Tag Archives: Jim Montelongo

2011 Election, City Council, City of Peoria

So far, five people are definitely running, and two definitely aren’t

3 Comments

City Council hopefuls have six days to file petitions to be placed on the ballot. Today, five candidates filed:

  • Ryan Spain (incumbent)
  • Eric Turner (incumbent)
  • Chuck Grayeb (former councilman)
  • Chuck Weaver (Zoning Board of Appeals chairman)
  • Jim Stowell (District 150 School Board member)

Two incumbents are definitely not running:

Potential candidates have to collect a minimum of 165 signatures to be placed on the ballot, and they have until 5 p.m. next Monday (Nov. 22) to file. Incumbent Gary Sandberg is expected to file at 4:59 p.m. on Nov. 22, as is his usual practice. He likes to be the last name on the ballot. As for who will be first on the ballot — we’ll find out tomorrow. It will be one of three people: Spain, Weaver, or Grayeb. They filed at the same time, so their names will be placed in a lottery to determine their order on the ballot.

If more than 10 people run, there will be a primary on Tuesday, February 22, 2011. The general election will be held Tuesday, April 5, 2011.

2010 Election, Chamber of Commerce

Chamber endorsements always a mystery

51 Comments

The Journal Star is wondering why the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce PAC endorsed Jehan Gordon over Jim Montelongo. I suspect it has everything to do with Montelongo’s vote against the Wonderful Development back in May. The Journal Star didn’t mention that the Chamber PAC also endorsed Lynn Pearson for County Board over Karrie Alms, even though Pearson is also a Democrat and no friend to business. Why? Alms is opposed to the current plan for the museum, which the Chamber supports, and Pearson was for it.

It appears to me that the Chamber has a litmus test for candidates. You have to endorse the Chambers’ pet projects or you will not be endorsed by their political action committee. Your philosophy or record on business issues is irrelevant to them.