Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Even if the margin of victory was tight in Tuesday’s primary, officials are happy that a mental health board will form after a referendum was passed, and a half-cent increase in the county will pay for what those officials say are much-needed services.

First Assistant Deputy Governor for Health and Human Services, Ryan Croke, says there were a lot of reasons for its passage, including the death of Sonya Massey almost two years ago.

“The Mid-Illinois Medical District Commission, the County Board, the Community Health Roundtable for the Community Foundation of the Land of Lincoln, all spoke with unanimous voices to say, ‘A mental health board would be a meaningful way to honor the memory of Sonya Massey,'” said Croke, one of the supporters of the referendum, on the WTAX Morning Newswatch.

Croke says it was also a rare occurrence of people from — in his words, all walks of life — coming together to say more mental health services are needed in this area.

“It brought together unlikely partners,” said Croke. “The veterans, the American Legion, SPARCC, the developmental disability-serving organization, our medical society, the doctors of Sangamon County, and organized labor. I could go on. There were so many corners of the community who don’t ordinarily work together.”

Croke says that included even Democrats and Republicans who worked together. He says maybe more problems can be solved or worked on by working together in those ways.

17,300 voters selected “yes” for the referendum, while 15, 421 voted “no.”