Kankakee Democrats capture two board seats, one race hinges on 11 votes
Unofficial results show a shift in the county government, with late mail ballots still pending in a tight contest in south Bradley.
By Noor Graham ·
Eleven votes currently separate the candidates in District 21, leaving one of the five Kankakee County Board seats undecided. Unofficial results from Tuesday's election show Democrats gaining control of two other districts, while Republicans retain two seats.
The county clerk's office processed early voting and vote-by-mail ballots first. Officials can accept late vote-by-mail ballots for days after the election, provided the envelopes bear a postmark from Tuesday, November 3.
In District 15, Democrat Reginald Bell defeated Republican Amber M. Turner with 65% of the vote. The district lies south of the Kankakee River and west of Interstate 57. All precincts reported in that race.
Democrat Gary Ciaccio unseated Republican Ken Lewellen in District 14 with 54% of the vote. This area covers west Kankakee County, primarily north of Illinois 17 West. Ciaccio, a precinct committeeman, said he expects more transparency in committee meetings now that Democrats hold more seats.
Republican Chad Miller held his seat in District 25 with 59% of the vote. The district stretches along the far eastern edge of Bradley. Republican Nathan J. Benoit won District 28 with 63% of the vote. This district includes parts of west Kankakee County and west Bourbonnais, bounded by Illinois 113 to the south.
Marta Perales leads Steven Taden in District 21 by 11 votes. The district is located in south Bradley, immediately west of the Canadian National Rail Road line. Perales said her campaign focused on local issues rather than national politics, a strategy she believes resonated with voters who grew tired of outside organizations controlling county decisions.
