Springfield ICON (Inner City Older Neighborhoods) is endorsing political candidates for the first time. The group focuses on cleaning up blighted properties, reforming the city’s waste-hauling system and other efforts to revitalize neighborhoods. ICON chairwoman Carol Kneedler announced the group’s endorsements on March 25, saying that the group’s roughly 40 members voted on which candidates to support. “We have come together as one voice to address these long-term, very serious issues in Springfield that need to be addressed,” she said. “I think ICON may be of the opinion that some new voices, some fresh voices, and more importantly some voices with … a long-term vision for Springfield is an important part.” ICON is a political action committee, which allows it to endorse political candidates where a nonprofit could not. The group did not contribute financially to the campaigns of the candidates it endorsed.
ICON’s endorsements are:
Mayor – Jim Langfelder
Clerk – Rianne Hawkins
Treasurer – Misty Buscher
Ward 1 – T. Ray McJunkins
Ward 2 – Herman Senor
Ward 3 – Doris Turner
Ward 4 – Dave Varner
Ward 5 – Sam Cahnman and Andrew Proctor (tie)
Ward 6 – Cory Jobe
Ward 7 – Michael Higgins
Ward 8 – Ernie Slottag
Ward 9 – Jim Donelan
Ward 10 – Phil Chiles
This article appears in Mar 26 – Apr 1, 2015.
