Candidates for the races of Galesburg mayor, alderman and treasurer met face to face last night on The Orpheum Theatre stage.
Mayoral candidates John Pritchard and Walt McAllister gave their contrasting visions for the city.
Pritchard touted programs instituted in his last four years that have created what he calls a “pathway to the middle class”, like the Galesburg promise and skill manufacturing programs at the community college and high school.
McAllister says the city needs to do a better job of investing in businesses that will invest back in Galesburg.
“We no longer need to bring in outside companies that bring in low paying jobs and have no interest in developing the community,” McAllister says. ” We need to invest in people who are going to build their business and they’re going to buy their home and raise their kids.”
Elisha French and Jerry Reynolds, both write-in candidates for treasurer, laid out starkly different plans for the department.
French promises to forego the $12,000 salary and merge the office with the finance department within four years.
Reynolds insists that the treasurer needs to be a separate job done by an elected official.
The only contested alderman race in the 6th ward found Wayne Allen, Torry Carnes and Chris King giving a brief statement and answering a question.
Allen reminded voters of some accomplishments of his time on the council, including road repairs, the veteran’s memorial and ramps for veterans around the city.
Carnes, a retired Galesburg police officer, would like the city to focus on helping businesses that are located here but are currently in “trouble”.
Veterinary tech King is chair of the city’s Community Relations Commission and cites her desire to bring more youth and diversity to the council.
