Beth Akeson News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

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 revi...

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 vo...

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 accordi...

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...

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...