PHOTOS BY DAVID BLANCHETTE
Josh Langfelder, left, the incumbent Sangamon County Recorder, misplaced to Republican Frank Lesko by 31 votes following a collection of assault adverts funded by Frank Vala, who additionally helped fund Misty Buscher’s 2023 mayoral marketing campaign in opposition to Langfelder’s brother, Jim Langfelder.
It’s being known as the closest countywide race within the historical past of Sangamon County.
Republican Frank Lesko edged out incumbent Josh Langfelder, a Democrat, by a mere 31 votes out of 98,217 ballots solid.
“To suppose that just about 100,000 ballots had been solid in a countywide race for Sangamon County recorder, and for it to be determined in its closing tabulation by 31 votes is simply outstanding and possibly the closest end in our historical past right here in Sangamon County,” County Clerk Don Grey mentioned. “So, it’s a nice instance of how to not waste that chance – each vote issues. And you may play an enormous position.”
Election Day ended with Lesko main by 68 votes and a few mail-in and provisional ballots but to be tabulated. On Nov. 19, Grey’s workplace counted 456 extra ballots, which whittled Lesko’s lead all the way down to 31.
Will there be a recount? Langfelder instructed IT he’s undecided on whether or not to hunt a recount and can meet together with his group this week earlier than making a closing resolution.
Lesko didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark following the ultimate vote tabulation.
The recorder’s workplace is chargeable for recording and storing the county’s land data.
Lesko, who’s presently the Springfield metropolis clerk, didn’t point out his plan to eradicate the recorder’s workplace and merge its operations into the county clerk’s workplace when interviewed by IT in October, however it later grew to become a focus of his marketing campaign. Merging the workplace of the recorder with that of the county clerk would require voters to go a binding referendum, in response to Grey.
Lesko’s tv advert marketing campaign centered on the slogan, “Rent me…so you’ll be able to fireplace me.” He has contended that such a merger would save taxpayers cash. One other advert that ran instantly previous to the election claimed that Langfelder has made greater than $2 million from taxpayers. Langfelder criticized the advert as deceptive, noting that it basically amounted to 16 years of a wage and that Lesko has been in authorities jobs – together with town, county and state – for his complete profession.
Throughout the two weeks between Election Day and the ultimate vote rely, there was a lot speak about cash, as in who paid for Lesko’s tv adverts. The adverts had been labeled as paid for by the Sangamon County Night Republican Membership. However Langfelder instructed Illinois Occasions that doesn’t reveal which persons are funneling their cash into the membership to pay for the commercials.
Langfelder mentioned data on file on the State Board of Elections confirmed the Night Republican Membership had slightly greater than $900 within the financial institution.
“I do know for a proven fact that they spent about $25,000 on that advert, simply on WICS, in opposition to me. So, the query is: How do they pay for that once they have no cash of their account? The place’d that cash come from?” he mentioned.
Businessman and longtime GOP donor Frank Vala instructed IT he donated about $40,000 to assist Frank Lesko get elected.
Langfelder mentioned he sees Springfield businessman Frank Vala’s political fingerprints behind the scenes. Vala helped finance Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher’s profitable 2023 marketing campaign to unseat Josh Langfelder’s brother, Jim.
A political motion committee funded by Vala additionally paid for assault adverts in opposition to William McCarty within the 2023 metropolis treasurer’s race. State Board of Elections data confirmed that Vala’s PAC obtained cash from a marketing campaign fund tied to Ward 1 Ald. Chuck Redpath, the daddy of McCarty’s opponent, Colleen Redpath Feger. However just like the recorder’s race, it was not all the time clear the place the cash originated and which group was paying for the adverts.
Josh Langfelder mentioned a couple of weeks earlier than the Nov. 5 election, he inadvertently encountered Vala at Springfield restaurant.
“I walked right into a restaurant the place he is having breakfast with some people – some political people – and he principally grabbed my hand and mentioned, ‘You recognize, it is nothing in opposition to you, it is in opposition to your brother.’ I mentioned, ‘Effectively, I’ve by no means met you. Let me introduce myself. My title is Josh Langfelder. And he mentioned, ‘Effectively, I am simply gonna let you know, your brother tried to kick me off the (Springfield Airport Authority) board. That is the rationale I obtained Frank Lesko to run in opposition to you.’ So, do I see fingerprints on it? Yeah.”
When contacted by IT, Vala denied that he mentioned this to Langfelder. However he acknowledged he has contributed about $40,000 to assist Lesko get elected.
“I’m not going after Josh Langfelder,” Vala mentioned. “I’m going after the truth that is really one authorities job that’s not wanted.”
Claudio Pecori, president of the Night Republican Membership, mentioned he was unaware of the membership not submitting the required monetary notifications to the Illinois State Board of Elections. However he added the membership’s treasurer place has been in a state of transition.
He added he considers Josh a good friend and was shut buddies together with his father, Ossie Langfelder, who served as Springfield’s mayor from 1987 to 1995 and died in 2015.
“What’s (Josh) so upset about? That’s simply politics,” Pecori mentioned.
Ron Michaelson, who was govt director of the state Board of Elections for 29 years, mentioned when a political committee fails to reveal contributions within the required method, the board can select to fantastic them or give them a warning.
He famous that people typically donate to 3rd events such because the Night Republican Membership, somewhat than on to a candidate, as a result of they wish to be lower than clear about what candidates they help.
However can a third-party group just like the Night Republican Membership get into bother for not disclosing donations within the required timeframe?
“It’s not like they are often criminally charged or something like that,” Michaelson mentioned. “Whether or not they’re fined will depend on the intent. Had been they intentionally making an attempt to obfuscate by not offering the information in a well timed method? Or did they simply make an trustworthy mistake?”
