Latest / Illinois Valley - Shaw Local / Ebner reelected as La Salle County clerk as unofficial tallies roll in

Transcript

Ebner reelected as La Salle County clerk as unofficial tallies roll in · Illinois Valley - Shaw Local

• 0:05
  Ebner re-elected as LaSalle County Clerk has unofficial tallies roll-in. Written by
• 0:11
  Tom Collins. This article is being read by an automated voice brought
• 0:15
  to you by Everlet. LaSalle County Clerk Jennifer Ebner appeared to survive
• 0:21
  an electoral challenge Tuesday night along with a last-minute effort by her
• 0:25
  party’s chairman to oust her.
• 0:28
  The Republican incumbent bested Democratic Charlie Miller by a preliminary total of
• 0:33
  20,449 to 17,550. Though the much-cited blue wave
• 0:39
  resulted in a transfer of power in the U.S. Congress, Republicans largely
• 0:43
  prevailed in La Salle County.
• 0:46
  First, I’d like to praise God, Ebner said, and I’d like to
• 0:49
  thank my team in the office for everything they do.
• 0:52
  Mitchell issued a Wednedsay statement.
• 0:55
  First and foremost, I am extremely proud of the campaign we ran,
• 0:59
  humbled by everyone’s support and pleased with the voter turnout in this
• 1:02
  election, Mitchell said. While I am disappointed in the outcome, I believe
• 1:07
  this race was ultimately decided by party loyalty rather than by a
• 1:10
  comparison of the candidates qualifications and integrity.
• 1:14
  I hope that someday, experience, accountability, and thoughtful, informed decision making will
• 1:20
  carry a little more weight at the ballot box.
• 1:22
  Mitchell wasn’t Ebner’s only challenge, however.
• 1:25
  Less than two hours before the polls opened Tuesday, past La Salle
• 1:29
  County Republican chairman Larry Smith circulated an email advising fellow GOP members
• 1:34
  that he would not vote for Ebner.
• 1:37
  I believe her performance is so far below the minimum standard of
• 1:41
  professionalism required for a position so important to our county and the
• 1:45
  electorate we all serve that she has disqualified herself from this position,
• 1:50
  Smith wrote after citing a series of actions Ebner took with which
• 1:53
  he took issue.
• 1:55
  There is a right and wrong and as Republicans we typically know
• 1:58
  the difference, Smith concluded. The issues noted above have been going on
• 2:02
  for a long time. Many of you have known about it or
• 2:05
  some portion of it. I don’t take any pleasure in this, but
• 2:09
  it is past time it is addressed.
• 2:11
  Ebner said Tuesday she had not seen Smith’s email and deferred comment
• 2:15
  until she had a chance to review it.
• 2:18
  Despite Smith’s last-ditch effort to thwart her reelection, Ebner notched her second
• 2:22
  electoral victory since ousting predecessor Lori Bongartz in twenty twenty two.