WILKINS VS. WELLS IN UNION COUNTY PRIMARY REMATCH

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Wes Wilkins will seek a fourth term as Union County state's attorney.

Wilkins will face Christopher K. Wells, an Anna attorney, in the Democratic Primary, in a rematch of the 1992 primary, which Wilkins won by a mere 33 votes.

Both men have filed petitions for the March 19 primary.

Wilkins was first elected state's attorney in 1984. He is a graduate of Cobden High School and Southern Illinois University graduate. He attended Cumberland School of Law and Samford University, and was in private practice before becoming an assistant state's attorney in May 1981.

Wells is a graduate of Anna-Jonesboro Community School, Murray State University and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale School of Law.

He served as an assistant state's attorney in Franklin County before opening private practice in Anna. He served as special assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Illinois from 1993-1995. Prior to that he was an assistant attorney general in Springfield.

Elsewhere in Southern Illinois, the names of Patrick Duffy, Jeffrey Farris and Joseph Jackson are familiar in state's attorney's races.

Farris, of Olive Branch, a Democrat and state's attorney in Alexander County, has no opposition in the March 19 primary. He will be seeking his second term.

Duffy, of Cobden, also a Democrat, will be seeking his second full term as state's attorney in Pulaski County. Duffy initially was appointed in April of 1991, then was elected to a full term in 1992.

Jackson, state's attorney in Massac County, has no primary opponent, but will face Republican Gina Dunning of Metropolis in the general election. Dunning works for a law firm in Paducah, Ky.

Jackson, of Metropolis, a Democrat, will be seeking his third term. He served two terms as Massac County state's attorney, from 1980 to 1984, and was elected again in 1992.