First day of filing is a busy one in Adams County

QUINCY — Adams County Clerk and Recorder Ryan Niekamp may not have to worry about a primary challenge in June, but a Democrat filed to run against him in November.

Arianna Downard-Salih filed to run against Niekamp Monday morning, shortly after Niekamp officially filed to run for re-election.

Adams County Treasurer Bryden Cory also filed for re-election as a Republican as did Regional Superintendent of Education Jill Reis.

Tony Grootens was the first candidate to file for Adams County Sheriff. Grootens, a Republican, has 40 years of law enforcement experience, including more than a decade in the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, and also as police chief in Jacksonville, Ill.

Incumbent Adams County Sheriff Rich Wagner did not file on the first day, but has said he’ll make an announcement regarding his candidacy soon. Wagner was appointed sheriff in September 2020 following the retirement of Brian VonderHaar.

Jon McCoy, A Republican who has previously run for Adams County Sheriff and lost a close election to VonderHaar in 2016, filed to run for the Adams County Board in District 5.

McCoy, the lone candidate so far to file in District 5, was part of a large field of 22 candidates seeking seats on the 21 member Adams County Board on Monday’s opening day of petition filing.

Two Democrats filed in District 1, incumbent Todd Duesterhaus and newcomer Stephen Maxwell, along with one Republican, incumbent Bret Austin.

Three Republicans filed for the four seats in District 2: Incumbents Barb Fletcher and Ryan Hinkamper along with first-time candidate Mark Sorenson. Democrat Valerie Maxie also filed in District 2.

Incumbent Republican Raquel Sparrow and newcomer Democrat Sarah Lucey filed in District 3.

District 4 looks to be competitive with four Republicans filing for three seats. Adams County Board Chairman Kent Snider and Travis Cooley are running as incumbents while Steve McQueen and Deb Kennedy are running as challengers.

District 6 also has a full field with five candidates for three seats: former board chairman Les Post and incumbent David McCleary are running along with two other Republicans Brad Poulter and Brandon Riley. Those four will run for three spots in June.

Democrat Samuel DeMoss is also a candidate in District 6 and would advance to November if he remains the only member of his party in that race.

Two Republican incumbents are running for re-election in District 7, Theresa Bockhold and Joe Zanger. Jeremy Allen will also be on the ballot as a Republican.

Filing for the June 28 primary continues in Illinois counties until 5 p.m. Monday, March 14.