FEW CONTESTED RACES IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

ANNA, Ill. -- Christopher K. Wells wants to return to Union County as state's attorney.

Wells, a native of the area and a graduate of Anna-Jonesboro High School, will face incumbent Wes Wilkins in the Democratic primary for Union County state's attorney Tuesday.

The attorney's race is only one of two local races in Union County as voters go to the polls Tuesday in the Illinois primary election.

A total of 33 candidates have filed for local races in three Southern Illinois counties: Union, Alexander and Pulaski.

Voters in Union County will also decide on an education tax referendum and a library district issue. Anna-Jonesboro Community High School District 81 is seeking a 40-cent tax-rate increase, from .96 to $1.36. Voters will also decide whether to establish a public library district in part of the county, with Stinson Library at Anna to serve as the base for the library district.

Wilkens has served as Union County state's attorney since first being elected in 1984. He served as assistant state's attorney two years, from 1981 to 1983.

Wells, who lives in Springfield, is an assistant attorney general in the Illinois attorney general's office at Springfield. While in law school, he was an intern in the Union County state's attorney's office.

A total of eight candidates have filed petitions for county races in Union County, with four of them seeking one seat for county commissioner.

Incumbent Commissioner Bill Porter of Anna will face three challengers in the Democratic primary: Jimmy L. Watkins and Darryl Harvell, both of Jonesboro, and Everett L. Ury of Anna.

Other Union County candidates include incumbent Circuit Clerk Mattilene "Mat" Page of Anna and incumbent county Coroner Darryl Rendleman of Cobden.

Eleven candidates have filed in Pulaski County, where primaries will be held in two races state's attorney and county commissioner.

In the state's attorney races, Patrick S. Duffy of Cobden, in Union County, and Loren H. Waite of Mounds will meet on the Democratic ballot, and James A. Flummer of Mounds and Ward Washon of Grand Chain will clash on the Republican ballot.

Most candidates seeking county offices are required to live in the county; that is not the case, however, in the race for state's attorney.

Two Republicans, Ned J. Gunn of Mounds and B.T. "Bennie" Britton of Villa Ridge, are on the county commissioner ballot, along with Democrats Sam Johnson of Mound City and Eddie Helton of Mounds.

George R. Modglin is the Democratic candidate for Pulaski County clerk. Incumbent Ruth Miller Davis of Mounds is the Republican candidate. The only other candidate in Pulaski County is Bill E. Atherton, Republican candidate for coroner.

The only primary race in Alexander County will be for county commissioner, where four Democrats incumbent Rolly S. "Mit" Matlock of McClure, William M. "Witz" Colyer of East Cape Girardeau, Lamar Houston Jr. of Tamms, and Larry E. "Pete" McHughs have filed.

Other Alexander County candidates include Jeffrey B. Farris, Democrat, Olive Branch, for state's attorney; Susan C. Hileman, Democrat, Cairo, for circuit clerk; and David Barkett, Democrat, Cairo, for coroner.

The local candidates are:

Union County

State's attorney: Incumbent Wes Wilkins, rural Anna, Democrat; Christopher Karl Wells, Springfield, Democrat.

Circuit clerk: Incumbent Mattilene "Mat" Page, Anna, Democrat.

Coroner: Incumbent Darryl W. Rendleman, Cobden, Democrat.

County board: Incumbent Bill Porter, rural Anna, Democrat; Jimmy L. Watkins, Jonesboro, Democrat; Darryl Harvell, rural Jonesboro, Democrat, and Everett L. Ury of Anna, Democrat.

Pulaski County

State's attorney: Patrick S. Duffy, Cobden, and Loren H. Waite Jr., Mounds, both Democrats; James A. Flummer, Mounds, and Ward Washon, Grand Chain, both Republicans.

Circuit clerk: George R. Modglin, Democrat, Ullin, and Ruth Miller Davis, Republican Mounds.

Coroner: Bill E. Atherton, Republican, Ullin.

County board: Ned J. Gunn, Mounds, and B.T. "Bennie" Britton, Villa Ridge, both Republicans, and Sam Johnson, Mound City, and Eddie Helton, Mounds, both Democrats.

Alexander County

State's attorney: Jeffrey B. Farris, Olive Branch, Democrat.

Circuit clerk: Susan C. Hileman, Cairo, Democrat.

Coroner: David Barkett, Cairo, Democrat.

County board: Larry E. "Pete" McHughs, Thebes, Rolly S. "Mit" Matlock, McClure, William M. "Witz" Colyer, East Cape Girardeau, and Lamar Houston Jr., Tamms, all Democrats.