Don Jensen bests Jim Olson for La Salle County Board Chairman seat

The third time was a charm for Donald Jensen.

Republican candidate Jensen on Tuesday night holds a lead against incumbent Democrat Jim Olson for La Salle County Board chairman.

Jensen, an Ottawa resident, had twice before sought the job but was defeated. This time, he had a lead of 26,229 votes, or 53.15% of the vote, while Olson, of Seneca, collected 23,123 votes, or 46.8% of the vote Tuesday.

Those figures are unofficial, but with fewer than 1,000 outstanding ballots countywide, according to La Salle County Clerk Lori Bongartz, Jensen's lead is too much for Olson to catch at this point.

"I guess the third time was a charm," Jensen, one of the lead organizers for the Republican Party in the county, said shortly before the final totals were realized. "At this point in time, I'm really thankful for all the support and help that I've received these last few months and the votes I've received tonight, and truthfully, I praise the Lord for all the blessings he's sent our way. There was a lot of hard work that went into this.

"But my plan right now to to just get into the office and take a look and become more familiar with everything than what I am now with what's going on in the county and simply to work to make things better."

Olson, who could not be reached for comment, was seeking election after having been appointed to that post in February 2019. It was under his tenure the county hired a budget director who helped preserve millions of dollars in grants.