PEORIA -- The Journal Star endorsements are in, and I have finally heard all the candidates (complete info on them here) speak and answer questions, so it's time for my endorsements in the Peoria City Council race. All candidates are running at large, against each other.
First the criteria: I will never knowingly endorse a candidate who wants to roll back the clock on social issues. They must support women's reproductive rights without limitations, be pro-gay rights, be pro-science (no creationism, please!) and pro-environment. In short they must be progressive.
Why bother in local elections? You never know where a successful local candidate will land.
Cong. Aaron Schock is a good example of what can happen. Shock was so cute when as a teenager he ran for the Peoria District 150 School Board. Then suddenly he was elected to the Illinois General Assembly, then Congress, where he is a hard right-winger who votes against every progressive idea that comes up, from children's health benefits to NPR.
Who knew he would turn out this way? I know many who helped him get elected to the school board who are still kicking themselves.
And we want to elect people who care about the city or the school or park district as an end in itself, not as a stepping stone to bigger things -- another office, a prestige job. (Think Aaron Schock again.) They're more likely to make good decisions on local issues, less likely to sell out to developers.
Three candidates for the Peoria City Council deserve support: Beth Akeson, Chuck Grayeb and Gary Sandberg.
These candidates care about Peoria, and especially about its heritage neighborhoods and historic preservation to enhance them, one of the city's greatest and irreplaceable assets. They would reverse the recent council decision to weaken the city's historic preservation ordinance.
They care about neighborhoods and communities, and are very suspicious of school closings which destroy the communities that form around schools. Grayeb has called for Woodruff High School to be reopened.
Everyone in the city has five votes, to spread among 10 candidates. The fewer votes a voter casts, the stronger the vote. So don't vote for anyone just to fill out the ballot. If you don't want them, don't vote for them.
Now for the other candidates:
Eric Turner: He voted against the historic preservation ordinance and keeps changing his mind on issues.
Ryan Spain: Too connected to developers. Ambitious.
Chuck Weaver: Goes to a fundamentalist church. Not sure of his progressive views. On the plus side he seems to get it, that Peoria's economy must change for it to be a liveable city for all. But what has he done in business to facilitate that? He's endorsed by the Chamber of Commerce which never met a budget cut or union busting initiative it didn't like. (Union busting decreases wages, which improverishes citizens and taxpayers.)
George Azouri: Is only 20 years old and hasn't lived long enough to have enough wisdom.
Jim Stowell: Reminds me of the Shakespeare line: "Me thinks he has a mean and hungry look." Why is he running for the City Council when all he talks about is the schools, where he is on the board? Also I've seen him in action and I fear he lacks the temperament to be on the council, including patience and the willingness to listen to citizens.
C.J. Summers: Also goes to a fundy church, and likely not progressive in his social views. His blog is often full of insight, and I like his stand on more openness on the council. But he was writing against the Kellar Branch trail without disclosing that he took money from Guy Brenkman! Until my question at a public meeting forced him to disclose it.
Andre Williams: Not sure of his progressive views. He's full of business talk about strategic planning but then what? Talk is cheap, governing is hard.
More information. Here are the important dates:
- March 14-31. Early voting.
- March 9-29: Grace period voting, where a person can register and vote at the same time. (Use this option if your address has changed since the last election.)
- April 5. Consolidated general election.
- Absentee voting: call the Peoria Election Commission at (309) 494-VOTE (8683) to receive an application for absentee ballot mailed to you. You don’t need to give a reason. See the website at http://www.peoriaelections.org/ for complete voting information, including a sample ballot, and polling places.
-- Elaine Hopkins
Your statements about me and the Kellar Branch situation are completely false, as I've explained to you many times before. I did not take money from Guy Brenkman. After writing about the Kellar Branch for years, I did agree to do one job for Pioneer Railcorp (creating a PowerPoint presentation for them to use in their commuter rail proposal to Peoria Heights), but I disclosed it immediately on my blog, not in response to any question from you in any public meeting. There was never any impropriety in my coverage of the Kellar Branch situation.
Please stop publishing false information.
Posted by: C. J. Summers | March 21, 2011 at 03:33 AM
Elaine... your reporting sucks. Is this why you're no longer at pjstar? There must be something driving your bitterness.
Posted by: yumhuyk | March 29, 2011 at 07:01 PM
Yumhuyk: Thanks for the comment and the attack. But what, exactly, is your complaint about the reporting? Be specific. Don't just attack the messenger, critique the message. Otherwise you will receive an F on this comment.
Posted by: Elaine Hopkins | March 30, 2011 at 01:41 AM