Online Staff Report

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) cruised to victory in his quest for the Republican nomination for president in the March 20 Illinois primary.

Romney claimed 47 percent of the vote, Tuesday, March 20, beating former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., at 35 percent; U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, at 9 percent; and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., at 8 percent.

Romney’s victory in Illinois moves him to 16 states carried with 497 delegates earned. Meantime, Santorum has won 10 states and earned 183 delegates; Gingrich has won two states and earned 135 delegates; and Paul has won zero states and earned 27 delegates.

The race moves to Louisiana March 24 and then Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Wisconsin April 3.

Locally, 10-term congressman U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo, R-Ill., was defeated by freshman U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., in Illinois’ 16th Congressional District. Kinzinger claimed 55 percent of the vote, while Manzullo had 44 percent.

Kinzinger was among the five Illinois freshmen elected in 2010 during a tea party-backed Republican surge. The former Air Force pilot, who still serves in the Air National Guard, received a late endorsement from House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va.

Kinzinger, 34, will not face a Democratic opponent in the November General Election, ensuring his re-election.

“Voters want to put that faith in the new generation of conservative leaders,” Kinzinger said of his victory.

Meantime, Manzullo, 67, who first assumed office in 1993, waited until 99 percent of the votes were counted to concede. Following his defeat, Manzullo noted the negative attack ad campaign directed against him in the race.

“We’re not used to a Chicago-style campaign against us,” Manzullo said. “We’re just not used to that.”

Ballot flaw update

The Winnebago County Clerk’s Office announced March 20 that a vendor error with some of the county’s ballots prevented electronic tabulation by machines at polling places. Some county ballots were too large to fit in the scanning machines.

The vendor admitted several counties throughout Illinois experienced the same problem.

Following is an update from Winnebago County Clerk Margie Mullins’ office issued March 21:

“Winnebago County Clerk Margie Mullins announced that the counting of ballots for the primary election was being suspended at 12:30 a.m., on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Due to an error by the ballot vendor, only a portion of the ballots were able to be tabulated using the OS machines in county polling places. The ballots were returned to the Clerk’s office after the polls closed at 7 p.m., and a number of volunteers began tabulating votes manually as they came in. The ballots were secured in the Clerk’s Office, and ballot counting was scheduled to resume at 9 a.m., on Wednesday.”

Other area election results (as of noon, March 21)

Following are other area election results:

U.S. House, 17th District, Democratic

Cheri Bustos — 58 percent

Greg Aguilar — 21 percent

George Gaulrapp — 20 percent

695 of 696 precincts reporting

State Senate, 34th District, Democratic

Steven “Steve” Stadelman — 53 percent

Dan Lewandowski — 24 percent

Marla Wilson — 21 percent

149 of 150 precincts reporting

State Senate, 35th District Republican

Dave Syverson — 55 percent

Christine J. Johnson — 44 percent

185 of 186 precincts reporting

State House, 67th District, Democratic

Charles “Chuck” Jefferson — 80 percent

Gloria M. Lind — 19 percent

69 of 70 precincts reporting

State House, 68th District, Democratic

Carl Wasco — 68 percent

Clint Little — 31 percent

92 of 93 precincts reporting

State House, 90th District, Republican

Tom Demmer — 34 percent

Liandro “Li” Arellano Jr. — 31 percent

Chet Olson — 26 percent

Daniel H. Sidmore — 7 percent

129 of 130 precincts reporting

Winnebago County Board Chairman, Republican

Scott H. Christiansen — 63 percent

Mike “C” Castronovo — 36 percent

96 of 208 precincts reporting

Winnebago County State’s Attorney, Republican

Glen R. Weber — 50 percent

David M. Gill — 49 percent

96 of 208 precincts reporting

Winnebago County Board, District 1, Republican

Lynne Strathman — 57 percent

Marc Gasparini — 42 percent

1 of 13 precincts reporting

Winnebago County Board, District 2, Republican

Jim Webster — 65 percent

Ed Schmitt — 34 percent

0 of 13 precincts reporting

Winnebago County Board, District 3, Republican

Steve Schultz — 60 percent

Gary L. Kovanda — 39 percent

0 of 10 precincts reporting

Winnebago County Board, District 4, Republican

Kyle Logan — 72 percent

Patty Austin — 27 percent

0 of 12 precincts reporting

Winnebago County Board, District 6, Republican

Kay J. Mullins — 65 percent

Joe Terrell — 34 percent

0 of 10 precincts reporting

Winnebago County Board, District 7, Republican

Gary R. Jury — 70 percent

Ricky L. Davis — 29 percent

0 of 10 precincts reporting

Winnebago County Board, District 8, Republican

Dianne Parvin — 56 percent

Michael Kleen — 43 percent

15 of 17 precincts reporting

Winnebago County Board, District 9, Republican

David L. Kelly — 62 percent

Kevin Horstman — 37 percent

6 of 12 precincts reporting

Winnebago County Board, District 11, Republican

Dave Fiduccia — 58 percent

Wendy Owano — 41 percent

5 of 17 precincts reporting

Winnebago County Board, District 12, Democratic

Julio Salgado — 57 percent

Isidro B. Barrios — 42 percent

11 of 11 precincts reporting

Winnebago County Board, District 14, Democratic

L.C. Wilson — 60 percent

George Anne Duckett — 39 percent

12 of 12 precincts reporting

Winnebago County Board, District 16, Republican

John F. Sweeney — 64 percent

Michele M. Coriossi — 35 percent

15 of 18 precincts reporting

Electrical Aggregation Referendums

Cherry Valley — Yes, 66 percent; No, 33 percent

Durand — Yes, 56 percent; No, 43 percent

Loves Park — Yes, 53 percent; No, 46 percent

Machesney Park — Yes, 64 percent; No, 35 percent

Pecatonica — Yes, 50 percent; No, 49 percent

Rockford — Yes, 56 percent; No, 43 percent

Roscoe — No, 50 percent; Yes, 49 percent

Winnebago — Yes, 59 percent; No, 40 percent

Unincorporated Winnebago County — No, 53 percent; Yes, 46 percent

Belvidere — Yes, 61 percent; No, 38 percent

Boone County — No, 51 percent; Yes, 48 percent

Caledonia — Yes, 62 percent; No, 37 percent

Poplar Grove — No, 51 percent; Yes, 48 percent

Timberlane — Yes, 54 percent; No, 45 percent

Byron — Yes, 56 percent; No, 43 percent

Davis Junction — Yes, 63 percent; No, 36 percent

Forreston — Yes, 70 percent; No, 29 percent

Monroe Center — No, 56 percent; Yes, 43 percent

Oregon — Yes, 56 percent; No, 43 percent

Unincorporated Ogle County — No, 51 percent; Yes, 48 percent

Machesney Park Roads, Drainage, Infrastructure Referendum

Yes, 73 percent

No, 26 percent

Note: Follow the Winnebago County Clerk’s Office’s website, http://elections.winnebagocountyclerk.com ^[1], to view up-to-the-minute election results in Winnebago County.

Posted March 21, 2012