Tuesday, June 18, 2013
 
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Candidates for Illinois Commodity Board elections announced

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[June 18, 2013]  SPRINGFIELD -- On Monday, the Illinois Department of Agriculture announced the candidates for three state commodity boards.

Producers will vote July 2 to select members of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, the Illinois Soybean Program Operating Board, and the Sheep and Wool Marketing Board.

"Commodity boards decide which industry promotions and research projects get funded with state checkoff dollars," said Agriculture Director Bob Flider. "I encourage producers who'd like a voice in these important decisions to go to the polls and cast a ballot."

Checkoff dollars come from assessments levied at the first point of sale. State law sets the assessment for corn at five-eighths of 1 cent per bushel, the assessment for soybeans at one-half of 1 percent of market value, and the assessment for sheep and wool at 2.5 cents per pound.

Anyone who produces and markets the commodity that a particular board represents is eligible to vote. Ballots may be cast at county Cooperative Extension offices during regular operating hours.

Producers who cannot make it to the polls on July 2 are eligible to vote absentee. Absentee ballots can be obtained from the Illinois Department of Agriculture and must be returned to the department no later than June 27.

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Write-in candidates are permitted for all three boards. However, those running as write-ins for the corn and soybean boards must file a "Declaration of Intent" with the director of agriculture by 5 p.m. June 25 to be eligible for election. The form is available by contacting the department.

Election results will be announced by Aug. 1. Winners will receive three-year terms.

Lists of commodity districts holding elections this year, the counties they include, and the names and hometowns of the candidates are below.

Boards:  Corn  |  Soybeans  |  Sheep and Wool

[Text from Illinois Department of Agriculture file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]


Illinois Corn Marketing Board

District

Counties represented

Candidates

3

Henderson, Henry, Knox, Mercer, Rock Island, Warren

Thomas Mueller, Taylor Ridge

6

Champaign, Ford, Iroquois, Vermilion

Dirk Rice, Philo
(write-in candidate)

9

Adams, Brown, Hancock, McDonough, Pike, Schuyler

David Niekamp, Coatsburg
(write-in candidate) and
Dan Cole, Plainville
(write-in candidate)

12

Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Jasper

Roger Sy, Newman

15

Alexander, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Union, Williamson

James Raben, Shawneetown


Illinois Soybean Program Operating Board

District

Counties represented

Candidates

3

Henderson, Henry, Mercer, Rock Island, Stark, Warren, Whiteside

John Longley, Aledo

4

Bureau, Grundy, Kendall, LaSalle

Sharon Covert, Tiskilwa
(write-in candidate)

6

Livingston, McLean, Woodford

Robert Shaffer, El Paso

8

Adams, Brown, Hancock, McDonough, Schuyler

Dale Asher, Sutter

15

Clinton, Madison, Monroe, St. Clair

Daryl Cates, Columbia

18

Alexander, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union, Williamson

Bill Raben, Ridgway


Illinois Sheep and Wool Marketing Board

District

Counties represented

Candidates

3

Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Knox, McDonough, Mercer, Rock Island, Warren

Larry Bartlett, Prairie City
(write-in candidate)

6

Christian, DeWitt, Logan, Macon, Mason, McLean, Menard, Montgomery, Moultrie, Sangamon, Shelby

Ray Mohr, Danvers
(write-in candidate)

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