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LOCAL HAPPENINGS, A9-11
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PREP FOOTBALL, B1
dailyGAZETTE
Thursday, November 6, 2014
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
ELECTION 2014 ANALYSIS | STATE SENATE 36TH DISTRICT RACE
Was Jacobs loss a shocker? Multiple factors create perfect storm, upset BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
The Jacobs era in Illinois politics appears to have come to a close after relative newcomer Neil Anderson’s stunning upset of state Sen. Mike Jacobs in the 36th District in Tuesday’s general election. Jacobs, D-East Moline, has had that legislative seat since 2005, when he was appointed to succeed his father, Denny Jacobs. Denny was in Springfield for 18 years, after 14 years as East Moline mayor. Denny’s father, Oral ‘Jake’ Jacobs, was an East Moline alderman and Rock Island County Board member before serving in the state House. Several other relatives have left their stamps on the local and state political scenes, including a great-uncle who was Illinois secretary of state after a stint in the state legislature. Cutting through that rich tradition would
ELECTION 2014 GOVERNOR’S RACE
seem to be a tall task, yet a 32-year-old firefighter with little political experience pulled it off handily, grabbing 54 percent of the vote. Jacobs only took 45 percent of the vote in his family’s backyard – Rock Island County. Anderson’s first taste of Neil campaigning came 2 years Anderson ago when he was beaten decisively by Milan Democrat Patrick Verschoore in the District 72 House race. Verschoore has held that seat since 2003, and took 64 percent of the vote in 2012. So how did Anderson bounce back from a shellacking in his debut to close the Jacobs chapter in northwest Illinois politics? SHOCKER CONTINUED ON A4
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Sen. Mike Jacobs greets people at the Whiteside County Senior Center in Sterling on Monday during last-second stumping for the 36th District seat, which he lost to Republican Neil Anderson on Tuesday night.
ELECTION 2014 71ST DISTRICT STATE SENATE
POWERING TOWARD GETTING NELSON PLANT ONLINE
Quinn concedes his seat
Wozniak concedes, despite close tally
Rauner thanks him for service in a statement CHICAGO (AP) – Democratic incumbent Pat Quinn has conceded to Republican businessman Bruce Rauner in the Illinois governor’s race. With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Rauner had a nearly 5 percentage point lead over Quinn. Rauner declared victory on election night, but Quinn said he’d wait for all votes to be counted. Quinn’s campaigned noted outstanding ballots in Chicago and suburban Cook County. Rauner carried every corner of the state except heavily Democratic Cook County. On Wednesday, Quinn’s tone changed. “It’s clear we don’t have enough votes to win,” he said during a news conference in Chicago, adding that it was important to respect the voters who waited in line – sometimes for hours – to cast their ballots. He did not take questions. Rauner put out a statement thanking Quinn for his service to the state and commitment to making it a smooth transition.
Smiddy retains seat by 281-vote margin BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525
Smooth transition? Bruce Rauner now must balance a budget without revenue from a tax increase he opposed, and work in tandem with the Democratic majority he bashed during his campaign. Read more on A3.
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TODAY’S EDITION: 28 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 160 ISSUE 235
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Work continues Wednesday afternoon on the Invenergy power plant in Nelson. Contractors hope to have the plant online in the first quarter of 2015. Largely abandoned since 2003, the property was bought in 2006 by Invenergy, which planned to convert part of it for ethanol production. That plan, however, was scrapped.
STERLING – Republican challenger Jim Wozniak conceded Tuesday to District 71 State Rep. Mike Smiddy, despite trailing the incumbent by only 281 votes after all votes were counted. “Today, I called [Smiddy] to congratulate him on his victory and officially concede the race for the 71st House District,” Wozniak Republican said in an email Jim Wozniak statement. “The race was very tight, and after the Rock Island County Clerk’s office experienced issues in fully reporting the results late last night, I State Rep. wanted to make Mike Smiddy sure of the outcome.” Less than 1 percent of the total votes separated Smiddy and Wozniak. The tally was 17,499 to 17,218. It was a second defeat in two consecutive elections for Wozniak. He also ran for Rock Island County state’s attorney in 2012, losing to John McGehee. WOZNIAK CONTINUED ON A2
INDEX
ABBY ................... A8 BUSINESS ........... A7 COMICS ...............B8
CROSSWORD....B13 LIFESTYLE ........... A8 LOTTERY ............. A2
NATION/WORLD .. A7 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6
Today’s weather High 47. Low 24. More on A3.
Anniversary
Festival of Trees turns 25, A12-14.
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