Illinois

Choices Set In Peoria Council District Races; Wide Margin Lifts Jackson

WCBU | By Tim Shelley,

Published February 23, 2021 at 10:11 PM CST

The incumbents in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Peoria City Council Districts will move to the April 6 general election.

In the 1st District, which includes the South Side, downtown, and the North Valley, former TV news reporter Denise Jackson led two-term incumbent Denise Moore with 57% of the vote. Moore had 28%. Both will move onto the April election. Aaron Chess came in third, with just under 15% of the vote.

Councilman Chuck Grayeb earned 46% in the first round of his bid to retain his 2nd District seat, serving the West Bluff and parts of Central Peoria. Originally elected to the position in 2013 after serving as an at-large representative from 1995-07, Grayeb will face Peter Kobak in the April 6 general election. Kobak, a recruiter for District 150, received 35% of the vote, while James Kemper earned 20%.

Incumbent Tim Riggenbach garnered 51% in topping the 3rd District race and will square off against former Council member Gale Thetford, who represented the area from 1997-2005. Thetford received 37% of the primary vote, while Lawrence Maushard got 13%.

Jim Montelongo’s successor in the 4th District chair will either be attorney Steve Kouri or Methodist College Dean of Students Andre Allen. Kouri, who serves as chairman of the Peoria Liquor Commission, picked up 50% of the vote, while Allen got 43% as he makes his second bid to join the council. Patricia Melaik ran third with 7%.

Montelongo was one of the top two finishers in the mayoral primary, along with council member Rita Ali. Both will run again in the April 6 election.

Advancing in the four-candidate race for City Treasurer were Brooke Sommerville (36%) and David Beck (20%).

In the race for the Democratic nominee for Peoria Township Supervisor, one vote separated challenger LaTrina Leary (3,054) and incumbent Frank Abdnour (3,053). That race is still too close to call.

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