It is being called the closest countywide race in the history of Sangamon County.
Republican Frank Lesko edged out incumbent Josh Langfelder, a Democrat, by a mere 31 votes out of 98,217 ballots cast.
“To think that almost 100,000 ballots were cast in a countywide race for Sangamon County recorder, and for it to be decided in its final tabulation by 31 votes is just remarkable and probably the closest result in our history here in Sangamon County,” County Clerk Don Gray said. “So, it is a great example of how not to waste that opportunity – every vote matters. And you can play a huge role.”
Election Day ended with Lesko leading by 68 votes and some mail-in and provisional ballots yet to be tabulated. On Nov. 19, Gray’s office counted 456 additional ballots, which whittled Lesko’s lead down to 31.
Will there be a recount? Langfelder told IT he is undecided on whether to seek a recount and will meet with his team this week before making a final decision.
Lesko did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the final vote tabulation.
The recorder’s office is responsible for recording and storing the county’s land records.
Lesko, who is currently the Springfield city clerk, didn’t mention his plan to eliminate the recorder’s office and merge its operations into the county clerk’s office when interviewed by IT in October, but it later became a focal point of his campaign. Merging the office of the recorder with that of the county clerk would require voters to pass a binding referendum, according to Gray.
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Lesko’s television ad campaign centered on the slogan, “Hire me…so you can fire me.” He has contended that such a merger would save taxpayers money. Another ad that ran immediately prior to the election claimed that Langfelder has made more than $2 million from taxpayers. Langfelder criticized the ad as misleading, noting that it essentially amounted to 16 years of a salary and that Lesko has been in government jobs – including the city, county and state – for his entire career.
During the two weeks between Election Day and the final vote count, there was much talk about money, as in who paid for Lesko’s television ads. The ads were labeled as paid for by the Sangamon County Evening Republican Club. But Langfelder told Illinois Times that doesn’t reveal which people are funneling their money into the club to pay for the advertisements.
Langfelder said records on file at the State Board of Elections showed the Evening Republican Club had a little more than $900 in the bank.
“I know for a fact that they spent about $25,000 on that ad, just on WICS, against me. So, the question is: How do they pay for that when they don’t have any money in their account? Where’d that money come from?” he said.
Langfelder said he sees Springfield businessman Frank Vala’s political fingerprints behind the scenes. Vala helped finance Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher’s successful 2023 campaign to unseat Josh Langfelder’s brother, Jim.
A political action committee funded by Vala also paid for attack ads against William McCarty in the 2023 city treasurer’s race. State Board of Elections records showed that Vala’s PAC received money from a campaign fund tied to Ward 1 Ald. Chuck Redpath, the father of McCarty’s opponent, Colleen Redpath Feger. But like the recorder’s race, it was not always clear where the money originated and which group was paying for the ads.
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Josh Langfelder said a few weeks before the Nov. 5 election, he inadvertently encountered Vala at Springfield restaurant.
“I walked into a restaurant where he’s having breakfast with some individuals – some political individuals – and he basically grabbed my hand and said, ‘You know, it’s nothing against you, it’s against your brother.’ I said, ‘Well, I’ve never met you. Let me introduce myself. My name is Josh Langfelder. And he said, ‘Well, I’m just gonna tell you, your brother tried to kick me off the (Springfield Airport Authority) board. That’s the reason I got Frank Lesko to run against you.’ So, do I see fingerprints on it? Yeah.”
When contacted by IT, Vala denied that he said this to Langfelder. But he acknowledged he has contributed about $40,000 to help Lesko get elected.
“I am not going after Josh Langfelder,” Vala said. “I am going after the fact that is truly one government job that is not needed.”
Claudio Pecori, president of the Evening Republican Club, said he was unaware of the club not filing the necessary financial notifications to the Illinois State Board of Elections. But he added the club’s treasurer position has been in a state of transition.
He added he considers Josh a friend and was close friends with his father, Ossie Langfelder, who served as Springfield’s mayor from 1987 to 1995 and died in 2015.
“What is (Josh) so upset about? That’s just politics,” Pecori said.
Ron Michaelson, who was executive director of the state Board of Elections for 29 years, said when a political committee fails to disclose contributions in the required manner, the board can choose to fine them or give them a warning.
He noted that individuals often donate to third parties such as the Evening Republican Club, rather than directly to a candidate, because they want to be less than transparent about what candidates they support.
But can a third-party organization like the Evening Republican Club get into trouble for not disclosing donations in the required time frame?
“It’s not like they can be criminally charged or anything like that,” Michaelson said. “Whether they are fined depends on the intent. Were they deliberately trying to obfuscate by not providing the data in a timely manner? Or did they just make an honest mistake?”
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It seems strange that Josh Langfelder, during the race and after the final results were announced, never mentioned that he would even research the consolidation of the recorder’s OFFICE with the county clerk, let alone agree to eliminate that position to save the taxpayers thousands of dollars. COULD IT BE THAT HE IS TRYING TO DRAIN TAXPAYERS’ MONEY FOR HIS PERSONAL BENEFITS?
@Fvala – If it will save $250,000 a year as Lesko touts, is he going to donate his salary back to the taxpayers when he takes office? Since there are 200,000 residents in Sangamon County, I guess I’ll wait for my $1.25 check in the mail for this HUGE savings.
The comments by Fvala are puzzling. He is the chairman of the airport authority where we continue to lose flights but yet he runs it like it is his own personal airport for he and his friends. I would say that Fvala is the one who is draining taxpayers’ money for his own personal benefit. Move on already.
Had Fvala listened to any of the candidate interviews during this election, he would know Langfelder already researched consolidating the office. The cities Lesko referred to as examples of consolidation have expressed their regrets in doing so.
Imagine the amount of good that could have been done with the money spent on this campaign. As a young person with deep roots in this community, it’s disheartening to see older generations run this town into the ground.
Taylor Sullivan, tell me how many times you have bought a ticket to fly out of Springfield Abraham Lincoln Airport. Do you even know that airlines are for profit companies that they only provide service to airports where people buy enough tickets for them to make money. If you know so much about the airport, why don’t you come out and look at our annual financial audits? You might be surprised to notice that Frank Vala has not received one penny from the SAA since I have been Chairman of the Board (over 18 years ago). And to add to that I have personally flown over one million miles on American Airlines with tickets I have paid for out of my pocket. I recommend you have some proof that I am only using it for personal gain because you are open for a deformation of character lawsuit, and I am prepared to take action.
Frank- thats real rich of you to accuse others of draining taxpayer dollars for personal benefits. After Gov Rauner appointed you to be chairman of procurement Board, you proceeded to enter into a 5 year lease for a warehouse for a whopping $2.4 million. Only issue being that your buddy Bill Cellinis company purchased the warehouse just prior for $700,000. Now please remind me of whos the one that uses public offices for personal enrichment of themselves and their friends/family? https://capitolfax.com/wp-mobile.php?p=326…
It seems as if you only claim to care about taxpayers when theres an election going on that you could benefit from or that involves a member of the Langfelder family. Besides, is your ego really that fragile that you still have a vendetta against the former Mayor over asking you to resign as chairman of the airport board? I think the former Mayor made a valid point, youve been chairman for nearly 2 decades and with all due respect, SPI continues to lose flights while other cities such as Peoria and Bloomington have no problem fulfilling flights. In the past youve blamed the lack of demand but the truth is that Springfields demand chooses to fly out of other airports because your flight list is so abysmal that theres no supply, hence no demand. Springfield had record tourism in 2023.
Based on your record as chairman of procurement Board, its clear youre a hypocrite accusing others of draining taxpayer money for personal gain. And based on your record as chair of the airport board, its clear youre also incompetent. Maybe its time to consider retirement.
I challenge John Smith to name one city that told Langfelder they regretted the consolidation
Why does Vala donate so much to Don Gray every single year when Gray never had an opposed election? What’s the benefit for him?
I should say except for when Josh Langfelder beat him (don gray)
Vala gave don gray a 50k loan in 2021? That was immediately repaid the next day…
Why?
To John Smith, I am still waiting for you to name the cities Langfelder said did not agree with consolidation to save taxpayer money.
Fvala, Champaign, Madison and Logan counties are all examples. Feel free to give Langfelder’s interview with WMAY a listen. I’m sure you were too busy having coffee at Caribou with Don Gray and Chuck Redpath to tune in. Taxpayer savings, really…? You mean to tell me that the County Clerk is going to assume all responsibilities of an additional office and its staff and not receive a pay increase? I challenge you to name one individual interested in this (whom you aren’t paying under the table).
Is there a politician in the county building or municipal building that Vala doesn’t own?
John Smith you can’t even remember that you said it was cities now you want to name counties
THIS IS FUN GETTING IN A BATTLE OF WITS WITH UNARMED PEOPLE
Semantics. Coming from a guy who said “deformation of character.” It’s defamation of character. Good luck with that big, scary lawsuit. It’s hard to defame an individual whose reputation is already in the gutter.
Imagine wasting tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars because you’re disgruntled someone wanted to replace you on a silly board. How pathetic.
Smith are you Sullivans puppet? I guess you democrats feel bad about spending over 0ne billion dollars plus to lose elections. Could that money been used to help those in need
Wow all I’ve learned from this thread is that Vala is a narcissist. We need to keep money out of politics.
Phil Gray, Thank you for that medical assessment. Now I don’t need to spend money on seeing a true professional I can listen to street bums like you
wow way to prove me right jeez you have no self awareness. can’t even go one second without name calling
hahahaha look at all these dislikes. Everybody is laughing at you!
Maybe we should do like the ancient Athenians and vote to throw Fvala out of the city for 10 years. A real old fashioned OSTRACISM
Would be nice if money spent on local elections could also be spent on local charities or to support college education for those who cannot afford it.
I couldn’t agree with you anymore.