URY LEADER IN UNION COUNTY COMMISSION RACE

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Democrat Everett L. Ury had to defeat five other candidates for his new position on the Union County Commission.

Ury of Anna beat out four Democrat candidates in the Union County primary earlier this year, and with all but two precincts in, had a 1,000-plus vote lead over Republican Relis Oliver in Tuesday's general election.

Ury had more than 3,600 votes with 18 of 20 precincts counted and appeared to be the winner over Oliver, who had 2,590 votes.

Ury, owner of Ury Ditching and Road Boring Co., ran unsuccessfully for commissioner in 1992.

The commissioner's race was the only contested race in the county.

Ury, a native of Southern Illinois, graduated from Anna-Jonesboro Community High School. He served eight years in the U.S. Army, including active and reserve duty.

Both candidates ran low-key campaigns.

"People know me," said Ury. "They know I'll listen to everybody, and treat everyone fairly.:

The Ury-Oliver race was the only contested local race on the Union County ballot.

Unopposed county candidates included Democrat Jim E. Nash, sheriff; Democrat Bobby Toler Jr., county clerk; and Democrat Bobby G. Myers, county treasurer.

Glenn Poshard, Democrat candidate for Illinois governor, carried Union County. With 18 precincts in, he had 4,721 votes. Republican gubernatorial candidate George H. Ryan received 1,668 votes.

But, with 67 percent of all precincts reporting in the state, Ryan had 1,091,604 votes, or 52 percent, and Poshard had 994,149 votes, or 47 percent.