Race to Election Day Continues With 2nd Forum

About 60 people attended the Fayette County Republican Party political forum in Ellinger on Sunday, Feb. 4.

All of the Republican candidates for Pct. 2 Constable, Fayette County Attorney and Fayette County Republican Party Chairman participated in the event.

In the Pct. 2 Constable race, incumbent Roger Wunderlich shared the stage with challenger Kenneth King. Wunderlich spoke about his nearly 30 years of service in law enforcement, including the last 12 as Pct. 2 Constable.

“I know the community,” Wunderlich said. “I’ve worked here. I’ve lived here. I know most of the people I deal with. I try to do as good of a job and as fair of a job as I can.

“I know most of the people in the community,” he added. “I used to know all of them, but we’ve had an influx of new people. But I have enough contacts in the area, where if they need something, they know they can call me. If I need to find someone for civil service – sometimes they don’t want to be found – I have enough people around to where I can contact them and get them served.”

King said he started his career in public service at age 18 as a security guard. From there, he worked as a corrections officer in the state prison system. He later became a licensed peace officer. He currently owns a private security business. If elected, King said he wants to work closely with young people.

“Young people are not that enchanted with law enforcement,” King said. “I would like to reach out to them and start an Explorer Program, so that kids can interact with us and know that we’re approachable. Kids don’t want to deal with law enforcement, and I want to make that change.”

In the County Attorney race, assistant county attorney James Herbrich faces Mark Elvig, a 40-year attorney who most recently worked in private practice. One of the questions from the audience stated that races can be heated and test friendships and then asked each candidate what they would do to ensure harmony after the election.

Herbrich answered first: “I don’t think that it has gotten as heated as the paper has suggested. I think Mark and I are still friends. I’m running for the County Attorney’s office, not against Mr. Elvig. I’m running on my experience, my record and what I’ve done. I don’t think we will have hard feelings for each other when this is over. I definitely don’t have hard feelings against Mr. Elvig. We both hotly want to win this race. We’re trying to get our message out there of who we are and what we are about.”

Elvig agreed with Herbrich: “I don’t have any personal animosity toward Mr. Herbrich. It hasn’t been a problem. In fact, we sat at the same table at the La Grange Chamber of Commerce (banquet) a week ago. I don’t think that’s a problem. Let me make it clear. I’m not running for Mr. Herbrich’s job. I’m running for his boss’s job. And I think I can bring new direction to that position. I’m not looking to replace him, per se, as the assistant county attorney. I think I can do some good as the County Attorney.”

The forum also featured the two candidates for Fayette County Republican Party Chairman: incumbent Deborah Frank and challenger Michael Schlabach.

Frank focused on her experience and training in running the primary election. Schlabach said he wants to increase membership and participation in the local party.

The Record live broadcasted the entire forum on our Facebook page. You can watch it online at https://www. facebook.com/fcr.news.

An edited video will also appear on our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@ fayettecountyrecord.