Farmers Weekly Review

By Nick Reiher
Four years ago, Democratic candidates for countywide offices cruised to victories on the heels of a nationwide push during the midterm elections.

But that was when a Republican was president, and midterms often offer the opposing party a chance to push back.
In the November 8 General Election, the tables were turned, with Republicans ready to score a “red wave.” Although the wave wasn’t as robust as Republicans were hoping – with Democrats retaining statewide offices – local Democrats felt the effect in their races.

While incumbent County Clerk Lauren Staley-Ferry was able to hold off Republican challenger Gretchen Fritz, Regional Superintendent of Schools Shawn Walsh lost to Republican challenger Elizabeth Caparelli-Ruff.

Too close to call at this point were the races for county Treasurer, where incumbent Democrat Tim Brophy was down by just under 500 votes to Republican Raj Pillai, and incumbent Sheriff Mike Kelley was down to Republican Jim Reilly by just under 300 votes.

The results become official following the canvass on November 29. If margins still are close, there could be requests for full or partial recounts.

Kelley is no stranger to close races. In his first election for sheriff eight years ago, Kelley outlasted the late Ken Kaupas by a .002 margin once provisional and absentee ballots were counted.

Other than being on the wrong end of the national midterm movement this year, Illinois Democrats faced another controversy some say affected races throughout the state: the controversial SAFE-T Act.

While most of the SAFE-T Act has been amended to reflect concerns by law enforcement and other group, the no cash bail provision was a divisive issue statewide prior to the November 8 General Election.

Republican candidates made the current no cash bail provision a major part of their campaigns, saying Democrats are showing they are soft on crime.

But local law enforcement and legal officials – regardless of party affiliation — also warn of potentially dire consequences in the existing language.

While the no cash bail provision still allows major crimes to be considered detainable through the arrest and trial process, Chief Judge Daniel Kennedy, State’s Attorney Jim Glasgow and Kelley told the board’s Legislative and Judicial Committee on September 13 the burden of proof to detain suspects for crimes such as second-degree murder, arson, intimidation, kidnapping and many drug-related offenses would become much more difficult.

There also is disagreement throughout the state as to whether those already jailed for non-detainable offenses would have to be released if the act were enforced on January 1.

Glasgow and other state’s attorneys have filed suit with the state, saying the no-cash bail provision is unconstitutional. That is set for hearing in Kankakee County in December.

Meanwhile, government officials have said they expect to have the no-cash bail provision “fixed” during the veto session this week. If not, there is some talk of extending the deadline beyond Jan. 1, 2023.