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So far, Adams County voters will have choices for sheriff, judge, regional superintendent of schools and, now, county clerk/recorder in November.

I firmly believe most voters want to pull the curtain and have a choice. Of course, political party diehards want who they want and that is their wont.

The newly-elected Democratic Central Committee Chairman for Adams County, Nick Peters, said he will work to fill the other vacancies as well, with finding a treasurer candidate to face Republican Terry Asher to be at the top of his list. County Treasurer Jean Reddington, a Republican, is retiring after two terms.

We are poised for some intriguing matchups this fall, but the race for county clerk/recorder has all sorts of crossover implications that have already emerged.

Former County Board member Jay Schaefer asked to be placed on the ballot at Wednesday night's Republican Central Committee meeting. He was placed on the ballot, but it was not unanimous as some Republican members of the County Board (many of whom served on the board with Schaefer) and county employees who also serve as precinct committemen either voted 'present' or opposed Schaefer's nomination.

Newly-elected Adams County Republican Central Committee Chairman Randy Frese, who is the county's circuit clerk in his day job, discussed the need to fill the empty slots on the ballot before the vote was taken. Frese voted to put Schaefer on the ballot as did the retiring chairman, Larry Ehmen.

But a few Republicans decided not to toe the party line. After the vote, Schaefer made an impassioned plea to leave the room as Republicans and he once again asked for the support of the party leaders in the room.

Volm said "it's a free country" when told of Schaefer's bid. When called for a reaction to Schaefer's nomination immediately following the GOP meeting, Volm said she had already been told of the vote totals.

"If an individual wants to step up and try to make a difference, I'm all for that," she said. "But I think I've made a difference and I've made the County Clerk's office better for the taxpayers."

Volm also said she believes she has made the office more efficient during her nearly eight years in office.

Volm's initial bid for the office was an even later entry than Schaefer's. She was the Democrats' pick to replace George Scharge III after he pulled out of a re-election bid in the July 2002 during an investigation into his conduct in the office. Schrage pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft in 2003 for using county funds for personal reasons.

Volm defeated Republican Loren Wallace in November 2002 and did not have a general election opponent in 2006 following a primary challenge by City of Quincy employee Eric Carper where Volm won by a slim 238 votes. Many Republicans publicly supported her in 2006, hence no opposition in November.

So how many of the 1,764 people who voted for Carper in the 2002 Democratic primary will support Schaefer? Randy Reis, Democratic County Board member, former chairman and current vice-chairman supported Carper as did his brother, Richie, another County Board member who is now listed as an independent following a paperwork snafu in his last re-election bid for the County Board. They are also fellow city employees of Schaefer's.

If Volm has mended party fences and still has support among select Republican County Board members, she should be a heavy favorite to win re-election as she has proven to be a tireless campaigner.

But if Schaefer finds Democrats who still oppose her and Republicans who are ready for a change in what is expected to be a rough November for Democrats, it is certainly possible for him to pull off an upset. 

Blog Buster
Posts: 1

Say what
Reply #4 on : Fri March 05, 2010, 10:50:01

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I don't know Jay, but I am glad we let everyone have a choice. My hope would be evey election, every year that we have a chance for change if its needed.

monitoring
Posts: 1

Re:The same old story
Reply #3 on : Thu March 04, 2010, 20:23:51

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Once again the "good old boys" will run someone against her. I ask this time"are you going to threaten city jobs if they don't vote your way?"
That kind of politics is on the way out, and I say to that, "ABOUT TIME." We can probably expect the same old smear campaign that didn't work last
time. People are paying attention this time. So, I say to you that are trying this again. "WE'RE WATCHING THIS TIME!" This has nothing to do with Mr Schafer, but all to do with certain people of her own party who want the old days back.

JDH
Posts: 1

Georgia
Reply #2 on : Thu March 04, 2010, 19:52:31

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is as Republican as a Democrat can get.She does differently what the dems want,that's why they ran Carper.They wanted a good 'ol boy to do their bidding.Ain't gonna happen.I will vote for Jay, and she will be the sacrificial lamb on the altar of Democrat sycophants and cronies.

daffyduck
Posts: 6

volm
Reply #1 on : Thu March 04, 2010, 16:33:48

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she has done a VERY good job she is a winner! sorry jay and the reises it will be a nice try! your days are numbered!loyalty !something you guys have never figured out!duuuugh!

Last Edit: March 04, 2010, 17:36:05 by bgough  

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