PRIMARY FOR UNION COUNTY COMMISSION OFFERS CROWDED FIELD

ANNA, Ill. -- Voters will have a wide selection when they mark their ballot for Union County Commissioner during the Illinois Primary election March 17.

No less than eight candidates -- five Democrats and three Republicans -- have filed, including Republican incumbent Larry A. Wheaton.

Democratic candidates are Joe E. Boyd of Cobden, a farmer and retired meat, poultry and livestock inspector; Wayne Livesay of Ware, who previously worked with valley steel Industries and ABF Trucking; John A. Sullivan of Jonesboro; George McCommons of Dongola, a maintenance engineer at Union County Hospital; and Everett Ury of Anna, who operates Ury Ditching and Road Boring Co.

Republicans include incumbent Larry A. Wheaton of Jonesboro, a self-employed businessman; Relis J. Oliver of Cobden, a retired educator who teaches part-time at Shawnee Community College; and Kerry Glasco of Jonesboro, a grain farmer and owner of a hunting club and Dutch-Coney Grape Vineyards.

The only other primary race is for sheriff. Sheriff Harlan Coffman did not file for re-election.

Democrats Larry L. Tripp of Anna and Jim E. Nash of Cobden, filed for the office.

Nash has served with the Union County Sheriff's Department 23 years. He is currently a captain in the department.

Tripp is a former Union County Sheriff, serving from 1974 to 1982. He owns Hickory House Barbeque and Diamond T. Construction.

Other candidates unopposed for their offices are incumbents Bobby Toler Jr. of Jonesboro; county clerk; and Bobby G. Myers of Cobden; treasurer.

A building referendum is also on the ballot in the Cobden School District. Voters will be asked to approve a $1.5 million building bond referendum. Voters in the district previously defeated the measure.

School officials hope the district will benefit from increased state funding, approved last fall by the Illinois General Assembly. Officials say that most of the project would be paid for from the new funding.