Election season is underway in Wayne County as candidates officially began returning petitions for the upcoming spring elections. According to County Clerk and Recorder LizAnn Woodrow, who will be retiring at the end of her term, petition filing runs from October 27th through November 3rd.
Three candidates—Shari Winter, Ryan Best, and Tom Windland—have filed for a two-year unexpired term as Coroner, making it one of the more closely watched races.
Sheriff Chris Otey is seeking re-election but will face a challenge from JB Fletcher, whose wife, Georgiana Fletcher, currently serves as Circuit Clerk.
The County Clerk and Recorder’s office will see a new face, as Doug Atkinson and Billie Jo Townsend have both filed for the position following Woodrow’s decision to retire.
For other county offices, Matt Vaughn has filed for the judge’s seat, and Kyle Ellis has filed to run for States Attorney. The County Assessor position remains vacant after Jodi Poole, the current assessor, moved away from the area. As of now, no one has filed for that office.
Illinois’ spring election day is set for March 17, 2026.
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