Stark County Republican chair Mike Bigger of Wyoming was elected Tuesday evening to become the state central committeeman for the 18th Congressional District. The district runs from Bureau and Stark Counties through Peoria and way down to Pike County and includes all or parts of 20 counties.

Unofficial totals show Bigger defeating incumbent state central committeeman John Birch of Pike County by a vote of 32,900 to 26,658.

Bigger received strong backing from U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, congressman for the 18th District. 

As state central committeeman, Bigger will participate at the highest levels of the state Republican Party.  There are 19 state committeemen and they elect the chair of the Illinois Republican Party.

This is the first time in history, so far as The News knows, for Stark to be directly represented on the statewide committee.

Also on Tuesday night, Bigger was re-elected chair of the Stark County Republican Central Committee.  Coleen Magnussen was elected secretary-treasurer and Jim Nowlan, vice chair of the local committee.

Republican committeemen also include Betty Hoy of Bradford, Jim Winslow of Elmira, Fulvio Zerla of Toulon, Buzz Melton of Wyoming, and Kyle Ham of Toulon.