SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – There will be several contested primaries and a new candidate in March for seats in the Illinois Legislature representing parts of Central Illinois, now that the candidate filing period has officially begun.
Republican and Woodford County Chief Sheriffs Deputy Dennis Tipsword has filed to run for another term in the House representing the 105th District. Tipsword would face, so far, Donald Rients of Benson in the primary, whom he handily defeated last year.
There is a Democratic candidate – Morgan Phillips of Lostant, in LaSalle County – so far unopposed. Phillips is a muralist and has contributed to area art projects, and has managed at least one political campaign in the past.
Among those to officially announce his candidacy for Win Stoller’s seat representing the 37th District is Henry County Board member Tim Yager of Geneseo.
Yager – whose campaign claims to have collected double the number of required signatures – is a local farmer who started a wireless company that eventually was bought out by Sprint. He says he wants to look at ways to improve the local economy, and that he’s tired of friends leaving the state because of “woke policies and high taxes.”
Dixon residents Chris Bishop and Li Arellano, Jr., have also announced runs for the seat, and will be a part of a lottery to determine ballot placement. Bishop is on that community’s City Council, while Arellano is the city’s former mayor.
The 53rd District State Senate District also has a contested primary – featuring, as of Wednesday, Jesse Faber, Chris Balkema, and Susan Wynn Bence. Washington Mayor Gary Manier, and Mike Kirkton, have yet to officially file.
A number of other local and area races are so far uncontested. The filing deadline is 5 p.m. December 4.
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