A20 SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 2011
PEORIA CITY COUNCIL AT-LARGE CANDIDATES
BETH AKESON
Age: 56
Address: 4207 N.
Grandview Drive
Occupation:
None.
Family: Married;
four children.
Education:
Attended Whitman College and
the University of Washington (no
degree).
Civic, public or political experi-
ence: Vice chairwoman, Heart of
Peoria Commission; Parent Teacher
Organization president at Hines
School; Junior League; project co-
chairwoman, Peoria Junior League;
board member, Lakeview Museum,
Peoria Symphony and Crittenton
Crisis Nursery; Opera Illinois Cotil-
lion chairwoman; Historical Society,
fundraiser chairwoman; Peoria
Park District Zoo Feasibility Study
member; Friends of Glen Oak Zoo,
fundraiser co-chair; George Wash-
ington Carver Development, cabinet
member.
Endorsements: None listed.
VIEWS ON ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
Hotel project: Opposes the city’s
proposal on Marriott Hotel project,
but wants to see the Hotel Pere
Marquette restored.
Other development: Opposes the
use of tax-increment financing dis-
trict benefits for specific developers.
Believes the city has abused the
enterprise zone incentive beyond its
intention to promote development
of blighted areas. Supports redevel-
oping the Warehouse District and
the Main Street corridor, but doesn’t
believe the two areas should be
pitted against one another. Wants to
improve land-use decisions to help
make Peoria a more “distinctive and
attractive” place for businesses.
Quotable: “Good economic
development is the result of a city
recognizing the assets it has and
promoting them, and recognizing
what our weaknesses are and doing
the best to improve those.”
JIM STOWELL
Age: 50
Address: 300 W.
Northgate Road
Occupation: Se-
nior vice president,
Robert W. Baird &
Co. Inc.
Family: Married;
two daughters.
Education: MBA and bachelor
of science in finance, Bradley
University.
Civic, public or political experi-
ence: Peoria District 150 School
Board; Peoria Building Commis-
sion chairman; past president,
South-West Kiwanis Club Board;
First Federated Church, mission
committee chairman; Children’s
Hospital of Illinois board member
and past president; co-chairman of
the Children’s Home Association’s
Leaders of Tomorrow Campaign.
Endorsements: None listed.
VIEWS ON ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
Hotel project: Supports a con-
nected hotel with the Civic Center
but believes a more “reasoned
voice” is needed on the project.
Other development: Has
expressed reservations about the
East Village Growth Cell TIF District
because it doesn’t include Method-
ist Medical Center. Opposes loans
given to businesses at a time when
the city’s structural budget deficit
continues to be a problem.
Quotable: “The city has to be
focused on creating economic op-
portunities. I’m not an advocate of
corporate welfare.”
Coming next Sunday
The 10 candidates vying for five at-large Peoria
City Council seats weigh in on the budget and
neighborhood development issues.
GEORGE AZOURI
Age: 20
Address: 3638 W.
Cassadaga Court
Occupation:
Grounds mainte-
nance worker at
St. Sharbel Village
Apartments.
Family: Single.
Education: Attending Illinois
Central College.
Civic, public or political experi-
ence: Student trustee to the Illinois
Central College Board; Peoria Police
Community Relations Advisory
Committee; Illinois Community
College Board, student advisory
committee representative, also
serving on outreach and legislative
committees.
Endorsements: United Auto Work-
ers Local 974.
VIEWS ON ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
Hotel project: Critical of the
project, saying it was done “behind
closed doors” and was not “condu-
cive” to building “trust between the
taxpayers.”
Other development: Wants the
city to review all the ordinances
that might be unfair to businesses.
Specifically, says the city needs a
better “one-stop process” to allow
companies that are first opening in
the city to display grand open-
ing signs. Believes the city needs
to stop overusing the TIF district
option.
Quotable: “Cutting police and
fire are the easy decisions. Saying
no to the developers is the tough
decision.”
C.J. SUMMERS
Age: 40
Address: 1202 N.
Institute Place
Family: Married;
three children.
Occupation: As-
sistant director of
communications,
Grace Presbyterian Church.
Education: Associate’s degree in
English from Illinois Central College.
Civic, public or political experi-
ence: Heart of Peoria Commission;
Land Development Code Ad Hoc
Committee; Sign Ordinance Ad Hoc
Committee; editor of The Peoria
Chronicle; Grace Presbyterian
small-group leader.
Endorsements: None listed.
VIEWS ON ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
Hotel project: Opposed the vote
on the Marriott project and believes
it was done without any transpar-
ency.
Other development: Opposes
direct subsidies to private industry.
Opposes the use of enterprise-
zone incentives in the growth cells.
Supports the use of TIF district
incentives within the Warehouse
District and the Eagle View area
in South Peoria. Does not oppose
residential TIF districts, but believes
the East Village TIF District lacks “fo-
cus.” Supports a basic-city-services
platform of focusing on police, fire
and public works.
Quotable: “When you put every-
thing in economic development
and don’t deal with basic services,
we won’t get either. No one wants
to come into a community and live
and work where it’s unsafe and
where the roads are crumbling.”
CHUCK GRAYEB
Age: 61
Address: 510 W.
High St.
Occupation:
Retired school ad-
ministrator, Peoria
School District
150
Family: Single.
Education: Master of arts, educa-
tional administration and supervi-
sion, Bradley University; bachelor of
arts, Bradley University.
Civic, public or political experi-
ence: Former Peoria at-large city
councilman, 1995-2007; co-chair-
man, Peoria City/County Gang Task
Force; council liaison, Neighbor-
hood Development Commission,
Peoria Civic Center and Human
Resources Commission; vice-mayor
in 1998.
Endorsements: Peoria Police
Benevolent Local 27, AFSCME Local
3464, Peoria Firefighters Local 50,
city of Peoria Retirees, and City of
Peoria Retired Firefighters.
VIEWS ON ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
Hotel project: Believes the
redevelopment agreement on the
Marriott needed tweaking and
the agreement “wasn’t done in a
healthy way.”
Other development: Supports
the use of TIF district and enterprise
zone incentives on certain proj-
ects. Believes projects should be
viewed on their individual merits.
Supported the Midtown Plaza TIF
district and still believes it can be
a success. Also believes the city
needs to revisit owning and operat-
ing its waterworks, which is owned
and operated by Illinois-American
Water Co.
Quotable: “Because we made
mistakes in the past doesn’t mean
we should never take a risk in the
future.”
W. ERIC TURNER
Age: 64
Address: 6212 N.
Tealwood Circle
Occupation:
Retired Caterpil-
lar Inc. marketing
manager.
Family: Married;
three children and six grandchildren.
Education: Master of arts, DePaul
University; bachelor of arts, Univer-
sity of Illinois at Springfield; associ-
ates in arts, Illinois Central College.
Civic, public or political experi-
ence: Peoria city councilman, 16
years; Peoria Civic Center minor-
ity marketing committee; board
member, Peoria Area Commu-
nity Events, Southside Office of
Concern, Bradley University Chief’s
Club, Heartland D.A.R.E., Salva-
tion Army, Catholic Charities and
YMCA; Senior Citizens Commission,
council liaison; former member, Fire
and Police Commission; chairman
of Steamboat Days from 1991 to
1994; chairman of the 2001 Crit-
tenton Crisis Nursery auction; past
president of the Police Community
Relations Committee; City/County
Landfill Committee; Riverfront Busi-
ness District Commission.
Endorsements: Biz PAC, U.S. Rep.
Aaron Schock, Mayor Jim Ardis,
Peoria County Sheriff Mike McCoy
and Carl Cannon.
VIEWS ON ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
Hotel project: A strong supporter of
the Marriott project, saying if it doesn’t
happen, it would be the “death nail” in
Peoria’s Downtown hotel business.
Other development: Supports
the use of more TIF districts and an
expansion of the enterprise zone as
long as each opportunity is evaluat-
ed. Supports a residential TIF district
in the East Bluff. Believes the city
needs to attract “major projects” to
Peoria in order to bring in more jobs
and tax revenue. Says the city needs
more grocery stores, including one by
the Shoppes at Grand Prairie.
Quotable: “When we attract major
projects, we not only attract major
construction jobs but (the projects)
attract sales tax revenue and real
estate revenue. That will keep the
economy working.”
GARY SANDBERG
Age: 62
Address: 1810 N.
Bigelow St.
Occupation:
Architect.
Family: Two adult
children, two
grandchildren.
Education: Bachelor’s degree
in architecture and construction
engineering at Southern Illinois
University.
Civic, public or political experi-
ence: At-large Peoria councilman
since 1997; 2nd District coun-
cilman, 1989 to 1997; Peoria
inspections director, 1978 to 1989;
former board member, Peoria
Historical Association, Peoria City
Beautiful, Peoria Convention and
Visitors Bureau, and East Bluff
Neighborhood Housing Services.
Endorsements: Peoria Firefighters
Local 50, Peoria City Clerk Mary
Haynes, and A Brotherhood Aimed
Toward Education, both Freedom
Valley and Peo-Taz chapters.
VIEWS ON ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
Hotel project: Opposed the vote
on a $37 million public bond issue
for the Marriott project.
Other development: Supports
a basic essential-services-for-
taxes campaign of utilizing public
money to improve public safety,
streets and infrastructure. Typically
votes against the use of economic
incentives, such as TIF districts, but
recently approved of an agreement
providing 50 percent of new prop-
erty taxes for the development of a
Solazyme plant in the North Valley.
Quotable: “I want to believe
business wants the same things
residents want: safe streets, good
police departments and a fire
department that responds to fires.
That’s what I stand for and that’s
true economic development.”
CHUCK WEAVER
Age: 54
Address: 6000
W. War Memorial
Drive
Occupation:
Co-owner, Peoria
Builders; com-
mercial real estate
investor; and a restaurateur.
Family: Married; three children.
Education: Law degree, DePaul
University School of Law; bachelor
of science in business manage-
ment, Bradley University.
Civic, public or political experi-
ence: Chairman, Zoning Board of
Appeals; Heartland Region (includ-
ing Illinois) Young Life chairman;
Dunlap School Board; Youth Farm
Board, past president; Central
Illinois Young Life (2006-08 as
chairman); Bradley University Na-
tional Alumni Board and College of
Business Advisory Board; Children’s
Home Foundation Board.
Endorsements: Carol Holford,
neighborhood leader; Peoria County
Sheriff Mike McCoy; Seshadri Guha,
managing partner with CGN; Tony
Pierce, Heaven’s View Christian Fel-
lowship; U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock.
VIEWS ON ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
Hotel project: Believes it’s
counterproductive to second guess
past decisions but says the city
must “more effectively” analyze the
sharing of public and private risk
and be “absolutely transparent in
the process.”
Other development: Supports
the concept of “revitalization zones”
and wants to target the Main Street
corridor for the first one that would
attract working families back into
the inner city. Questions whether
the Warehouse District is the right
type of redevelopment project the
city should be pursuing. Not a big
supporter of economic incentives
and wants to see city government
make it easier for businesses to
function in Peoria.
Quotable: “How do you put a
Dunlap mentality into the center of
the city? I felt our Main Street cor-
ridor is the best place to do that.”
JOURNAL STAR, PEORIA, ILL.
RYAN SPAIN
Age: 28
Address: 6502 N.
Post Oak Road
Occupation: Vice
president of devel-
opment, Heartland
Partnership.
Family: Married.
Education: MBA, Bradley Univer-
sity; bachelor of arts in political
science and communications,
University of Illinois-Champaign.
Civic, public or political expe-
rience: Peoria city councilman
since 2007; 2010 Peoria Census
chairman; Peoria Civic Center,
council liaison; Peoria City/County
Shared Services Committee; Peoria
City/County Landfill Committee;
federal stimulus funding coordi-
nator; 2011 Budget Committee;
ArtsPartners, council liaison; IML
Legislative Affairs Committee;
Google Fiber Leader for Peoria;
Labor/Management Healthcare
Committee.
Endorsements: Illinois Treasurer
Dan Rutherford, Mayor Jim Ardis,
West Central Illinois Building Trades,
state Sen. Dave Koehler and state
Rep. David Leitch.
VIEWS ON ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
Hotel project: A strong supporter
of redeveloping the Hotel Pere
Marquette into the Marriott Hotel in
Downtown.
Other development: Supports
economic incentives like TIF district
and enterprise-zone benefits for
projects on a case-by-case basis.
Working with state lawmakers to
get the city’s enterprise zone’s life
extended beyond its 2013 expira-
tion date. A strong supporter of the
Warehouse District and revitalizing
that area into an urban neighbor-
hood.
Quotable: “We need to make sure
we take advantage of this Ware-
house District opportunity. This is a
once-in-a-lifetime shot for Peoria,
and we shouldn’t let it pass us by
because of a campaign strategy.”
ANDRE WILLIAMS
Age: 46
Address: 2401
W. Alta Road, Apt.
2702
Occupation: CEO
of A. Williams En-
terprises Inc., and
pastor and CEO of
Whole City Ministries.
Family: Married; four adult children.
Education: Attended Morehouse
College and DeVry University (No
degree information listed.)
Civic, public and political experi-
ence: President, Community Con-
struction Outreach of Peoria Inc.;
board member, Butler St. YMCA in
Atlanta, Ga., and Southside Medi-
cal Center; chaplain, Atlanta Union
Mission; local advisor, Project PACT
(Pulling America’s Communities To-
gether); community liaison, Emory
University; Rollins School of Public
Health, working session on youth
and gun violence; vice president of
G.R.I.E.V.E. (Grieving Relatives in
Every Violent Event).
Endorsements: None listed.
VIEWS ON ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
Hotel project: Expresses “quali-
fied support” of the Marriott project
but believes more discussions were
needed with all parties involved, in-
cluding the trade unions. He wanted
to see more of a dialogue on what
the project means for Downtown
redevelopment.
Other development: Encourage
business owners to provide input
on how best the city can streamline
the process of getting a building
permit and other approvals. Help
to develop a consensus toward
a “shared vision” on where the
community is headed, and develop
long-term goals. Supports a com-
prehensive approach to economic
redevelopment and not a singular
focus of improving the Warehouse
District or other specific areas of
the city.
Quotable: “One of the things
we have to do is we have to stop
making the hurdles so high and the
hoops so many that small busi-
nesses have to jump through in
order to develop.”