A retired executive from John Deere has taken on a major challenge. Republican Russell Christ announced Wednesday he's running for Rock Island County Clerk, and will face Democratic incumbent Karen Kinney next year.
Christ worked for John Deere for 43 years, then became active in the local GOP after he retired. He now serves as second vice chairman and a precinct committeeman and trained to be a poll judge. That's when he says he noticed problems in how the clerk's office was conducting elections.
"It's been in the hands of the machine here in Rock Island County for 65 years or so, I am told. Since it's all been under one party, everything is in their favor and the people who are in the offices when it's in the control of one party for that long, things happen. So it's time to change."
Christ thinks residents of Rock Island County will be better served when both political parties have the opportunity to hold the county clerk's office.
