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Wednesday, March 16, 2016
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
ELECTION 2016 | LEE COUNTY
Uncertainty, victory Klahn secures nomination for state’s attorney, but the news wasn’t as good for the Lee County Jail referendum
Photos by Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
Lee County Sheriff John Simonton talks to the crowd gathered at the Crystal Cork Tuesday evening. Of Tuesday’s failed vote to raise taxes for a new jail, Simonton said “We did what we could to educate the voters, but unfortunately, we didn’t get out to enough people.”
Sheriff: Without tax, jail could be closed BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
DIXON – Voters handily rejected a sales tax referendum on Tuesday’s primary election ballot that would have funded a new jail in Lee County.
The unofficial results showed 61.58 percent of the vote went against the referendum, and 38.42 percent of the voters supported the tax increase for a new jail. The referendum language called for a 1 percent sales tax increase to fund a new facility, estimated to cost between $12
million and $15 million. The Lee County Board, however, had passed a resolution stating its intention to reduce the tax by half if the referendum was approved. The board couldn’t pass a binding ordinance until the referendum was approved. COUNTY JAIL CONTINUED ON A9
Results Lee County Jail referendum Yes – 3,648 votes (38.42 percent) No – 5,848 votes (61.58 percent)
Klahn moves closer to top spot BY ANGEL SIERRA asierra@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5695 @_angelsierra
DIXON – Lee County Assistant State’s Attorney Matthew Klahn is one step closer to becoming the county’s next top prosecutor. In unofficial results Tuesday, Klahn, 37, captured 3,526 votes, or 60.5 percent. “I’m just extremely grateful for all of the people supporting me,” he said. “We don’t take anything for granted – you never stop earning it.” By winning the Republican Party nomination, Klahn is the sole candidate to replace current Lee County State’s Attorney Anna Sacco-Miller, 48, who decided in November not to run after one term. Bill Brozovich, 51, a Lee County resident and
Vermilion County prosecutor, and Michael Downey, 63, a Dixon attorney in private practice, received 900 votes (15.4 percent) and 1,403 votes (24.1 percent), respectively. “I called Matt and congratulated him,” Brozovich said. “All three candidates took the high road – it was positive campaign.” Downey was disappointed. “It is what it is,” he said. Both men wished Klahn well. The only obstacle to Klahn sliding through later this year would be an impromptu Democratic entry. “We are actively pursuing it,” said Kasey Considine, chairman of the Lee County Democrats, “[but] we’re not aware of any candidates.” The Democrats certainly would entertain the possibility, he said, but no one has stepped forward. KLAHN CONTINUED ON A9
CLEVELAND (AP) – Hillary Clinton triumphed Tuesday in the Illinois, Florida, Ohio and North Carolina presidential primaries, putting her in a commanding position to become the first woman in U.S. history to win a major party nomination. Donald Trump strengthened his hand in the Republican race with a big win in Flor-
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TODAY’S EDITION: 24 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 164 ISSUE 224
INDEX
ABBY ................... A8 BUSINESS ........... A7 COMICS ...............B6
Tuesday’s results. It takes 2,383 delegates to win the nomination. Trump also picked up wins in North Carolina and Illinois, and was locked in a close race with Cruz in Missouri. The billionaire businessman told a victory rally, “This was an amazing night.” Trump is the only Republican candidate with a realistic path to the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the nomination before the July convention.
CROSSWORD....B12 LIFESTYLE ........... A8 LOTTERY ............. A2
Voters shoot down idea to merge city and park district BY RACHEL RODGERS rrodgers@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5529 @rj_rodgers
DIXON – Voters put a halt to ideas of merging the park district with the city after rejecting the advisory referendum on Tuesday’s ballot. According to unofficial election results, 3,480 voters weighed in on whether the ownership, control and financial responsibility of the parks and recreation system should be transferred from the park district to the city. The referendum failed Ron with 1,950 Pritchard votes against and 1,530 votes in favor, or 56 percent to 44 percent. Mayor Li Arellano Jr. said even though the measure was nonbinding, Li he expected it Arellano Jr. to fail after the city received considerate push-back from the park district on the matter. “People talk about how many units of government there are in Illinois, and this is why; it’s something that is hard to change,” Arellano said. The referendum was introduced by city officials during their Dec. 7 meeting and made it onto the ballot with a vote of 3-to-2.
Matthew Klahn watches as election results are streamed to a projection screen Tuesday night at the Crystal Cork in Dixon.
Trump, Clinton gather delegates – and strength ida but fell in Ohio to that state’s governor, John Kasich. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio ended his once-promising campaign after his devastating home-state loss, so the GOP primary is now down to three candidates: Trump, Kasich and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Clinton narrowly defeated Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders on Tuesday to claim victory in the state where she was born. At stake are 182 delegates, most of which will be awarded proportionately based on
Dixon wasn’t ready for change
PARK DISTRICT CONTINUED ON A5
ELECTION 2016 | PRESIDENT
Kasich picks up home state, but Rubio loses his, drops out
ELECTION 2016 | DIXON PARK DISTRICT
PRESIDENT CONTINUED ON A2
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 POLICE ................ A2
M RE INSIDE BY THE NUMBERS – County-by-county, race-by-race vote totals for the Sauk Valley: A12 NO CONTEST – Winners in the uncontested races: A7 HOW WAS THE TURNOUT in the Sauk Valley? A5 KIRKS GETS HIS OPPONENT: U.S. Senate: A2 TEA PARTY CANDIDATE WILL CHALLENGE BUSTOS: 17th District: A3 OGLE COUNTY, clerk, recorder and county board: A9
Today’s weather High 57. Low 38. More on A3.
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