SHERIFFS' RACES DRAW INTEREST IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

A former sheriff and a chief deputy will meet in Pulaski County's general election in November, and a chief deputy in Union County was elected sheriff Tuesday.

In the southernmost county of Illinois, Alexander, Sheriff Warren Mitchell was winning with half of the precincts reporting late Tuesday.

Russell E. "Rusty" Dakin, who served eight years as Pulaski County sheriff from 1978 to 1986, defeated Elmer Rose of Olmsted for the Republican nomination for the Nov. 3 election. He will face Democrat Jeff Caudle of Karnak, Pulaski County's chief deputy. Caudle defeated two other candidates Tuesday.

Jim Nash, meanwhile, will be making the jump from deputy and captain of the Union County Sheriff's Department to sheriff. Nash, who has served in the sheriff's department as a deputy 23 years, easily defeated a former sheriff, Larry Tripp, meaning he will take office in December.

With 17 of 20 precincts in, Nash had accumulated more than 3,000 votes to Tripp's 468.

Tuesday's primary was for all practical purposes the big show for Nash. Union County Sheriff Harlan Coffman didn't file for re-election, and Nash has no opponent Nov. 3.

Tripp had served as Union County sheriff two terms, from 1974 to 1982.

Sheriffs' races attracted attention in all three of Southern Illinois southernmost counties.

Alexander County Sheriff Mitchell of Tamms was the apparent winner for a fifth straight Democratic bid for sheriff. With six of 11 precincts in, Mitchell led his Democratic opponent, Harold McNelly of Thebes, by 1,092 to 547.

The winner will face Republican Joe M. Beloate in November. Beloate was unopposed on the GOP side and received 99 votes.

Dakin was one of the two top vote getters in Pulaski County Tuesday, with 1,007 votes. His Republican opponent had 255 votes.

Pulaski County Sheriff Gene Dixon didn't file for re-election. Daken was also a candidate for sheriff during the 1994 election, when he lost by a total of 51 votes.

Caudle of Karnak defeated Randy Kern of America and John Price of Mounds. Caudle collected 496 votes, Kern 274 and Price 197.

Pulaski County

The only other primary race in Pulaski County was for county commissioner, where two Republicans filed, including incumbent Travis Rose Jr. of Olmsted. Rose lost to Bill Atherton of Ullin. Atherson collected 883 votes to Rose's 395 and will face Democrat Bob Gilley of Mounds, who was unopposed in the primary. He received 643 votes.

Another Pulaski County incumbent is also retiring, County Clerk Pete Winding. Democrat Tanna Goins of Grand Chain and Republican Rita Flummer were unopposed in the primary and will meet in the general election. Goins polled 782 votes and Flummer had 928 votes in the primary.

County treasurer candidates were also unopposed in the primary. Incumbent Republican Robert "Robbie" Moore of Mounds will face Democrat Venita Kerr Hancock of Villa Ridge in November. Moore was the leading vote getter in the county, with 1,070. Hancock had 706 votes.

Union County

Union County voters had a wide selection for county commissioners Tuesday. With 17 of 20 precincts reporting, Everett Ury of Anna held a small lead in a field of five Democrats, with 1,341 votes. Second was Joe E. Boyd, with 1,015 votes.

Other Democratic totals, with 17 precincts in: Wayne Livesay of Ware, 375 votes; John A. Sullivan of Jonesboro, 257; and George McCommons of Dongola, 367.

On the Republican side, with only three precincts still out, incumbent Larry A. Wheaton of Jonesboro, with 451 votes, led Relis Oliver of Cobden, with 426. A third candidate, Kerry Glasco of Jonesboro, had 204.

Unopposed candidates and their vote totals, with 17 of 20 precincts reporting, were Bobby Toler Jr. of Jonesboro, county clerk, 2,952; and Bobby G. Myers of Cobden, treasurer, 2,908.

Alexander County

The county commissioner and county clerk races attracted attention in Alexander County.

Three Democrats and two Republicans were on the commissioner list. With six of 11 precincts reporting, John "Andy" Clark was a leader, with more than 1,000 votes. Other candidates and votes at the half-way mark: Republicans, Michael D. Caldwell, Thebes, 116; and David D. McNeely, Cairo, 28; and Democrats, Alex M. Brooks, 123; and James "Tony" Mallory, 204.

In the county clerk's race, Louis W. Maze was a leader with 630 votes. Other Democrats' vote totals were Barbara Franklin, Cairo, 117; Sharyl (Kobler) Davis, Unity, 430; and Amy Brinkmeyer, Cairo, 431.

Gerry Clark, the Republican candidate, was unopposed. He had 109 votes.

A close race was still undecided for supervisor of assessments. Debbie M. Henderson had 660 votes and incumbent Dorothy J. Mayberry 671. Another close race came in the treasurer's contest. Incumbent Frances Lee had 752 votes and Nancy Willis Kline, 685. A third candidate, Darrell Franklin, had 158 votes.