Spencer challenger emerges

Amy Huffman

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STERLING - For the first time in 27 years, Gary Spencer, Whiteside County's top prosecutor, will face an opponent in the race for state's attorney. Amy Huffman, a lifelong Sterling resident and assistant state's attorney in Lee County, confirmed Friday that she will launch a write-in campaign to unseat Spencer.

The race will pit the young attorney against her former boss - Huffman, 33, got her start in public service under Spencer as a law-student intern, then went full time as a Whiteside County assistant state's attorney in 1999.

It comes amid public outcry over Spencer's tight-lipped silence during the hunt for Nicholas Sheley and dozens of unanswered questions about how the accused spree killer, who has a long and violent criminal history, has repeatedly pleaded to lesser crimes, or escaped prosecution altogether.

Huffman said she has been considering a write-in campaign for "the last few days" and recently decided to make the run because "the community seems to be requesting someone to be a write-in, and I feel a responsibility to run. I feel a responsibility to my community."

Spencer, a Republican and Illinois' longest-serving state's attorney, has run unopposed in all six elections general elections he has entered.

He said he learned of Huffman's decision on Friday. He bristled when asked what he though of being challenged by a former employee.

"Anybody can run for the office who has a law license," Spencer said.

When asked whether he would debate Huffman during the campaign, Spencer replied, "I just learned about it 30 seconds ago."

Despite the public's recent blood lust for Spencer, Huffman's campaign could prove a long shot. Under Illinois election law, it's too late for her name to appear on the ballot, and this is her first run at a public office.

A write-in campaign means exactly what it sounds. She will have to convince voters to write her name on a blank line, which would appear beneath Spencer's name, on the November ballot.

She has until Sept. 4 to notify the Whiteside County Clerk's Office of her intention to run.

Huffman has been talking with the chairmen of both major parties in Whiteside County but has yet to align herself with either party, she said.

Republican Chairwoman Robbin Blackert said her committee likely will remain neutral through the election.

"We want the will of the people to be heard," Blackert said.

Democrats have yet to decide whether they will throw official support behind Huffman. The committee meets next week, and Chairman Lowell Jacobs said they will discuss the possibility at that time.

At 33, Huffman is nearly the same age Spencer was when the Whiteside County Board appointed him to fill a vacancy left when then-State's Attorney Tim Slavin moved into a judge's position.

Lee County State's Attorney Paul Whitcombe, Huffman's boss for the past four years, declined to endorse her campaign until she selects a party affiliation.

He did, however, speak highly of Huffman's work in his office.

"She's been instrumental in setting up those programs that set us apart over here in Lee County," Whitcombe said.

She was the chief architect of Lee County's drug and mental health courts, and was the first assistant state's attorney until late last year.

"She's been with me from almost day one," Whitcombe said. "It would be hard to find someone with her list of accomplishments."

Write-in campaigns range from the downright silly - Mickey Mouse for president - to the possible but unlikely - Roy Cantu for Sterling mayor.

They're a common occurrence, although rarely do they receive much attention.

This year, however, things are different:

Nicholas T. Sheley, a Sterling native, is the primary suspect in an eight-victim, two-state killing spree that ended less than three weeks ago.

Gary Spencer, Whiteside County's incumbent state's attorney, has refused to answer questions about how Sheley, who has a long and violent criminal history, has repeatedly pleaded to lesser crimes, or escaped prosecution altogether.

Spencer's silence has fueled public outrage over his unwillingness to communicate with the voters who put him in office.

The outrage, in turn, has awoken the public to the fact that only the incumbent state's attorney is running.

Under Illinois election law, the primaries are over and it's too late for county clerks to put a new name on the ballot.

That means the only way to run for an office is to convince voters to write the candidate's name on a blank line on Election Day.

Here's how local political figures describe write-in campaigns:

"It's a pretty tough road to follow," said Dana Nelson, Whiteside County clerk.

"That's an uphill fight, but I'm not saying it can't be done. The impossible can happen," said Lowell Jacobs, chairman of the Whiteside County Democratic Central Committee.

"She's got her work cut out for her, but it will be interesting," said Robbin Blackert, chairwoman of the Whiteside County Republicans.

Any candidate interested has until Sept. 4 to formally declare their candidacy with the county clerk. They do not need a petition.

The ballot for that office then will have a blank line beneath the established, primary-winning candidate.

Not only is it difficult to convince voters to support a write-in candidate, but tallying the votes also can be dicey, Nelson said.

Election judges at each precinct run the ballot through an optical scanner to determine whether more voters chose the primary-winning candidate.

If more have filled in the bubble next to the write-in line, election judges must then determine exactly what each voter wanted.

"The election judge's job is to determine the voter's intent," Nelson said. "It's pretty crucial to have [the name] right."

Spelling variations can alter a judge's perceptions, as can shaky penmanship or tainted ballots, Nelson said.

In the case of Amy Huffman's campaign for state's attorney, "If someone spelled it with one 'f', the intent would be pretty clear, but it can get difficult - what if someone had the wrong first name?"

Amy Huffman will have an open house to formally announce her campaign for Whiteside County state's attorney at noon Monday at the Holiday Inn, 2105 First Ave., Rock Falls. All are invited.

Sauk Valley Newspapers reporter Tara Becker contributed to this report.