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UPDATED 8:30 P.M. | Rita Ali leads Jim Montelongo by 43 votes in the race to become Peoria s next mayor after the final tally of mail-in ballots postmarked on or before April 6.
Ali added two votes to her tally over Montelongo following the final count on Tuesday. The Peoria County Election Commission scheduled the final canvass for Wednesday.
“I m really pleased that we’re not looking at a one, or two, or three-vote difference; I’ve been in that situation before,” said Ali, referencing her 2017 one-vote loss to Dennis Cyr for the District 5 City Council seat. “I’m pleased that it s that much of a difference and I m looking very forward to serving as Peoria s mayor.”
Originally published on April 20, 2021 8:35 pm
UPDATED 8:30 P.M. | Rita Ali leads Jim Montelongo by 43 votes in the race to become Peoria s next mayor after the final tally of mail-in ballots postmarked on or before April 6.
Ali added two votes to her tally over Montelongo following the final count on Tuesday. The Peoria County Election Commission scheduled the final canvass for Wednesday.
“I m really pleased that we’re not looking at a one, or two, or three-vote difference; I’ve been in that situation before,” said Ali, referencing her 2017 one-vote loss to Dennis Cyr for the District 5 City Council seat. “I’m pleased that it s that much of a difference and I m looking very forward to serving as Peoria s mayor.”
PEORIA â In the closest Peoria mayoral election in recent memory, Rita Ali has become the first Black person and the first woman to be elected to lead the city, winning by a 43-vote margin.
Ali, 62, picked up just over 50% of the 16,554 voters to win the April 6 election, defeating 4th District Councilman Jim Montelongo, according to a final count released Tuesday afternoon by the Peoria County Election Commission. The results of that count are slated to be certified by Election Commission members Wednesday morning.
Montelongo has said that he plans to seek a discovery recount once that happens, given the closeness of the race. No other mayoral contest in the past 25 years has been as close, according to election records, and no other race depended upon hundreds of mail-in ballots to determine the final winner.
Rita Ali is officially Peoria s Mayor-elect, weeks after Election night came and passed.
The Peoria County Election Commission certified the results of the tight contest on Wednesday. Ali finished just 43 votes ahead of opponent Jim Montelongo.
Ali is the first woman and first African American to become Peoria s mayor in the city s history. Ali and other newly elected or re-elected officials will be sworn in on May 4.
“I think after 170 years and 54 mayors, becoming the first woman and the first person of color, African American, I think it speaks well of Peoria’s choice, Peoria’s direction, being open to diversity and embracing diversity,” she said to WCBU during an interview Tuesday evening. “Diversity plays very well in terms of progress for cities.”