PEORIA
Jim Montelongo is taking a wait and see approach on his decision whether to challenge Rita Ali s 43-vote win in the city s mayoral race in court. I can t tell you what our next steps are yet as we have to see what happens next week, Montelongo told the Journal Star as he was cleaning out his desk in the City Council chambers after Tuesday night s meeting.
By that, he s referring to the results of a discovery recount Tuesday the same day Ali will be inaugurated to determine whether to take the next step and bring a court challenge.
If he chooses to, it s not expected to upend the planned inauguration ceremony for Ali and the five district council members. A far-tighter result in the Decatur area in 2018 was taken to court, and it didn t affect the swearing-in of the declared winner there, though that case is still ongoing.
More elected positions in Capital Township approved by Illinois Senate
sj-r.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sj-r.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Live election coverage: Peoria mayoral race too close to call, goes to mail ballots Journal Star staff
So far in the Peoria mayoral race, it’s Montelongo. But not by much.
By a 73-vote margin with 100% of precincts reporting Tuesday night, Jim Montelongo led Rita Ali for the right to be Peoria mayor for the next four years.
Montelongo received 7,983 votes, or 50.23%. Ali received 7,910 votes, or 49.77%. The totals included election-day ballots from all 95 city precincts, as well as early and mail voting. © Supplied photos Rita Ali and Jim Montelongo
Outstanding mail-in votes probably will decide who wins. There are about 675, is according to the Peoria County Board of Election Commissioners.
Live election coverage: Peoria mayoral race too close to call, goes to mail ballots Journal Star staff
So far it’s Montelongo, but not by much.
By a 73-vote margin with 100% of precincts reporting Tuesday night, Jim Montelongo led Rita Ali in the Peoria mayoral election.
Montelongo had 7,983 votes, or 50.23%, and Ali had 7,910, or 49.77%. The totals included election-day ballots from all 95 city precincts, as well as early and mail voting. © Supplied photos Rita Ali and Jim Montelongo
About 675 outstanding mail-in votes probably will decide who wins. That total is according to the Peoria County Board of Election Commissioners.
Ballots must have been postmarked no later than Tuesday and received at the election offices by April 20. That s when the final count is to be announced.
Live election coverage: Denise Jackson wins 1st District Council seat Journal Star staff
As results came in, several races began to tighten.
The race for the 2nd District seat on the Peoria City Council narrowed as challenger Peter Kobak winnowed incumbent Chuck Grayeb’s lead to just 115 votes with four precincts left to be counted.
Peoria s treasurer race was split nearly 50-50, with Stephen Morris holding a minimal lead over Brooke Petty Sommerville.
The mayor s race has gradually tightened throughout the night, with Rita Ali holding a slim 51-49 lead over Jim Montelongo with just 19 of the city s 95 precincts still remaining. Votes are mostly out in the 3rd and 5th districts, with a few additional precincts remaining to be counted in the city s 2nd and 4th districts.
vimarsana © 2020. All Rights Reserved.