November 9, 2016
Illinois

Voters indicate distance needs to be greater

Paul Westermeyer | Star Courier | Nov 9, 2016 | www.starcourier.com

The local results of Tuesday’s general election vote are in, and among the major issues on the ballots of Livingston County voters appear to have given the county some of the information it had sought from its residents.

On the advisory question as to whether voters supported a setback distance of 1,600 feet for wind energy turbines or a significantly greater distance, the answer was the latter, with a vote of 57.3 percent choosing “no” in order to increase the distance, against 42.7 percent saying the current distance was acceptable.

The question on the ballot read as such: “In your township, do you support a distance of 1600 feet between wind turbines and residences, rather than increasing that distance more than double, which may reduce the number of wind turbines built in your township?”

Those at the polls could choose “yes,” would be a vote to support a distance of 1,600 feet between wind turbines and residences. On the other hand, a “no” vote would be a vote to support significantly increasing the distance between wind turbines and residences.

While the poll was advisory, and did not commit voters to any sort of change, the township-by-township premised referendum was created for the County Board to glean information from in the future.

Indian Grove, the township from which this question had its genesis, voted “no” 73.6 percent to 26.4 percent.

Other townships voted majority “no” were, by percentage, Amity, 56.4 to 43.6; Avoca, 86.4 to 13.6; Belle Prairie, 82.3 to 17.7; Charlotte, 77.1 to 22.9; Chatsworth, 72.3 to 27.7; Eppards Point, 68.7 to 31.3; Esmen, 70.8 to 29.2; Fayette, 80.3 to 19.7; Forrest, 66.4 to 33.6; Germanville, 71.9 to 28.1; Long Point, 61.5 to 38.5; Nebraska, 52.9 to 47.2; Owego 57.7 to 42.8; Pike, 65.8 to 34.2; Pleasant Ridge, 66.7 to 33.3; Pontiac, 53.1 to 46.9; Rooks Creek, 64.9 to 35.1; Saunemin, 57.3 to 43.7; Sunbury, 56.7 to 43.3 and Waldo, 67.2 to 32.8.

The townships of Broughton, 60.1 percent to 39.9 percent, Dwight, 52.4 percent to 47.6 percent, Nevada 54.1 percent to 45.9 percent, Odell, 58.5 percent to 41.5 percent, Reading, 51.2 percent to 48.8 percent, Round Grove, 52.8 percent to 47.2 percent, Sullivan, 64.3 percent to 35.7 percent and Union, 59.8 percent to 40.2 percent all voted majority “yes.”

Another election that was relevant to the county saw voters in the county’s second district choose Republican incumbents Jason Bunting, Joseph Steichen, Bob Young and Ron Kestner to retain their seats by vote totals of 3,189, 2,648, 2,546 and 2,413, respectively, over Democratic newcomer Michael Bennett-Tejes, who received 1,264 votes.

In the presidential race, Republican candidate Donald Trump won with 69.4 percent of the vote, with Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton coming in second with 24.6 percent. The other candidates, Gary Johnson and Jill Stein, received 5.2 percent and 0.83 percent, respectively.

Further results from the county will be tabulated in the Thursday edition of the Daily Leader.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/11/09/voters-indicate-distance-needs-to-be-greater/