The Republican field for state representative of the 116th district got a little more crowded, as David M. Holder announced his candidacy.

Holder, 65, of Baldwin, has served on the Randolph County Board since December 2010 and is currently the board’s chairman. 

“I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to serve the citizens of our county over the past nine years, and I look forward to continue to serve our communities with a strong financial and conservative background,” he said. 

In addition to Holder, David Friess of Red Bud and Kevin Schmidt of Millstadt have already announced they will seek the Republican nomination in the March 17 primary election. 

The winner of that race will challenge Democrat Nathan Reitz of Steeleville, who was appointed in May to fill the seat vacated by Jerry Costello II after he took a job with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 

Prior to serving as a county commissioner, Holder served for eight years on the Sparta School Board. 

He is also the president of the Human Service Center in Red Bud, which provides residential service for adults with developmental disabilities, and is involved with several businesses in the area. 

He has been married to his wife, Carolyn, for 40 years. The couple has three adult children and six grandchildren. 

Additionally, Holder has been a practicing certified public accountant in tax and governmental auditing for the last 30 years, working in Randolph County and the surrounding area. 

He said that experience would help him as state representative. 

“Illinois needs a financially knowledgeable, responsible and conservative voice in Springfield,” Holder said. “(I) believe my professional knowledge and experience provide me with the opportunity to better serve and represent the citizens of our district in Springfield. As I have done over the past 18 years, I will continue to work for new opportunities for everyone in our district.” 

Packet pick-up

Since Sept. 3, candidates for the four available Monroe County offices have been able to pick up packets at the county clerk’s office containing paperwork such as nominating petitions. 

According to Monroe County Clerk Jonathan McLean, only Republican county board candidate George Green, Monroe County Democratic Central Committee Chair Scot Luchtefeld and current officeholders have picked up packets.  

McLean said Luchtefeld picked up four packets, which would be enough for each of the county positions that are open in the 2020 election. 

“I’m not aware of who he was going to give them to,” McLean said. 

Luchtefeld did not respond to requests for comment. 

The county positions up for election are county commissioner, state’s attorney, circuit clerk and coroner. Bob Elmore, Chris Hitzemann, Lisa Fallon and Bob Hill currently hold those offices, respectively. 

To appear on the ballot for the March 17 primary election, county Republican candidates must obtain a minimum of 68 signatures and county Democratic candidates must get at least 39 signatures. 

Each candidate must obtain signatures equal to at least .5 percent of the total number of votes earned by the highest vote getter in their party in the last election. 

For every county position except commissioner, candidates must be at least 18 or at least 21 for an attorney, a U.S. citizen, a resident of the county for 30 days and a registered voter. 

For county commissioner, candidates must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen, a resident of the county for at least a year and a registered voter. 

Candidates can file their petition documents Nov. 25-Dec. 2, though the courthouse will be closed two of those days for Thanksgiving. 

In addition to these local positions and the presidential race, Monroe County residents will also be able to vote for state representative, state senator, U.S. senator and U.S. representative in 2020. 

Those positions are currently held by Reitz, Republican Paul Schimpf, Democrat Dick Durbin and Republican Mike Bost, respectively.

Ahead of the elections here, McLean reminded voters the county will be getting new election equipment in November. 

The new equipment will still use paper, and it will not be connected to the internet to help ensure security. 

“The equipment works exactly the same way our current equipment works, it’s just more modern,” McLean said. 

There will be opportunities for the public to test this equipment before the elections.