Candidates for mayor, city council, city clerk, school board and other local offices made their way to the Knox County Clerk’s office and the Galesburg Board of Election Commissioners on Tuesday to file their intent to run in the April 2025 Election.
Tuesday was the first day candidates could file nomination petitions for the April 1, 2025, Consolidated Election. Candidates have through Nov. 18 to file nomination petitions.
Two candidates filed for the office of Galesburg mayor on Tuesday — incumbent Peter Schwartzman and former mayor John Pritchard. Since Schwartzman and Pritchard were both in line to file petitions when the office opened Tuesday morning, a lottery to determine ballot placement will be conducted at 9 a.m. Nov. 19.
The positions of Galesburg City Council members in Wards 2, 4 and 6 also will be contested in April, and just one of three incumbents filed to run for re-election Tuesday.
Two candidates filed Tuesday in Ward 2 — challenger Wendel Hunigan and incumbent Wayne Dennis.
No candidates filed in Ward 4, a seat occupied by Dwight White. White had not filed as of 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Greg Saul filed for the Ward 6 seat currently held by Sarah Davis. Davis had not filed as of 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Neither White nor Davis responded Tuesday to WGIL’s inquiry to confirm whether or not they will seek re-election.
Also filing Tuesday at the Galesburg Board of Election Commissioners office were incumbent City Clerk Kelli Bennewitz, along with incumbent Township Assessor Laura E. Williams.
Lisa M. Watson, executive director of the Galesburg Board of Elections, tells WGIL no other candidates had filed nomination petitions as of 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Candidates running for office must be 18. Otherwise:
No person shall be eligible to the office:
- Unless he is a qualified elector of the municipality and has resided therein at least one year next preceding his election or appointment; or
- Unless, in the case of alderperson, he resides within the ward for which he is elected; or
- If he is in arrears in the payment of any tax or other indebtedness due to the city; or
- If he has been convicted in Illinois state courts or in courts of the United States of malfeasance in office, bribery, or other infamous crime.
WGIL will continue to update the list as petitions are filed, and also report on candidates for District 205 Board of Education and other races as they become available.
