Candidates file for Springfield City Council seats

Monday marked the first day to file candidate petitions for the municipal elections this spring, and hopeful candidates lined up outside the Springfield City Clerk’s office waiting for the doors to open. Ward 7 Ald. Brad Carlson, who usually presents a closely shaven face during city council meetings, looked as though he may have skipped this part of his morning routine to be the first in line.

Carlson said he arrived at the city building at 4:30 a.m.

“People were eager to sign my petition, so I just wanted to show them that, ‘Hey, thanks for signing, thanks for the trust you’ve given me to run again,’ and so I kind of want to return the favor and be the first in line,” he said.

So far, he’s the only incumbent alderperson seeking reelection who is running unopposed. Even so, his campaign reports more than $67,000 in funds available as of the Sept. 30 quarterly report provided to the Illinois Board of Elections, making him one of the council members with the largest war chests. 

Potential candidates have until Monday, Oct. 26, to file their candidate petitions. Alderpersons serve four-year terms and can only run for a total of three consecutive terms. It’s considered a part-time job with council members being paid an annual salary of about $15,500. 

Here is the list of candidates who have expressed their intention to run for a city council seat, although it’s possible others may join the race by the filing deadline.

Ward 1

Jeff Cox is running for alderman for the first time after being appointed to the role left vacant when then-Ald. Chuck Redpath forfeited the seat to be selected for the city clerk position in 2025.

The 45 year old is a defense attorney and a consultant for the cannabis industry.

“I’m looking forward to expanding Ward 1 as far as business goes, cleaning up some areas that are starting to get a little downtrodden, and continuing to help improve overall public safety – Springfield Police Department, Springfield Fire Department,” he said.

Maintaining high water quality is also top of mind for him, since Ward 1 covers Lake Springfield, the city’s and surrounding areas main drinking source.  

He wants “to make sure that it remains healthy and good, clean water can come out of that to provide for all the residents in the area.”

His challenger is Juan Huerta, 61, the deputy director for public engagement for the Illinois Secretary of State.

“One of the reasons I’m running is because of my experience in community relations. I was in the city for eight years,” Huerta said, referring to his time as the director of the Office of Community Relations during former mayor Jim Langfelder’s two terms.

“I care about the community,” he said. He said residents have approached him with concerns about electric bikes and speeding. 

Huerta added, “I want to work closely with the fire and police to make sure that we keep our citizens safe across the whole city of Springfield.” 

He said the management of Lake Springfield is another priority, including “making sure that we comply with EPA and different agencies to make sure the city maintains everything correctly.”

Supporting individuals who face homelessness is another issue he cares about and he said he would seek opportunities for job training with trade unions.

Ward 2

Shawn Gregory, 42, is a state employee seeking a third and final term on the city council.

“People encourage me to keep up the representation for our community,” he said. “We’ve made progress, but for my particular ward, it’s definitely a tall task to reverse decades of disinvestment. So, even with the great push that we’ve been able to do, there’s more work to be done, and I remain up to the task.”

Gregory reflects fondly on the veteran alderpersons who helped him when he first joined the city council at 35 years old.

“I had to lean on experienced politicians like now-Sen. Turner and Chuck Redpath that I sat between, and that has really helped me become what I think is a very, very good alderman,” he said.

He said he plans on returning the favor by supporting new alderpersons in the next term.

If reelected, he’ll continue to prioritize bringing more economic development, safe housing and beautification to the east side.

Mary H. Shanklin is challenging him for the seat. Illinois Times sought an interview with Shanklin but received no response. In a post on the LiUNA local 477 Facebook page, the organization describes Shanklin as a member.

Ward 3

Roy Williams, 67, a military veteran, is seeking his second term. 

“I want to finish some projects and some things that I’ve started over on the east side,” he said. 

He referenced pushing for demolition of vacant buildings and the future redevelopment of the former Pillsbury plant, where demolition is still underway.

If reelected, redevelopment and economic investment will continue to be his top priority. 

“That’s really what’s driving me to stay around again to keep building up the east side and making things better for the citizens in my ward,” he said.

Williams said he’d like to attract various businesses to the area, but is opposed to more gambling businesses and marijuana dispensaries in his ward. 

Williams is being challenged by Bill Eddington. The 62 year old, self-employed mason said, “I see a lot of potential on the east to northeast side of Springfield that could be brought to the attention of the city council.”

As alderman, he would support city services such as the police department and fire department and seek to address housing issues on the east side, including illegal dumping.

“Just a lot of basic issues have been overlooked, I think, for some time,” Eddington said.

“It’s going to be a tough race, and I’m going to give it my best shot,” he said.

Ward 4

Larry Rockford plans on leaving the city council after serving just one term.  

Brian Baskett, 51, a member of Ironworkers Local 46 for over 30 years, is seeking to occupy the seat.

“I’m running for office because I truly care about the north end of Springfield,” he stated in an email to Illinois Times. “Hard-working families need someone in their corner.”

As he’s knocking on doors collecting signatures, neighbors bring up concerns about traffic safety, home burglaries, fly dumping and homelessness in our community, he said.

“Hopefully, if I’m on the council, I can work well with all council members to try and remedy these situations,” he said. 

Another challenger is Sontae Massey, 55, who works for the city of Springfield. He said the death of his cousin, Sonya Massey, propelled him to get into politics. Massey said bringing awareness to mental health and advocating for resources would be one of his priorities if elected. He also seeks to be very accessible to constituents.

“In order to change things, you have to get yourself into it and you have to change it from the inside, and that’s what I intend to do,” Massey said. He served as the associate director of the Massey Commission, a body created to make recommendations for meaningful, systemic change following Sonya Massey’s killing.

In response to an inquiry from Illinois Times, corporation counsel Greg Moredock said there is no prohibition to prevent a city employee from running for an elected position in city government, as long as city resources aren’t used on the campaign. However, Moredock noted that according to the city’s consent decree, “…no alderman or the mayor, city clerk or city treasurer shall be eligible to any other office or employment except that of Mayor Pro Tem…”

Ward 5

Ald. Lakeisha Purchase joined the city council when she was appointed by former Mayor Jim Langfelder to fill the vacancy left by Andrew Proctor’s resignation in 2021 and defeated former Ward 5 Ald. Sam Cahnman to win her first election in 2023.

The 37 year old is a registered lobbyist, real estate investor and owner of 5th Street GEM, a downtown event space. “I am seeking re-election because the work we’ve started in Ward 5 is not finished,” Purchase told IT via email.

“Over the past four years, I’ve remained committed to being accessible, responsive and accountable to the residents I serve. We’ve made meaningful progress, and I want to continue building on that foundation, strengthening our neighborhoods and ensuring every resident has a voice in shaping Springfield’s future.

“My priorities remain focused on neighborhood revitalization, public safety, affordable and supportive housing, infrastructure improvements and economic development. I am especially committed to addressing vacant properties, improving neighborhood conditions, supporting small businesses and ensuring city resources reach the communities that need them most,” she said.

Purchase faces an opponent in her second bid for alderperson in 49-year-old Colin Phillips, a state employee with Department of Human Services, and a U.S. Army veteran. Like Purchase, he also lives in the Enos Park neighborhood.

“Honor, integrity, and compassion are the standards I live by, and they will shape every action I take in office,” he told IT via email. “I’m asking for the chance to serve Ward 5 with the same focus and accountability I’ve brought to every other role.”

He said his priorities if elected alderman would be open and accountable government, protecting the vulnerable and strengthening neighborhoods, and creating a community that looks out for its own.

“I’ll approach these issues the same way I’ve approached every previous responsibility: put others first, measure success by whether people are better protected and served and actively seek out the input of the neighbors I’m asking to represent,” Phillips said.

Ward 6

Incumbent Jennifer Notariano, 43, a state employee with the Illinois Capital Development board, was first elected in 2023.

Notariano said she is seeking another term “because I feel like there’s still a lot more to be done on the council in terms of making streets safer, streets more walkable and bikeable and slowing traffic down.” 

“Another big priority for me is to get the city to utilize the land bank so we can do something with our vacant and abandoned properties and our vacant lots,” she said. 

“I’d like to spur new construction in older areas of town like Ward 6, where we have vacant property.”

A housing program in South Bend, Indiana, that provides pre-approved house plans for single family and multifamily homes serves as a model for what can be implemented in Springfield, she said.

“So you can go to the city and select these plans and have your permits and things put on the fast track, so it’s easier for you to build,” Notoriano said.

Mark Mahoney, 58, enters the race already having completed two terms as Ward 6 alderman from 2003-2011. He then served as the director of the city’s Office of Public Works under Langfelder’s administration and has held varying roles in state government. Currently, he is the chief of staff at the Abraham Presidential Library and Museum.

“I just see a lot of things I’m frustrated about in our neighborhoods where I think we could have a stronger voice on the city council pushing for progress,” he said.

He said he’d advocate for an upgrade to the utility infrastructure and improving the appearance of the neighborhood.

“You see a lot of properties that are unkept or they’re bringing neighborhoods down, and people have complained about them, and they’re just not getting much response,” he said.

Mahoney previously served as president of Independent Coalition for Our Neighborhoods (ICON), a nonprofit that advocates for preserving the city’s historic urban core and addressing aging infrastructure and problem properties.

“To me, public service is a privilege, but it’s also a responsibility,” he said. “So, I decided instead of just complaining about some of those things, I would get involved again and run for the city council.”

The ward’s third candidate is Kevin Slot, 63, the owner of OREO Maintenance who has served as a minister at Father’s House International, a Christian church. He’s also been involved with the Ministerial Alliance of Springfield.

He told Illinois Times via email, “I have a strong sense of being called to run at this time.” 

Slot said if elected alderman, he’d focus on business development. 

“In talking with developers and businesspeople, I hear over and over that Springfield has one of the worst reputations in the nation for being business unfriendly to companies who want to invest here or even for individuals trying to start a small business here,” he said.

He said he’s less interested in the city budget and would rather focus on business development.

“So, what if we focus less on who gets what piece of that $200 million pie (city budget) and get busy working together to increase that $15 billion (the city’s gross domestic product) pie by 20%?  

Other issues that matter to him are improving safety and customer service from the Ward 6 alderperson, along with neighborhood beautification.

Ward 8

Two candidates have lined up to replace Ald. Erin Conley, who announced in early October that she won’t be seeking a third-term, citing the challenges of juggling personal matters and her full-time job. 

Kate Smith, 36, a legislative liaison at the Statehouse, said with Conley choosing not to seek reelection and only one other person running, she decided to seek the position.

“Ward 8 deserves to have a choice. I’m a firm believer that if I’m going to have an opinion and I’m going to complain, I need to try to jump in and that was a good opportunity,” she said. “I wouldn’t have tried to push Erin out because I was very appreciative of the work that she was doing.”

When asked what her priorities would be if elected alderperson, she said, “I really want to hear from the residents of the ward about what their primary concerns are,” Smith said. “I know that I have concerns for the vacant and unsafe buildings across Springfield and within Ward 8. I’m also very interested in picking up on projects, like the Koke Mill project.”

Teresa Tran, an account manager at Impact Life Blood Services, declared her candidacy for Ward 8 over the summer. 

“I’m running for alderperson just to give the city council a fresh voice and perspective on some of the things that the community is asking for,” she said. “I see that a lot of people are disconnected from local government and I would like to bridge the gap.”

Tran said she would seek to increase community engagement, and she hopes to spur more voter participation.

“I’m trying to reach not only the people who have been engaged, but the people who did not vote in the last cycle to really get them to understand what’s going on at the city level and how their voices can be heard,” Tran said.

Other priorities include developing a youth workforce program, encouraging small businesses to occupy vacant buildings and the revitalization of MacArthur Boulevard.

Ward 9

Voters will have to choose between two new candidates in Ward 9 since Ald. Jim Donelan is term-limited. 

C.J. Metcalf, 50, is the assistant deputy director at the Illinois Department of Insurance. He sits on several boards including as the clerk for the Sangamon County Water Reclamation District and on the Springfield Convention and Visitors Advisory Board.

Previously, he served on the Springfield Park District Board and was head coach of the Springfield Kings youth hockey team.

“I think that in today’s world, commonsense leadership in government is sorely needed,” he said. 

“I think with my record in state government, municipal and other local governmental bodies, I have the experience and the temperament to help folks make a difference.”

Public safety, infrastructure and economic development are areas he would focus on if elected.

“I think we need to be more enticing to bring businesses that want to stay here, grow here and invest here that can keep our folks and our families and our kids here and entice others to Springfield as a place that they want to be.” 

Andrew Spiro, 67, is retired from the Illinois Secretary of State and currently serves as an organizer with SEIU Local 1 helping Uber and Lyft drivers in Illinois form a union.

He ran as a Democrat for the Sangamon County Board in 2016 and lost to incumbent Tom Fraase.

Spiro previously served as a member of the Sangamon County Zoning Board of Appeals, and on the board for the Springfield Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority (SMEAA).

With his experience with labor and government, he said, “I could bring together people with different wants, needs and points of view, who don’t agree, but we can still get together and accomplish goals that improve not only Ward 9, but the city as a whole.”

He said addressing vacant buildings such as Old Towne Apartments, located on the corner of Jefferson Street and Bruns Lane, would be a top priority.

Ward 10

Ward 10 Ald. Ralph Hanauer is term-limited and can’t seek re-election, but so far only one candidate has filed to run for his seat.

“(Hanauer) was a pretty good alderman, so I’m going to try to follow in his steps,” said Mark Ziegler. 

The 72 year old is a husband and father of four who works as a real estate appraiser and owner of Ziegler Appraisal Group. 

“I just figured I’d help Ward 10 and try to help the city,” he said. “It’s an exciting opportunity. I look forward to learning a lot of stuff.”

He said he doesn’t have a specific agenda with his campaign, since “I’ve got to win first,” Ziegler quipped.

“I’m just going into it with an open mind,” he said.

As of now, it doesn’t appear a primary will be held Feb. 23, which would only take place if any race has five or more candidates. The municipal election is April 6.