LAWRENCE CO. – A bad case of apathy has unfortunately settled on Lawrence County over the past couple of years, and that reflects on this election season’s ballots in the county’s cities, villages, townships and other boards and councils.
Lawrenceville
No one is challenging anyone in the city of Lawrenceville for any office.
But at least there are people running for office.
Mayor Don Wagner, who has held the office for the past four years after the dismal eight that 
former mayor and now-felon Brian Straub inflicted on the town, will once against be seated as mayor, facing no opposition to the office.
City clerk James Rodney Nolan will retain the position of city clerk.
Tommy Vaught will be the city’s treasurer.
In the various Wards 1 through 4, the aldermen will be, in order, Wendell Stevens, Ron Waldrop, David Courtney, Janice Holcomb and Leslie Ann Howder.
Bridgeport
The city of Bridgeport, by contrast, has a three-way ballot for mayor, with the outgoing mayor, Brad Purcell, not running.
Instead, there are a new batch, and not a bad one at that.
Michael Crask, who had served a number of years on the Bridgeport city council, is hoping to make a return – as mayor. Crask was one whose adherence to the law in past years (namely, 2012) was in large part responsible for calling attention to the little idiotic mistakes former mayor/now federal convict Max Schauf was making, which mistakes (like holding meetings on holidays, thus nullifying decisions made at the meetings…which included issuing a liquor license…which is what ultimately drew Schauf to the attention of the feds) were Schauf’s undoing.
Joining Crask on the ballot is Jason Thacker, who ran against Schauf in 2005, and whose wife, Lori, was city clerk for awhile (during Schauf’s first term and both of whom were definitely against the pathetic way Schauf was running the town.
Then there’s Lawrence County board member Bill Gray, who has also run for mayor in the past and was defeated.
As if to underscore the whole thing, Lori Thacker is back on the ballot, to reprise her role as city clerk. Challenging her is Jessica Zellars.
For treasurer, the two-way is between Bonnie Griffin and Tammy Tate.
Running unopposed in the Wards are: Michael Dawson for a 4-year term in Ward 1; former county deputy Hal Pargin for a 2-year unexpired term in Ward 1; Ldora “Button” Laughlin, for a 4-year term in Ward 2; and Tyler Griffin for a 4-year term in Ward 2.
Sumner
There’s also a mayoral contest in the city of Sumner.
Mayor Gary Hutchinson is being challenged by former mayor Betty Brian. There’s not been much griping out of Sumner since Hutchinson took office four years ago; however, there was a LOT of griping when Brian was in office, so it’s anticipated that Sumner residents will vote carefully.
Blanche Piper is the only candidate for city clerk; there is no candidate for city treasurer, so that position will have to be appointed by the new council.
In the various Wards, Brent Perrott will retain his seat in Ward 1; Dennis Kimmel will be seated in Ward 2; and Jed Brian will be seated in Ward 3; each of those are 4-year terms.
St. Francisville
The office of mayor isn’t challenged in the city of St. Francisville: Only Anthony Moyes Jr (known as TJ) will be named to that office.
Perennial city clerk Terri Wease will be city clerk for the nth term (Wease has been clerk since before Disclosure was in existence, and likely knows where ALL the skeletons are hidden there.)
Jeffrey J. Tussy is alone on the ballot for treasurer as is Jamie Tussey for alderman in Ward 1.
There appears to be a couple of challenges in the other wards, though: David Deckard in Ward 2 appears to have a challenge in the form of Lee J. Campbell as a write-in (the ballots themselves weren’t available when Disclosure picked up election paperwork, just a candidate’s list, so the word “appears” is used judiciously here.)
And then the other contest in St. F is for Ward 3 alderman, which is a face-off between incumbent Carolyn Hoh and challenger Carla Moyes.
Russellville
There’s a full slate for the village of Russellville; just…no challenges.
Heather Blasingame will be mayor; Julie Harrington, cler.
Three will be seated as aldermen: Betty Shultz, John Pierson and Stephen Auteberry.
Townships
Allison Township has the full slate/no challenges situation: Keith Kocher will be supervisor, Brenda Weiler will be clerk; and Darryl Robinson will be road commissioner.
There are four trustees positions open, and four running: Roseann M. Cogdill, Anne Horrall, Bill Kocher and Bonnie Kocher.
And there is a multi-township assessor position open for Allison-Denison, but no candidates.
In Bond Township, Patty Wesley will be supervisor; Billie Taylor, clerk.
There is a challenge for road commissioner: Eric Shroyer and Jeff Mumaw are on the ticket for that office.
Four seats on the board of trustees in Bond are being sought by seven candidates: Byrl Taylor, Wilma Shroyer, Ashley Medlen, Brad Blomgren, Keeley L. Meek, Russell Morris and David Miller.
There’s only one candidate for the multi-township assessor that covers Petty-Bond-Russell, and that’s Virgil L. Potts.
Bridgeport Township will have the perpetually-disagreeable Gary A. Huber as their township supervisor with apparently no one else daring to go up against the guy.
Lisa A. Lemeron will be township clerk.
Stevan J. Moore will be road commissioner.
Four will be seated as township trustee, but there are five running. The candidates are Dee Jennings, Justin Sherer, Jeff Lynn, Donald Heath and William W. Gray Jr.
There is no candidate for the office of Bridgeport Township assessor.
In Christy Township, Karen Ulrich will be supervisor, with Jenny L. Roark as clerk, since they have no challengers.
However, there’s a three-way race for road commissioner: Lee W. Bridwell, Michael Brian and Charles Roark are seeking that office.
And the interest is high for Christy Township trustee; there are four seats available, and seven candidates: Dave Ulrich, Deon Ulrich, Donald Bridwell Jr., Tony R. Clark, Thomas Wehrheim, Ryan K. Roark and Stephanie Roark.
There are no candidates for the multi-township assessor position covering Christy-Lukin.
Denison Township will see Charles Burns as supervisor, Daniell Padgett as clerk, and Ryan Red Moyes as road commissioner.
Six candidates seek the four seats on the board of trustees: Michael Floyd, Dora Glenn, AJ Mushrush, Sue Tillotson, John R. Clark and Tim York.
There are no candidates for multi-township assessor for Allison-Denison.
Surprisingly, there are no challengers for most of the offices in Lawrence Township. The board of trustees will have a one-out, as there are four seats and five candidates, the closest thing to a challenge in the township: Jeff Grove, Terry Goff, Debbie Shoulders, Traci Ladson and Doug York will battle for the votes for a seat on the board.
Otherwise, Jenny Shick Chapman will be supervisor; Greg Lewis, clerk; Bill Shick, road commissioner.
There is one candidate for township assessor, and that’s Chris Winkles.
In Lukin Township, there are no challenges at all: Diana Floyd will be supervisor; Dinah Jackman, clerk; and Larry Jackman, road commissioner.
Jay Dee White, Jeff Correll, Robert Ulrich, and Chris Jackman will be seated as township trustees.
There are no candidates for multi-township assessor in Lukin-Christy.
Of course, Jess Angle has to turn up somewhere in order to justify his existence, and that’s in 
Petty Township, where he’s the only candidate running for township supervisor. Tammy Judy will be clerk, and Bryan K. Angle, road commissioner.
Four township trustee seats are available, and four are running: Reid L. Thacker, Shane Thacker, Jim D. Rosborough and Aaron Ferguson.
In Russell Township, Gary Decker will be supervisor and Marjorie Painter will be clerk, both running unopposed.
However, there’s a face-off for road commissioner, between Mike Pinkstaff and Kevin Meek.
There is a full slate for the board of trustees, with four of four – Jacob Benson, Alexandra Woods, Sue Gerhart and Alan Thompson – on the ballot.
Schools, parks, library
Red Hill Community Unit School District (CUSD) 10 has three running for 4-year terms to the board of education: Bob Christy, Dixie Purcell and John Phipps. Cathy ray is a write-in candidate; there is a 2-year unexpired term that has no candidate.
At CUSD 20, there’s a challenge in District 3, where one will be selected for a 4-year term between Kenneth A. Waller Jr. and Haley Hoke. Ron Walrop will be seated in District 5 to a 2-year unexpired term as he’s on the ballot alone; as is Andy Shick in Dist. 6 and Shane Gray in Dist. 7, both 4-year terms.
In the overlap with adjoining counties, on the Wabash side, some voters will select Allendale school board members, which are Beth Etzkorn, Mike Wilson, Richard Gochenour and Tia Morgan.
In the overlap with Richland, those voters will see Alex Cline, Timothy Musser, Leon Redman, Cynthia Lockly and Steve Marrs on their ballots.
The Regional Board of School Trustees from Clay, Crawford, Jasper, Lawrence and Richland County have Travis Farley and Sheila Mikeworth on the ballot out of Jasper and Crawford, respectively; Marilyn Holt from Richland; and Julia Laroche-New from Lawrence.
For the Regional Board of School Trustees involving Edwards, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Pope, Saline, Wabash, Wayne and White counties, some Lawrence voters will see this on their ballots due to Lawrence’s proximity to Wabash, so they will be voting on Larry E. Peterson, Les Oyler, John Metcalf, Fred Blessing, Tim Scates, Patrick Abell and Suzanne Dutton.
Lawrence, while not hosting any Illinois Eastern Community Colleges (what eventually became Lincoln Trail in Robinson was initially attempting to site in Lawrenceville, but at the time, Lawrenceville wouldn’t have it), is still in the taxing district; so Lawrence will have 6-year term trustees Brenda Culver and Gary Carter on their ballot, and unexpired 4-year term Jan Ridgley as well.
And finally, for Lawrence Township Park District commissioner, there are two candidates seeking a 6-year term available: Patrick Halter and Robert Johnson.
There is no candidate for a 6-year term on Lanterman Park District’s board in Bridgeport.
And on the Lawrence Public library board, trustee candidates will be seated, four for four (one a write-in): Deanna M. Ratts Boyd, Janet Faro and James Michael Neal are on the ballot, and Julie Mieure is the write-in.