VanKampen leads Whiteside County Treasurer race

MORRISON – Republican Penny VanKampen is poised to secure a full two-year unexpired term as the Whiteside County Treasurer, according to preliminary election results.

With 100% of precincts reporting on Tuesday, VanKampen had collected 16,402 votes, or 62.14% of the 26,396 votes counted.

Democratic candidate Kristin Nicole Walrath had collected 9,994 votes, or 37.86% of the votes counted on election night.

Those results are subject to change through Nov. 17, as outstanding mail-in ballots continue to be submitted to, processed and tabulated by the Whiteside County Clerk's Office.

Further updates to vote totals and the race's outcome can be found at shawlocal.com/election/results/.

VanKampen's projected victory keeps her in the position, which the Whiteside County Board appointed her to in September 2019 to serve the rest of Darlene Hook's term after Hook retired.

Prior to that appointment, VanKampen had been the deputy treasurer, joining the department in 2010 after spending 13 years in banking.

She received a glowing endorsement from Hook, who said that VanKampen would operate the treasurer's office with "efficiency and integrity."

Walrath, who has 10 years of finance experience in the private and public sector, had received endorsements from U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-17th) and from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, but those weren't enough to carry her past VanKampen.