19-year-old to run for Council

A 19-year-old Illinois Central College student is the sixth person to seek election to an at-large seat on the Peoria City Council. George Azouri of 3638 W. Cassadaga Ct. in the City’s fourth district filed his petitions with the Peoria Election Commission on Tuesday. He’s a student member of ICC’s Board of Trustees, and was recently appointed to the Mayor’s advisory committee on police-community relations.

10 thoughts on “19-year-old to run for Council”

  1. Hmmm, why he’s bothering with this since he is obviously equally well qualified to seek a position on the Board of Directors of CAT or a major bank, or as the Provost at Bradley or the U of I, or even better as the financial and retirement planner for the families of those who vote for him.

    While I’m sure that he is a well intentioned, bright and articulate young man with a fine future, I find it bordering on impossible that any 2009 high school graduate attending ICC should be on the City Council.

  2. spikeless. I have worked with a number of young candidates. Some are mature, some not, some listen, some vote the way of their employer. I am not dismissing anyone until I have met with them. There are a number of elders who don’t have the sense the good lord gave cabbage. I will know more shortly

  3. Paul, I have also met and worked with young people, in politics, work and life and I would agree with your comments with respect to maturity and related matters. That being said, I still have yet to meet any 19 year old that I felt should be a city council member for a city of 100,000. I suspect that somewhere such people exist but I haven’t had the honor. I certainly don’t mean these comments as a slam at the young who are involved in their communities. Quite the contrary. I applaud them and their efforts.

  4. The City Council could use some more youth to get a fresh perspective. As a young professional in Peoria, I feel that we’re often one of the most overlooked demographics in the City — and if the City wants the Warehouse District redevelopment to thrive, we’re the ones who they need to court. Getting more young people living and working downtown would be a great first step to revitalizing downtown, instead of chasing most of the young professionals to the apartment complexes of northwest Peoria.

    That being said though, 19 is a tad too young for my tastes on the city council — I don’t want someone not old enough to drink to be voting on liquor licenses, for instance.

  5. Fresh face. Fresh ideas. Not old enough to be tainted by the good ole boys. Give him a chance. In two years he will be old enough to vote and drink in the meantime he can vote on a lot of other things with an open mind. I’m sick to death of the good ole boys and their muddy minds. Give the new kid on the block a chance to show us what he can do.

  6. SD and others.
    In stead of forming an opinion early, I met with this young man for about 4 hours. I think he has potential,ideas he is willing to work on, and most certainly has energy, interest, and enthusiasm. I will agree he has some things to learn, but having been involved with numerous candidates in the past, even “seasoned” individuals don’t often have a strong grasp on several of the items before the council. Quite frankly listening to some of the questions asked during meetings, it’s clear that some current members are not reading their packets,meeting with constituents (note the plural), and getting necesary information ahead of time. It is beneficial to have a good mix of people on the city council. I have also met with Chuck Weaver and believe that he can bring skill to the council that is currently missing. I am reserving any opinion on others new in the race as I have not met them at this time. I will admit that I do consider voting track records both for incumbants and other’s holding office in other areas.

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