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Manar claims seat in Illinois General Assembly
Nancy Ribes strolls out of the polls yesterday afternoon in Benld.
Democrat Andy Manar of Bunker Hill claimed victory late last night over republican candidate Mike McElroy. Manar received 55.3% of the votes while McElroy claimed 47.3% of the votes, with 100% of the precincts recording.
The 48th Senate District race was the most expensive legislative contest in the state as the district is made up of large parts of the Springfield area. The Bunker Hill native has plenty of political experience to begin to tackle some of the financial problems in Springfield.
Manar started on the Bunker Hill city council in 1997 and then was elected mayor of Bunker Hill four years later in 2001. Under his leadership as mayor, Bunker Hill started construction of an 18-acre city park and began the largest sidewalk replacement project the city has ever seen.
In 2003, Andy left Bunker Hill to join the Macoupin County Board. One year later, he was elected Chairman of the board by the 27 member crew. In the same year, Illinois Senate President John Cullerton D-Chicago named Andy his Chief of Staff. Manar’s experience in the state government was bashed by McElroy in the senate race, as he linked Manar to ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich.
Manar and McElroy raised a total of more than $2.3 million since July 1, according to the state Board of Elections. In the last two weeks, the pair raised over $406,000 and spent another $200,000 for advertising and mailings. Amounts include only contributions of $1,000 or more, so the actual figure could be much larger than that.
Manar’s biggest campaign contributer was the Illinois Senate Democratic Victory Fund controlled by Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago. It gave $99,990 to Manar as the campaign entered its final days. Other large contributions came from the American Federation of State, the County and Municipal Employees who donated $25,000 and the Laborer’s unions who gave $19,000 since October 22.
Andy took the lead in the polls early, but McElroy remained within 4 percentage points as the results from the precincts came rolling in. With over half of the precincts reporting early last night, Manar controlled 51.3% of the votes, while McElroy took 48.7%. As the results continued to be accessible, Manar was in control 51.4% to McElroy’s 48.6% when nearly three-fourths of the precincts reporting.
When many people hit the sack last night, Manar was ahead 53.5% to 46.5% with 94% precincts reporting. As the Manar crew celebrated at D.H. Brown’s in Springfield last night with their newly elected Senator, Associated Press updated the results with 100% precincts reporting early this morning. The final count was Manar (D): 47,231 to McElroy’s (R): 38,183. Manar edged out the victory by nearly a thirteen point margin: 56.3% to McElroy’s 43.7%.
The newly elected senator was endorsed by countless individuals and organizations including the Illinois Federation of Teachers, the Illinois AFL-CIO, and the State Journal Register who said Manar’s experience and knowledge of the state budget and legislature makes him “an exceptional candidate and the best qualified one in this race.”
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Another major winter storm is forecasted to blanket the BenGil area in heavy rains, flooding and snowfall starting Wednesday night through Thursday.
The mixture of precipitation and rapidly changing weather likely will produce the potential for sudden icing on roads, with high winds leading to blowing snow and reduced visibility.
“The Illinois Department of Transportation’s snow-and-ice teams will be prepared and out in force, but the public needs to be ready for conditions to change quickly and worsen if they are out on the roads,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “As always during periods of extreme weather, the safest option is to postpone any unnecessary trips and stay home. If you must travel, prepare for very slow and potentially hazardous conditions. And please slow down around our plows and other emergency vehicles, giving them plenty of room to do their jobs.”
The National Weather Service is predicting a wintry mix of precipitation to start with thunderstorms and heavy rain in much of the state this evening, converting to freezing rain overnight before turning to snow Thursday morning. In addition to localized flooding, ice and sleet accumulations are likely, creating extremely slippery surfaces and slick conditions.
Due to the rainy conditions ahead of temperatures falling overnight, the effectiveness of pretreating and salting surfaces in advance of significant snowfall will be limited. The public should anticipate icy conditions even when roads appear clear and greatly reduce speeds.
“As the Illinois State Police plans to take on the unpredictable Illinois weather, we would like to remind motorists to do their part in keeping the roads a safe place,” said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly. “ISP, alongside IDOT and other agencies, will be working in hazardous weather conditions. Please remember to slow down, stay vigilant and move over for ANY vehicle on the side of the road.”
Statewide, IDOT has available more than 1,800 trucks and equipment to plow, treat roads and respond to weather emergencies. If you encounter a plow or any maintenance vehicle during your travels, please slow down, increase your following distance and remain patient. Do not attempt to pass – conditions in front of the plow will be worse than behind it.
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Police are investigating the death of a Bunker Hill woman who was found dead at the end of her driveway near the roadway on Monday morning, January 31.
Nancy Blycker, 91, had multiple injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. The Macoupin County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call to the 2900 block of Wood Hill Lane around 7:40 a.m. on Monday.
The initial suspicion was homicide, according to a release by the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis who said approximately 20 investigators were working the investigation, but the autopsy contradicted that suspicion.
The Major Case Squad said on Tuesday it is “highly unlikely” Blycker’s death was the “result of homicidal means.”
The Major Case Squad turned the case back over to the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department. The official cause of death is pending further lab analysis.
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The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the BenGil area, southwestern Illinois, and the St. Louis area.
The warning was issued early Tuesday taking effect at midnight tonight until noon on Thursday, February 3 calling for a “wet, heavy” snow. The forecast also calls for ice prompting a warning about possible power outages.
“All indications continue to point to a disruptive, impactful, and dangerous winter storm impacting the region starting late tonight and lasting through Thursday night,” the National Weather Service said in its Area Forecast Discussion.
The BenGil area is expected to receive heavy mixed precipitation including snow accumulations between 6 and 10 inches, sleet accumulations around three-quarters of an inch, and ice accumulations around two-tenths of an inch. Wind gusts will be as high as 35 mph on Thursday.
The storm is expected to start with rain most of the day today before transitioning into a mixture of freezing rain and/or sleet Tuesday night, then all snow Wednesday morning or as late as Wednesday afternoon continuing until about noon on Thursday.
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