As voters prepare for the March 17 Primary Election, Delavan Township Clerk Brad Donley is seeking the Republican nomination for Tazewell County Board District 1, bringing more than 20 years of service to the Delavan community into the race. Donley is also the only Delavan resident running for any county office this year.

District 1 elects multiple members to the County Board, and Illinois uses a cumulative voting system for this office. Each voter receives three votes to distribute among the candidates in any combination—whether all three for one candidate, one vote each for three candidates, or any other split. The system is designed to broaden representation in multi member districts and give voters flexibility in how they express their preferences.

For communities like Delavan, cumulative voting can also serve as a tool to amplify local representation, allowing residents to concentrate their votes in ways that help ensure the district’s smaller towns have a voice on the County Board.

On the Republican ballot, Donley’s name appears in the final position for County Board District 1. While ballot order does not affect how cumulative votes may be allocated, the last slot can still shape how voters scan and interpret the list in a competitive field.

No candidates filed for this office on the Democratic ticket. As a result, the winners of the Republican primary will advance to the November general election unopposed, making the March 17 primary effectively the decisive contest for the district’s seats.

Donley highlights his long tenure in township government—overseeing records, budgets, and public meeting administration—as preparation for serving at the county level. His two decades of involvement in Delavan’s civic life have included a wide range of administrative and community support roles.

Voters may cast their cumulative votes during early voting, by mail, or in person on Election Day. For official sample ballots, polling locations, and voting guidance, residents should consult the Tazewell County Clerk’s office or other trusted election authorities.