Voters in Loda selected John Zalaker as their new village president while those in Gibson City and Piper City retained Dan Dickey and Jeff Orr as their respective mayors in Tuesday’s consolidated election, which also saw newcomer Christine Johnson join three incumbents in winning a term on the Paxton-Buckley-Loda school board.
In other contested races, voters reelected Dwain Sanders and William Brokate as highway commissioners for Patton and Dix townships, respectively, along with Larry Sutton as a Loda Fire Protection District trustee and Fred Magers as the multi-township assessor for Patton and Button townships. Also settled were contested races for seats on the Elliott and Loda village boards.
The voter turnout was 23.19% in Ford County, where 2,200 of 9,487 registered voters cast a ballot, and 25.22% in Iroquois County, where 4,679 of 18,555 registered voters cast a ballot.
Paxton resident Paul Crutcher, a onetime city alderman, exits the Paxton firehouse at 310 N. Market St. — the Election Day polling place for the Patton 1, 2 and 4 precincts — as the April 1 consolidated election gets under way. The firehouse was one of 14 polling places in Ford County as the polls were open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
In Ford County, County Clerk & Recorder Amy Frederick estimated that “six or seven” mail ballots had not yet been returned. In Iroquois County, there were 10 still-outstanding mail ballots from the village of Loda, 70 for the precinct of Loda and 28 for the precinct of Artesia. Any mail ballots postmarked by April 1 will be counted on Tuesday, April 15.
GIBSON CITY
In Gibson City, Dickey was elected to his sixth straight four-year term as mayor, breezing to victory over challenger Sarah Sarantakos via a 475-137 vote margin — 77.6% to 22.4%. Sarantakos, who has served for two years as an alderman for Ward 1 and previously served as deputy city clerk, was vying for the first time for the city’s top leadership post.
Over the past 20 years, Dickey had been challenged only twice before, easily defeating challenger John Carlson by a 555-247 margin in April 2017 and winning a four-way race in his first bid for mayor in April 2005, when he held off his longtime predecessor, Nelda Jordan, and two others, Carroll Lange and Aaron Franks, with nearly 42% of the vote.
Dickey served as a Gibson City Pool Board member and Gibson City alderman prior to becoming mayor.
The 68-year-old Dickey, who has lived in Gibson City for 42 years, said prior to the election that he was seeking another term “because I love this community and want to continue to do my part to see Gibson City not only succeed but thrive.” Dickey said his top priorities are housing, business retention/expansion, maintaining and improving infrastructure and stormwater drainage, and a new wastewater treatment plant.
“I promise to continue to work hard to help manage our future in a way that benefits us all,” Dickey said.
Dickey and his wife, Paula, have been married for 40 years and have three grown sons — Seth, Nathan and Jacob — plus three grandkids. Dickey is the former owner/president of CITS Inc., a regional commercial communications service company, and a former first chairman, owner and founding member of NCC Inc., a national communications service company.
The 62-year-old Sarantakos, who has lived in Gibson City for 31 years, is retired from the Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley school district, where she was the unit office manager. She previously worked in the city’s administrative office and served as deputy city clerk for 12 years under five mayors — Karen Rhodes, Donald Elenfeldt, Brady Peters, Jordan and Dickey — before becoming the office administrator for the Champaign office of certified public accounting firm Clifton Gunderson.
Her top goals for the mayorship were getting a new swimming pool built, upgrading the water treatment plant, putting Wells No. 5 and 6 back in production, building a new sewer treatment plant, and bringing in new business while keeping the existing ones going.
“The current mayor has been in office for 20 years to accomplish his agenda,” she said prior to the election. “It is now time for a new vision to bring Gibson City into the future.”
There were no other contested races in Gibson City. Also elected were incumbent Vickie Lorenzen as city treasurer, incumbent Susie Tongate as Ward 1 alderman, incumbent Randy Wyant as Ward 2 alderman, newcomer Terry Roesch as Ward 3 alderman and incumbent Laura Miller as Ward 4 alderman. Ward 3 Alderman Doug Parsons did not seek reelection.
PIPER CITY
Piper City Village President Jeff Orr easily defeated challenger Steven Bukowski in Tuesday’s election, doubling Bukowski’s vote total, 120-60, to breeze to another four-year term.
The 61-year-old Orr has served as village president since December 2017, when he was appointed to the position after Richard Chandler died. Orr ran unopposed to win consecutive two-year and four-year terms in both 2019 and 2021. He previously served as village clerk from 2010 to 2017.
A native of Piper City, Orr practiced law in Bloomington until returning to Piper City in 1999 to start farming when his father retired. In addition to serving as village president, Orr is chairman of the board of trustees of the Piper City United Methodist Church and the Ford County Republican Central Committee.
“Growing up and living most of my life in Piper City, I have a strong desire to maintain and improve my hometown,” Orr said.
Orr’s top priorities for the next four years include updating the village’s water distribution system and improving water quality; improving code compliance and enforcement, including demolition of blighted buildings; and communicating more effectively with residents.
Bukowski, 60, said prior to the election that he is a member of Piper Pride, which hosts events in Piper City, and has “previous experience” in “appointed positions for city and county governments.” He provided no other personal information about himself, though, in his response to a survey sent to both candidates.
“I am seeking election to help my community move forward with an improved water system and by adding to the local business district,” Bukowski said, adding that his other goals included creating more community activities and updating ordinances and improving their enforcement.
There were no other contested races in Piper City on Tuesday, as only incumbents sought re-election to their respective seats. Reelected were Rhonda McCoy as village clerk and Douglas Berry, Mark Houck and Brandon Decker as village trustees.
LODA
In Loda, elected to replace Carol Arseneau as village president was John Zalaker, who received 41 votes — 48.2% — of the 85 votes cast between the four candidates. Defeated were Don “J.R.” Ptacek with 25 votes, Brianna Coffey with 19 votes and Teresa Reck, currently a village trustee, with zero.
The 65-year-old Zalaker grew up just outside of Loda and has lived in the village for the last 17 years and in this area for 65. The owner of Zalaker Auto Repair in rural Loda, Zalaker previously served as a village trustee and is currently a member of the Sons of the American Legion, a board member of the Loda Truck and Tractor Pull Association and president of Loda Fireworks and Events, a nonprofit working to revive the annual Loda Good Ole Days celebration.
“If elected, I promise to work very hard to improve the village without putting a financial strain on its residents,” Zalaker said ahead of the election. “My priorities are streets, drainage, water, public safety and growth.”
Meanwhile, with several mail ballots potentially still to be counted, Cathy Tittle, Amanda Loveless and Ronald Dudley appeared to have won four-year terms on the Loda village board, with Sandra Zalaker elected to a two-year trustee term.
Sandra Zalaker, a former village clerk and the wife of John Zalaker, was unopposed in her bid for election to the two-year unexpired term, while Tittle, Loveless and Dudley were among five candidates running to fill three four-year trustee seats — those currently held by Reck, Dave Arseneau, Terry Henricks and Pat Allen.
The other two candidates for the four-year terms were Regina Ptacek, who is currently village clerk, and Carol Arseneau. Unofficial vote totals were 50 for Tittle, 36 for Loveless, 34 for Dudley, 33 for Regina Ptacek and 30 for Carol Arseneau.
Both Tittle and Dudley have previously served on the village board. Both Dudley and Loveless were write-in candidates.
Also Tuesday, newcomer Sarah Kasper was unchallenged in her bid to replace Regina Ptacek as village clerk.
PBL SCHOOL BOARD
In a five-way race for four seats on the Paxton-Buckley-Loda school board, newcomer Christine Johnson of Paxton, who is employed as director of finance for Rantoul City Schools District 13 and previously worked for nine years as a bookkeeper in the PBL unit office, was joined by three incumbents — Jason Rust of Buckley, Dawn Bachtold of Paxton and Craig Loschen of Paxton — in winning election.
Defeated was Jason Dirks of Paxton, a member of the board for six years.
“Since leaving my position as PBL’s district bookkeeper, I have wanted to become more involved with the school district, beyond just attending my children’s extracurricular activities,” Johnson said before the election. “I truly believe in the idea of ‘see a need, fill a need,’ and I’m eager to bring my experience and dedication to contribute in a meaningful way to the district’s continued success.”
In Ford, Iroquois and Champaign counties, Loschen garnered 891 votes, followed by Rust with 793, Johnson with 742, Bachtold with 690 and Dirks with 619. In Ford County, Loschen led with 656 votes, followed by Rust with 565, Johnson with 535, Bachtold with 502 and Dirks with 454. In Iroquois County, Loschen led again with 223 votes, followed by Rust with 216, Johnson with 201, Bachtold with 178 and Dirks with 158. In Champaign County, Rust and Loschen each received 12 votes, followed by Bachtold with 10, Dirks with seven and Johnson with six.
MULTI-TOWNSHIP ASSESSOR
Fred Magers defeated Delbert Bruens in the race for multi-township tax assessor for Patton and Button townships in the Paxton area.
Magers received 448 votes to 283 for Bruens — 61.3% compared with 38.7%.
Magers, 56, of Clarence, is a lifelong resident of Ford County and is self-employed as owner of Magers Repair in Paxton. In addition to serving as the elected tax assessor for Patton and Button townships for more than 20 years, he is contracted to perform the same role for Drummer and Dix townships and Lyman, Wall, Peach Orchard and Sullivant townships. Outside of work, he is active in Pheasants Forever/Young Guns.
His goals for office include making sure that assessed values are accurate, fair and consistent.
“My intention is to do all that I can to keep property taxes as fair and as reasonable as possible for all citizens in Ford County,” Magers said before the election.
Bruens, 60, a resident of Paxton since 1992, is the husband of Ford County Supervisor of Assessments Pam Bruens. He is self-employed as a contractor and has been an appointed member of the Ford County Public Building Commission for 20-plus years, previously serving four terms as a Paxton alderman.
DIX TOWNSHIP
In Dix Township, William Brokate claimed 55.5% of the vote — 91-73 — to defeat challenger Morgan Hoffman in the race for highway commissioner.
The 63-year-old Brokate, of rural Gibson City, is a lifelong Ford County resident who has served as highway commissioner for 44 years.
“I want to keep the roads, bridges, culverts and signs maintained and keep the farmers and traveling public safe in Dix Township,” Brokate said ahead of the election.
Hoffman, 25, of rural Gibson City, is self-employed at Morgan Hoffman Trucking LLC and also farms with his father. It was his first time seeking elected office.
“I believe the current individual is not getting done many things that need to be done,” Hoffman said before the election.
Also in Dix Township, running unopposed in the election were Rick Bowen for supervisor, Michelle Engel for clerk, and Robert Buhs, Christopher Thorp, John Schertz and Arthur Kingsley for trustee.
PATTON TOWNSHIP
In Patton Township, Dwain Sanders of rural Paxton won reelection as highway commissioner, easily defeating newcomer Jason Miles of rural Paxton via a 442-260 vote margin.
Also in Patton Township, elected after running unopposed were Pam Sanders as clerk and Michael Anderson, Ronald Lantz and Michael White as trustees.
LODA FIRE DISTRICT
In a contested race for a Loda Fire Protection District trustee position, Larry Sutton defeated Jacob Wise via a 136-64 vote margin. Sutton had 123 votes to Wise’s 58 in Iroquois County and 13 votes to Wise’s six in Ford County to win reelection.
Sutton, 38, of rural Loda, is a lifelong area resident. He owns Sutton Construction in Loda and is a grain and livestock farmer. A volunteer firefighter for 20 years, Sutton currently serves as a Loda firefighter and was previously a member of the Paxton and Ludlow fire protection districts.
“I care deeply for the fire department, and I am seeking office as a trustee of the Loda Fire Protection District to make sure the fire district is heading in the right direction, financially,” Sutton said before the election, adding that he would also like to replace outdated equipment and gear.
ELLIOTT
Winning election to a two-year term on the Elliott village board over incumbent Linda Holsclaw was newcomer John “Jack” Huppert, via a 38-28 margin.
Huppert, 61, is a lifelong resident of Ford County, including living in Elliott since 1992. Since 1990, he has been a self-employed agricultural production specialist. This will be his second stint as a village trustee — a position he held before from 1997 to 2009.
“I already have invaluable experience in the position and a passion for the village that my family and I live in,” Huppert said before the election. “My top five priority goals for office if elected are: Clean up the village appearance; reduce frivolous spending; concentrate on positive improvements; enhance village board meeting efficiency; and increase transparency between the board and the residents.”
Meanwhile, Huppert will be joined on the board by three others who were victorious Tuesday in a four-way race for three available four-year terms: newcomer Homer Hixson with 53 votes, newcomer Vicki Kirkpatrick with 41 and incumbent Margret Fairchild with 40. Incumbent Roseann Niedorowski had 28 votes in defeat. Trustee Jasen Hawn did not seek reelection.
Unopposed for reelection are incumbent Josh Rouley for village president and incumbent Gloria Lynch for village clerk.
GCMS SCHOOL BOARD
For the Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley school board, winning election to four available seats — currently held by Phil Whitehouse, Adam Mussman, Kenna McCall and Sarah Lutterbie — were Whitehouse, the board’s president, along with McCall, Lutterbie and newcomer Mitchell Heap. Mussman did not file for re-election.
TRI-POINT SCHOOL BOARD
For the Tri-Point school board, winning election to four-year terms were incumbents Eric Raymond, Cherie Smolkovich, Jason Angus and Terrance Hughes, while newcomer Shawn Platz won election to a two-year unexpired term, with incumbent Michael Berry not seeking re-election to that seat. All were unopposed.
PAXTON
In Paxton, Bill Ingold won election to a sixth consecutive four-year term as mayor. Also victorious in unopposed re-election bids were Eric Evans as Ward 1 alderman, Joe Reinhart as Ward 2 alderman, Matt Greenburg as Ward 3 alderman and Kristin Larson as Ward 4 alderman. There were no candidates for city clerk.
MELVIN
In Melvin, Austin Fancher won re-election to another four-year term as village president, while Jeff Glascock won election to another four years as village clerk. Also, Amber Hoffmann, Allen Baker and Edwin Miller won re-election to four-year terms as village trustees, with fellow incumbent Tyler Pollard winning a two-year term as trustee. No candidates ran for an additional two-year trustee seat, currently held by Lane Dueringer.
SIBLEY
In Sibley, winning election while running unopposed were Jim Kearney as village president, Joni Brucker as treasurer and Greg Brucker and Erin Bittner as village trustees. No candidates ran for the seats currently held by Village Clerk Laura Peeler and Trustee Tim Peeler.
KEMPTON
Winning election as village president in Kempton was Donath English Jr. The current village president, Richard Von Qualen, was elected to a two-year term as a village trustee. Winning election to four available four-year trustee terms were incumbents David Kelley Sr., Anthony Rogers and Katherine Cox and newcomer Brenda Davies. Not filing for re-election was Trustee Billy Bridger. No candidates were challenged.
ROBERTS
Matt Vaughan won another term as village president in Roberts. Vaughan, who was unopposed, was first appointed president at the end of 2019, filling the remainder of Rick Flessner’s term, and was then elected to a four-year term in April 2021. He previously was a member of the village board for 17 years. Also reelected were Sara Waterson as village clerk and Mary Ager, Kathy Williams and Dale Bleich as village trustees.
BUCKLEY
There are no contested races in Buckley, where Evan Scott Shockley was elected to another term as village president; J.C. “Jim” Biggs was reelected as village clerk; and Keith Hartke, Patricia Killion and Becky Weisenbarn were reelected as village trustees.
GILMAN
In Gilman, Rick Theesfeld won reelection as mayor, Wendy Kraft as city clerk, Michael McGehee as Ward 1 alderman and John Smith as Ward 3 alderman, with no candidate running for Ward 2 alderman. All were unopposed.
CISSNA PARK
In Cissna Park, Chad Verkler won election as village president, Valerie Dannehl as village clerk, and Jacob Marquez and Kyle Rust as village trustees. All were unopposed.
ONARGA
In Onarga, Shane Cultra won election as village president, Yesenia Solano as village clerk, and Holly Zirkle, William Hollingsworth and Oscar Camargo Barbosa as village trustees. All were unopposed.
THAWVILLE
In Thawville, Brenna Hildenbrand won election as village president, Stephanie Tetrault as village clerk, and Robert Lange, Shawn Fuoss and Rachel Zick as village trustees. All were unopposed.
LUDLOW
In Ludlow, elected to four-year terms as village trustees were John Curtis, William Bina and Thomas Fultz, with Tharla Palumbo and Karen Shedd elected to two-year trustee terms. All were unopposed. Also, in the Ludlow area, a ballot question put forth by the Ludlow Fire Protection District easily passed with 56 “yes” votes to 21 “no” votes in Champaign County. The referendum calls for an increase in the fire district’s property tax rate — by 8 cents per $100 of assessed valution — with the proceeds used to buy new equipment.
BRENTON TOWNSHIP
In Brenton Township, elected after running unopposed were Michael Weston as supervisor, Derek Hay as clerk, Phil Richardson as highway commissioner, and Jeff Riebe, Roger Wycoff, Jim Boomgarden and David Carpenter as trustees.
BUTTON TOWNSHIP
In Button Township, winning election after running unopposed were Shane Mullis as supervisor, Barbara Schweizer as clerk, Ron Hilligoss as highway commissioner, and Robert Hein, Aaron Bertan, Jeff Facer and Bryan Bushue as trustees.
DRUMMER TOWNSHIP
In Drummer Township, winning election after running unopposed were Scott Shull as supervisor, Lisa Gregerson as clerk, Bryan Shields as highway commissioner, and Bradley Fairfield, David Gregerson, Bruce Killian and Philip Tjardes as trustees.
LYMAN TOWNSHIP
In Lyman Township, unopposed in their bids for election were Mary Ager as supervisor, Theresa Rueck as clerk, Daniel Flessner as highway commissioner, and Robert Flessner, Larry Cole, Taylor Behrens and Joshua Veatch as trustees.
MONA TOWNSHIP
In Mona Township, winning election after running unopposed were Brandon Grubbs as supervisor, Diana Loschen as clerk, Brett Von Qualen as highway commissioner, and Stanley Dietz, Gary Loschen, Tom Saathoff and Devin Winterroth as trustees.
PEACH ORCHARD TOWNSHIP
In Peach Orchard Township, winning election after running unopposed were Paula Boundy as supervisor, Jeff Glascock as clerk, Larry Boundy as highway commissioner, and Darrell Dunahee, Randal Arends, Brian Nasenauer and Todd Lee as trustees.
PELLA TOWNSHIP
In Pella Township, victorious and unchallenged in their election bids were Pamela Hoogstraat as supervisor, John Livengood as clerk, Dennis Wahls as highway commissioner, and Jerry Drilling, Roger Read, Douglas Berry and Jason Stuckey as trustees.
ROGERS TOWNSHIP
In Rogers Township, elected in unopposed races were Mark McDermott as supervisor, Sarah Rosenboom as clerk, Leo Weber as highway commissioner, and David Rosenboom, Charles Deany, Mark Richie and Tony Moritz as trustees.
SULLIVANT TOWNSHIP
In Sullivant Township, winning election after running unopposed were Donald Tjarks as supervisor, Neva Rohrer as clerk, Randy Meyer as highway commissioner, and Kent Bielfeldt, Bernard Trantina and James Wurmnest as trustees.
WALL TOWNSHIP
In Wall Township, winning election after running unopposed were Tim Muehlenpfort as supervisor, James Kietzman as clerk, Steve Meenen as highway commissioner, and David Kaeding, Robert Zebarth, Kevin Bachman and William Bleich as trustees.
LUDLOW TOWNSHIP
In Ludlow Township, elected were James Quinlan as supervisor, Kenneth Modglin as clerk, Gregory Suits as highway commissioner and Lucas Rogers, Murray Clifton, Jerry Stalter and Steven Schluter as trustees. All were unopposed.
ARTESIA TOWNSHIP
In Artesia Township, Dan Schumacher won election as township supservisor, Gail Tobeck as township clerk, Keith Hartke as highway commissioner and David Dettmering, Eugene Forster, Jason Rust and Eric Steiner as township trustees. All were unopposed.
LODA TOWNSHIP
In Loda Township, Thomas Mueller won election as township supervisor, Tracy Rodriguez as township clerk, Jim Shearl as township assessor, Fletcher Sanders as highway commissioner and Martin Vance, Noel Jay Ross, Twila Johnson and Jerry Sanders as township trustees. All were unopposed.
DOUGLAS TOWNSHIP
In Douglas Township, Mathew Hall won election as township supervisor, Nina Hubert as township clerk, Richard Martin as township assessor, Cody Wilken as highway commissioner and Gerald Kreeb, Tom Bayston, David Hall and Max Redenius as township trustees. All were unopposed.
ONARGA TOWNSHIP
In Onarga Township, Nancy Meyer won election as township supervisor, Charles Fink as township clerk, Timothy Conn as highway commissioner, and Kent Ficklin, Ron Wagner, Mary Talbert and Royce Ballard as township trustees. Only Conn, who easily defeated challenger Jeffrey McGehee, faced opposition.
BUCKLEY FIRE DISTRICT
Lee Regnier won election, unopposed, to a term as a Buckley Fire Protection District trustee.
CISSNA PARK FIRE DISTRICT
Running unopposed, elected as Cissna Park Fire Protection District trustees were James Rogers for a full term and David Rust for a two-year term.
GILMAN FIRE DISTRICT
Joel Goldenstein won election, unopposed, to a term as a Gilman Fire Protection District trustee.
ONARGA FIRE DISTRICT
Martin Tilstra won election, unopposed, to a term as an Onarga Fire Protection District trustee.
LIBRARY TRUSTEES
For library trustee, winning election after running unopposed were Robert Bradbury, Tammi Weaver and Raymond Lantz III for the Piper City Public Library District; Alora Ford, Stephanie McPherson, Diane Dawson and Forrest Steinberg for the Melvin Public Library District; and Susan Walker and Sarah Lutterbie for the Moyer District Library; Ryan Rogers and Elaine Young for the Cissna Park Public Library District; Cindy Guttendorf, Judith Pree, Barbara Uehle and Janice Villwock for the Gilman-Danforth Library District; Kay Houtzel, Lindsey Alred, Susan Sawyer and Rebekah Sanders to the Loda Township Library District; and Diane Fink, Robert Zirkle Jr. and Greg Chandler to the Onarga Community Public Library District.
DOUGLAS TOWNSHIP PARK DISTRICT
Running unopposed, Daniel Martinek was elected to a four-year term as a park commissioner for the Douglas Township Park District.