Two other races on the ballot Tuesday are for Mayor of Peoria and Peoria City Treasurer. Here are my endorsements for each of these:
- Mayor of Peoria: Jim Ardis — Running against incumbent Mayor Ardis is local activist General Parker. Unfortunately, under current state law, Parker is ineligible to serve if elected. Thus, for all practical purposes, Ardis is running unopposed. He is endorsed.
- City Treasurer: Gary Shadid — City Treasurer Reginald Willis is retiring and two candidates are vying to succeed him: Fifth District Councilman Patrick Nichting and local CPA Gary Shadid. Nichting offers little more than his fifth district representation as experience, whereas Shadid has been a CPA since 1983 and has experience in governmental accounting and auditing. Shadid is the more qualified of the two. He is endorsed.
Ah… CJ, by endorsing Parker, you could help to eliminate one more layer of nonsense from city government… why do we need a figurehead in charge of our city council? If Parker is ruled ineligible to serve, we wouldn’t have a mayor. Simple isn’t it?
I still don’t get the city manager / mayor deal… we hire one guy who is qualified to manage a city and another guy who who looks good in a tux?
Other than personality conflicts, isn’t Shadid waaay more qualified for this job than Nichting? I would think some accounting experience would be a pretty big help in this job.
mazr — yup he is – imho. Pretty sure he’s better in the personality quals also.