'Street Preacher' among Ill. primary winners

~ Sheriff Sergeant gets nod in Union County, while coroner David Barkett won primary for sheriff in Alexander County.

Duane "Street Preacher" Lyon rode a campaign that promised economic development and a rejection of federal flood plain rules to win the Democratic nomination for Alexander County commissioner.

And in Union County, Democratic voters rejected an incumbent's bid for another term on the county commission Tuesday and gave a sergeant in the sheriff's department their nod for the top job.

In statewide primary voting, Gov. Rod Blagojevich easily cruised to the Democratic nomination, while state treasurer Judy Baar Topinka was locked in a tight battle for the Republican nomination to oppose him in the November election.

Lyon, of Miller City, received 815 votes to defeat Cairo restaurant owner Darrell Shemwell, who received 705 votes. Shemwell supported flood plain rules in an effort to get the county back in the federal flood insurance program.

James Huff, a member of the Cairo school board, lagged behind with 411 votes.

Lyon will face Republican candidate Mike Caldwell of Thebes in the November election. Caldwell was unopposed in the GOP primary.

Alexander County coroner David Barkett, parlayed support from current sheriff Warren "Buddy" Mitchell and three past sheriffs to win the Democratic primary for that sheriff's post.

Barkett defeated two deputies, Arnold Burris of Cairo and Jeffrey Petzoldt of Thebes in his bid for sheriff. Barkett faces Richard Grapentin of Tamms, who was unopposed for the Republican nomination. Grapentin is a retired member of the Los Angeles County, Calif., sheriff's department.

Kent Thomas of Cairo won an overwhelming victory in the Democratic primary for Alexander County clerk, easily defeating Ryan O'Shea and Paula Wright, both of Cairo. Thomas received nearly two-thirds of the votes.

No Republican filed for the county clerk's position.

The Union County incumbent commissioner, Jack Eddleman of Dongola, seeking his second six-year term on the commission, was rejected in favor of Steve Hartline, the mayor of Anna. Hartline took 64 percent of the vote.

Cecil Humphrey of Anna finished a distant third in the commission race.

No Republican filed for the county commission post.

And David Livesay of Wolf Lake, Ill., defeated David Wilkins in the bid to replace Jim Nash as sheriff, taking 66 percent of the vote. The winner faces Republican Steven Hoepker of Makanda, Ill., in the November election.

Blagojevich, who did little campaigning and rarely acknowledged his opponent, easily defeated a former Chicago alderman for the Democratic nomination with more than 67 percent of the vote.

With 55 percent of precincts reporting, Topinka had 169,523 votes, or 37 percent, and Oberweis had 146,698, or 32 percent. Chicago businessman Ron Gidwitz had 10 percent, and state Sen. Bill Brady had 19 percent. Internet journalist Andy Martin was at less than 1 percent.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

rkeller@semissourian.com

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