Walsh Beats Singer in County Executive Race

Will County Executive Larry Walsh was victorious in his bid for a third term, defeating county board member Cory Singer by more than 17,200 votes.

Although there were points in the evening in which it appeared the end result might be tighter, Democrat Walsh ultimately secured 53.6 percent of the vote to Republican Singer's 46.3, with all 303 precincts counted by 10:10 p.m.

And it was a double victory for the Walsh family. Walsh's son, Larry Walsh Jr., handily won his first term representing District 86 in the Illinois House. Walsh Jr. had been appointed to the seat earlier in the year, and faced Republican Ryan Martin Alm in his bid to keep the job.

Walsh could not be reached for comment, but earlier in the evening he was swarmed by supporters as he watched the results come in via computer projected on to a big screen at the Jacob Henry Mansion in Joliet. He was expected to continue the party later in the evening at the IBEW Local 176's union hall, also in Joliet.

Walsh, 64, and a longtime Elwood resident, is well known to county voters, having served as state senator for the 43rd District from 1997 to 2005 and serving two terms -- once in 1974 and again in 1992 -- on the Will County Board.

Singer, 40, a Frankfort resident, was elected to the county board in 2002 and gave up his seat to run for county executive. During his last term, he was also president of the Will County Forest Preserve District.

A call to Singer was not returned, but earlier in the evening -- as he watched election results come in with his supporters at his New Lenox campaign office -- he said he was proud of the race both he and Walsh ran.

"We both ran as hard as we could for the last 18 months," he said. "I've been extremely blessed with a huge group of dedicated volunteers."

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