GOP County Races Liven

From the NG: Tom Kacich: County clerk race gets more interesting

Last week's announcement by Jon Rector that he would challenge Matt Grandone in the Republican race for Champaign County clerk next spring surprised some people because it had been assumed Grandone had a clear path to the nomination. He announced before Labor Day, and Rector waited about eight weeks — until about a month before the candidate filing period begins — to enter the race.

"This isn't a game of dibs," said Mark Shelden, the Republican county recorder, former county clerk and chairman of Rector's campaign. "This is about what's best for the county clerk's office."

Shelden had been searching for someone to run against Grandone, but said it was nothing personal nor was it a sign that he was challenging Gordy Hulten, the current county clerk who is backing Grandone to be his successor. Hulten is running to become the county's first elected county executive, and so far he is the only Republican contender.

So that would be Rector, a County Board member of District 5, challenging Matt Grandone, the county clerk employee running for County Clerk with the backing of the current County Clerk, Gordy Hulton (who is running for the County Executive spot). Rector is being backed by former County Clerk, and current County Recorder, Mark Sheldon who you might recognize as a familiar name if you're even remotely involved in local politics.

Now... on a cheat sheet that's supposed to make it easy to click and get info on those politics. I'm going to have to add a page or two and work on an election 2018 page for quick clicks and easy info to untangle these snakes. To do list for the week filling up...