Page 30 - Andre Allen News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

PEORIA — Andre Allen did not have to sweat out Tuesday's election results.  An unlikely chain of events led to a rare uncontested race in Peoria City Council's 4th District, leaving Allen a clear path to the seat. Some observers have grumbled about the possibility of behind-the-scene machinations that might've helped Allen while also lending a hand to his former opponent, Steve Kouri, who unexpectedly pulled out of the race last month. But this purported political plot — which would have involved Gov. JB Pritzker pulling strings in Peoria's council contests, a conspiracy involving Pe...

Originally published on April 6, 2021 2:04 pm The day has finally arrived. Peorians are about to select the city's next mayor. At-Large Councilwoman Rita Ali and 4th District Councilman Jim Montelongo were the two candidates who made it through the February primary. Incumbent Mayor Jim Ardis opted not to run for a fifth consecutive term.   Ali is the vice president of workforce and diversity at Illinois Central College. She was elected to an at-large seat in 2019 after narrowly losing the 2017 race for the 5th District seat to Denis Cyr. Montelongo is a three-term councilman and CEO of A...

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. (...

Originally published on March 10, 2021 5:14 pm Andre Allen will appear alone on the April 6 general election ballot for voters in the City of Peoria's 4th Council District. The Peoria County Election Commission says Steve Kouri formally withdrew from the race before ballot printing began. Kouri came in first place in the February primary, with more than 50% of the vote. Allen came in second, with 42.8%. Third-place finisher Patricia Melaik drew 6.7%. But Kouri withdrew from the race after accepting an appointment to the Illinois Human Rights Commission. Allen is dean of students at Method...

Steve Kouri / Facebook Steve Kouri is dropping out of the race for the District 4 Peoria City Council seat to take an appointment on the Illinois Human Rights Commission. The story was first reported via a statement Kouri released to the Peoria Journal Star. He confirmed the report in an interview with WCBU. “One of my platforms for the city council was creating more opportunities for people with disabilities. I'm going to be able to do that for all minorities statewide, including Peoria,” said Kouri, who has cerebral palsy. Gov. JB Pritzker announced Kouri's appointment to the commis...