Macon County Democratic Central Committee Chairman Jim Underwood is the new deputy director of construction for the Illinois Capital Development Board.

Underwood, 52, had been chief executive officer for Illinois Correctional Industries since April 2004 and served as a personnel manager for the Illinois Department of Corrections for about a year prior to that.

His appointment to the new post was effective Sept. 2.

As deputy director of construction, Underwood oversees all activity on nonroad, state-funded construction projects. He replaces Jim Riemer Sr., who was named Capital Development Board executive director earlier this year.

"I'm looking forward to helping with the challenges that the Capital Development Board and the construction division face," Underwood said.

Underwood is an electrician who began his four-year apprenticeship with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 146 in Decatur in 1978. He was an assistant business manager for the local for five and a half years and earned a bachelor's degree in labor studies in 2000.

He joined the Illinois Secretary of State's Office as maintenance and construction division chief for the state Capitol complex in January 2001, a post he held until January 2003.

The new post should have no effect on his duties as county Democratic chairman, the Maroa resident said.

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Macon County Sheriff Tom Schneider is preparing to announce a new chief deputy, the post he held until being appointed last month by the county board to succeed Sheriff Jerry Dawson, who retired Aug. 31.

The Macon County Merit Commission reviewed potential candidates and certified Lt. Ed Culp, head of the sheriff's office patrol division, and Lt. Larry Jones, jail warden, for appointment to the post, Schneider said.

A panel composed of Christian County Sheriff Robert Kindermann Jr., Shelby County Sheriff Mike Miller and Moultrie County Sheriff Jeff Thomas met Friday and interviewed the two candidates. The three sheriffs will give their individual choice for the post to Schneider separately rather than holding a discussion to reach a consensus.

"They are doing an assessment for me and will give me a name," Schneider said. "I'll go with that person. This gives both men equal opportunity with no political favoritism involved."

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A quick update on the state's attorney's ballot in Fayette County: Greenville attorney Daniel Goggin will have his chance Nov. 4 at unseating Democratic incumbent Stephen Friedel, but it will be a long shot.

Goggin has filed to run as a formal write-in candidate. He had to make that declaration with the county clerk or any write-in votes he received would not have counted.

His filing came after the Fayette County Electoral Board twice barred his name from the Nov. 4 ballot, once in April when he tried to enter the race as a Republican candidate and again in August when the GOP put his name forward for a second time. Friedel filed successful legal challenges to both those efforts.

In between flirting with the GOP, Goggin sought to file as an independent candidate, but the filing of another legal challenge by Friedel caused him to withdraw his name.

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Tuesday is the first day that nominating petitions can be circulated for the April 7 municipal and township elections.

Decatur City Clerk Celeste Harris said she isn't distributing petitions before Tuesday. The city will be electing a mayor for a two-year term and four council members, one for a two-year term and three for four-year terms.

Larry Foster recently was appointed to fill the seat vacated by Michael Carrigan, who was appointed mayor following the resignation of Paul Osborne. While Carrigan said he would not run for mayor next year, he recently indicated he is reconsidering.

Foster, who has served two previous terms on the council, said he hasn't decided if he'll run for a full term.

"Each week is interesting, and at this point, I'm enjoying what I'm doing and I feel like I'm helping make a difference, but I haven't made any decision yet," Foster said.

ringram@herald-review.com|421-7973 and klowe@herald-review.com|421-7985.