incumbent Louis Maze trailed Republican Joseph P. Thurston with three precincts left, 1,180 to 1,461. But, at least one of the precincts was Maze's home precinct at Olive Branch.

Rollie Matlock of McClure, whose term didn't expire, is the third member of the board.

Alexander County voters supported Democrat Jerry F. Costello over Republican Jan Morris by an almost 4-to-1 margin, 1,273-381, for representative for the 12th Congressional District.

And, in the race for state representative in the 118th Illinois District, voters favored incumbent Democrat David D. Phelps over Republican Edward K. Downey, 1,247-436.