PEORIA When Rita Ali takes the oath of office on Tuesday to become Peoria s next mayor, she ll be giving up her at-large seat on the City Council.
That will launch what recent history suggests will be a weekslong effort to find a replacement who will serve through the next City Council elections, in April 2023.
How will Ali s seat be filled, and who will fill it?
Ali said last month she intends there to be a fair and open process to fill the vacancy, though she has not yet detailed what steps that process will involve.
So far, she said, the process to replace her has not been reviewed or discussed with her colleagues around the horseshoe. That discussion, she said, will take place soon after the new council is sworn into office on Tuesday. After that, the city has up to 60 days to fill the vacancy.
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.
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.