Live election coverage: Do Peoria voters favor incumbents? Recent trends say they do. Journal Star staff
5:50 p.m.
Generally speaking, modern-day Peoria s city elections have favored incumbents in office. Since 2001, there have been 52 seats up for election between at-large seats and district seats (that includes two unexpired terms for at-large seats in 2017). Only five sitting council members have been defeated over that time:
In 2005: 2nd District Councilwoman Marcella Teplitz lost to Barbara Van Auken.
In 2005: 3rd District Councilwoman Gale Thetford lost to Bob Manning. (She s seeking to reclaim the seat in today s balloting.)
In 2013: 2nd District Councilwoman Barbara Van Auken lost to Chuck Grayeb.
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Candidates are critical of big money spending in local politics.
Sid Ruckriegel was the biggest spender but didn t advance to the general election.
Experience. A track record. Building a diverse coalition. Even learning from a loss.
Those are among the factors that the two finalists in Peoria s mayoral race believe helped them to advance to the April 6 general election.
Both Rita Ali, who finished at the top with 39% of the vote, and Jim Montelongo, who finished second with 24%, said they thought voters rewarded their experience in public life.
Ali has served on the council for two years, but she said her experience runs deeper than that.
In Peoria s first election for an open mayoral seat in 20 years, Election Day has arrived.
With 23 candidates vying to make it through the primary election for seven different positions, there s plenty going on, but we ve got you covered.
Check out some of the common questions voters have ahead of the big day (mark it on your calendars).
How long are polls open today?
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
How does a primary work?
In Peoria, any time more than two candidates are running for mayor, treasurer, clerk or a district council seat, there s a primary election. For each office, the top two vote-getters in the primary go head-to-head in the general election. There s always a general election, even if someone in the primary gets more than 50% of the vote.