Nov. 5—DIXON — Voters in Lee, Whiteside and Ogle counties cast ballots Tuesday in county, state and federal congressional races, in some cases answering referendum questions.
What you need to know about election day, results
The polls closed on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Mail-in ballots take two weeks to arrive, provided they are postmarked by Election Day. Provisional ballots could also be processed and counted in the coming weeks. The election results will only be finalized two weeks after election day.
It’s important to remember that race results likely won’t be known on election night because counting will continue through the night and, for larger races, including the presidential race, likely days later.
Readers should visit Shaw Local’s Election Central webpage Tuesday evening and in the following days for the most up-to-date election information from the Sauk Valley. The results are kept on our website.
Voting measures we’re looking at
In Lee County, voters will decide whether the merger of the Amboy and Harmon fire departments will become permanent.
The Amboy Fire Department on Jan. 14 expanded its coverage into the Harmon Fire Department’s jurisdiction at least through Dec. 31. The consolidation added 60 square miles to Amboy’s existing 298-square-mile district and serves an additional population of 600 residents in Harmon. An estimated 120 square miles of the Amboy Fire District is supported by taxes. The communities in the remaining 178 must contract for emergency services. Before the consolidation agreement, the Harmon Fire Department was funded through annual subscriptions, said Amboy Fire Department Capt. Nathan Shaw.
[ Question of whether to permanently merge Amboy, Harmon fire departments on Nov. 5 ballot ]
Fire protection districts are independent government units that can serve multiple municipalities and collect their own tax revenue. Fire departments can be funded from multiple sources, including shared tax revenues, grants, reimbursements, donations and memberships. They can also work with neighboring fire departments to consolidate resources and offset costs. The ballot question asks whether the Harmon fire district should be added to the Amboy fire district.
Voters in Whiteside County will decide whether to approve a new 0.5% public safety tax to fund emergency services or leave it up to the city council to figure out how to pay their share of the bill.
Whiteside County’s dispatch services cost $1.8 million annually. County officials have said there is a shortfall of about $500,000 annually. Aside from the radio surcharges, the county and the cities of Sterling and Rock Falls pay for 911 services. Last year, Sterling paid $392,465 and Rock Falls $294,348, totaling $686,813, as part of their agreements.
[ 5 things to know: Whiteside County voters to decide proposed public safety sales tax Nov. 5. What is it? ]
Without the tax, smaller communities in the county — including Morrison, Fulton, Erie, Albany, Lyndon, Tampico, Prophetstown, Coleta, Deer Grove and Fenton — will have to start contributing to make up the shortfall.
If voters approve the measure, the new sales tax would add an additional 50 cents for every $100 Whiteside County shoppers spend on general merchandise. The tax would not apply to groceries or items that are required to be titled or registered by a government agency, including personal watercraft, aircraft, trailers, mobile homes, eligible medications (including over-the-counter medications and vitamins), and medical equipment.
Races we watch
Congressional races
16th Congressional District
* Republican incumbent Darin LaHood
* Scott Summers, independent write-in candidate
17th Congressional District
* Eric Sorensen, incumbent Democrat
* Judge Joe McGraw, Republican
Illinois General Assembly
74th House District
* Bradley J. Fritts, Republican incumbent
* David Simpson, Democrat
Races Across the Country: Whiteside County Board
District 1 (Vote for four)
* Chanda McDonnell, Democrat
*Thomas L. Ausman, Democrat
* Owen Harrell, Democrat
*Fidencio Hooper-Campos, Democrat
* Michael J Clark, Republican
* Sally Douglas, Republican
* Skip Dettman, Republican
* Terry Woodard, Republican
District 2 (Vote for four)
* Karen Nelson, Democrat
*Katherine A. Nelson, Democrat
* Rita Kelly, Democrat
* Brooke E. Pearson, Republican
* Barry L. Cox, Republican
* Daniel (Sam) Wancket, Republican
* Matt Ward, Republican
District 3, four-year term (vote for five)
*Daniel L. Bitler, Democrat
* Michelle M. Vinson, Democrat
* Martin Koster, Republican
* Mark Hamilton, Republican
*Douglas Crandall, Republican
* Rachel Crandall, Republican
*Thomas Alex Williams, Republican
