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Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.
Daniel Decker
Incumbent
Age: 37
Education/Military Background: Associate’s degree from ICC; Paramedic school
Occupation: Firefighter/Paramedic for the City of East Peoria
Why are you running for City Council?
“I just enjoy being involved in the community and getting out and meeting lots of people. We have a lot of progress going on and I’d love to be there to continue to see it happen.”
What are some projects you would like the council to work on?
“Our streets are probably the first thing. (We have to) make sure other areas of infrastructure like water and sewer lines and public services … and safety is maintained. We have to continue the development in a responsible manner.”
What can the council improve on?
“Infrastructure and sometimes communication. We do so much homework on our own and I have found that some people would like us to tell them what our thought process was and what issues we had to work through.”
Why should East Peorians vote for you?
“I’ve done a good job over the last four years. I’d be willing to say I’ve been one of, if not the most, accessible commissioners. The (city council) has done a very good job in the worst economic times we could have thought of.”
Gary Densberger
Incumbent
Age: 54
Education/Military Background: Associate’s degree from ICC; business administration degree from the University of Illinois-Springfield
Occupation: Business development and member center manager at CEFCU
Why are you running for City Council?
“I’m running again because I’ve enjoyed serving and want to continue to work on a lot of the positive things that are going on in the city and want to continue working on infrastructure and a balanced budget.”
What are some projects you would like the council to work on?
“The priorities come down to improving infrastructure and balancing the budget. The continued development within the city is a key to that and if we do that intelligently, the development will provide the tax revenue to fuel those improvements.”
What can the council improve on?
“Continuing to improve on the infrastructure is vitally important. We need to apply some planning into the downtown and not just look at large businesses but try to plan for an area that will lend itself well to small businesses and a live/work environment.”
Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.
Daniel Decker
Incumbent
Age: 37
Education/Military Background: Associate’s degree from ICC; Paramedic school
Occupation: Firefighter/Paramedic for the City of East Peoria
Why are you running for City Council?
“I just enjoy being involved in the community and getting out and meeting lots of people. We have a lot of progress going on and I’d love to be there to continue to see it happen.”
What are some projects you would like the council to work on?
“Our streets are probably the first thing. (We have to) make sure other areas of infrastructure like water and sewer lines and public services … and safety is maintained. We have to continue the development in a responsible manner.”
What can the council improve on?
“Infrastructure and sometimes communication. We do so much homework on our own and I have found that some people would like us to tell them what our thought process was and what issues we had to work through.”
Why should East Peorians vote for you?
“I’ve done a good job over the last four years. I’d be willing to say I’ve been one of, if not the most, accessible commissioners. The (city council) has done a very good job in the worst economic times we could have thought of.”
Gary Densberger
Incumbent
Age: 54
Education/Military Background: Associate’s degree from ICC; business administration degree from the University of Illinois-Springfield
Occupation: Business development and member center manager at CEFCU
Why are you running for City Council?
“I’m running again because I’ve enjoyed serving and want to continue to work on a lot of the positive things that are going on in the city and want to continue working on infrastructure and a balanced budget.”
What are some projects you would like the council to work on?
“The priorities come down to improving infrastructure and balancing the budget. The continued development within the city is a key to that and if we do that intelligently, the development will provide the tax revenue to fuel those improvements.”
What can the council improve on?
“Continuing to improve on the infrastructure is vitally important. We need to apply some planning into the downtown and not just look at large businesses but try to plan for an area that will lend itself well to small businesses and a live/work environment.”
Why should East Peorians vote for you?
“I bring the most public service experience of all the candidates. I served on the school board for 10 years with four years on the city council. I am the only candidate with a background in financial services and management. I can provide leadership and insight to help the city reach its goals.”
Tim Jeffers
Incumbent
Age: 53
Education/Military Background: Associate’s degree from ICC in applied science
Occupation: Defense and Federal Product Division of Caterpillar
Why are you running for City Council?
“I’ve enjoyed (being on the council) very much. We’ve accomplished a lot of things in four years, a school addition, development with Bass Pro Shop and others … and there’s a lot more to do.”
What are some projects you would like the council to work on?
“I think we’ll be working on a larger expanded capitol program to address streets and infrastructure. We’re looking at a four or five-year plan for things further out. I want to serve another four years to continue on.”
What can the council improve on?
“We’ve had close to 20 working sessions and made an effort to be very open to the public. Townhalls would be something I’d like to try in the future.”
Why should East Peorians vote for you?
“I think I have a well-rounded background with experience in working with people and the public and I can bring that to the table and build on the past work I have done.”
Chad Joos
Age: 29
Education/Military Background: Business management degree from Bradley University
Occupation: Self-employed real estate broker for Joos Realty Co.
Why are you running for City Council?
“It’s important to have a council who has a set of skills that are pertinent to the issues that the city faces and I feel that I’m qualified to sit on the council to provide some insight. I feel I’m well-equipped to provide input.”
What are some projects you would like the council to work on?
“Over the next four years, I think it’s imperative that the city puts as much of a focus as possible, financial and otherwise, on infrastructure improvements and updates. It’s important for the city to focus its efforts and finances as much as possible.”
What can the council improve on?
“We could absolutely improve on the allocation of funds. It’s important to prioritize and I think we could improve on our basic services. We’ve been treading water or keeping up recently, and it’s important not only to keep up, but to make progress, particularly for the streets.”
Why should East Peorians vote for you?
“It’s important for a city council to be made up of individuals with the best skills that can help the city tackle the challenges it’s facing. As the only small business owner, I think my skill set is absolutely unique and pertinent to the challenges that East Peoria faces.”
John Kahl
Age: 45
Education/Military Background: Graduate of Academy of our Lady Spalding Institute; six-years of active duty in Marine Corps.
Occupation: Territory Manager for Sysco Guest Supply
Why are you running for City Council?
“There’s a ton of reasons. One of the biggest concerns I have … is the lack of fiscal responsibility. Our infrastructure is absolutely crumbling and we pay high taxes.”
What are some projects you would like the council to work on?
“I’m a proponent of fiscal responsibility and I truly believe every level must be trained to live within their means. I’m going to ensure our city council does that. I’m going to focus on infrastructure.”
What can the council improve on?
“I want to involve the public more, with transparency. The communicating with people just isn’t there. Part of being a public servant is ensuring that the public not only has the details on everything that’s voted or brought before the council, but understands it.”
Why should East Peorians vote for you?
“It’s vitally important to have fiscal responsibility and ensure that local government is disciplined enough to live within its means. I can ensure that if I’m elected, that will be the case and the best interest of the community will be served by me.”
Seth Mingus
Age: 31
Education/Military Background: Master’s degree in educational administration from Bradley; bachelor’s degree in history education from Illinois State University
Occupation: Dean of Students at Pekin High School
Why are you running for City Council?
Over the the last 10 years, I’ve served on the library board (fox six years) and township board (last four years) and decided that the next step for me was city council. I enjoy public service and it’s something that I felt in my heart was the right thing to do.”
What are some projects you would like the council to work on?
“Basic public services are the things we should be working on over the next four years and even beyond that. Balancing the basic public services with growth in general is going to be a major challenge and task for the next city council.”
What can the council improve on?
“Basic public services. (The residents) want their garbage to be picked up, want the fire department and paramedics to respond and want police officers to be there. The current city council has not done a bad job, but as the city has gotten bigger, some of the basic public services haven’t been focused on as much as they should.”
Why should East Peorians vote for you?
“City council is something where you want to put in someone who knows what they’re doing. If you take the candidates and ... look at their experience in public service … I think I’m right up there at the top.”
Judy Minner
Age: 46
Education/Military Background: Studied Business Management and liberal arts and science at Illinois Central College
Occupation: Realtor, Coldwell Banker Honig-Bell
Why are you running for City Council?
“A lot of it has to do with being involved in the community and wanting to get more involved with the community, watching what’s happening and wanting to make a difference for the people of East Peoria.”
What are some projects you would like the council to work on?
“Dealing with the street situation and building the infrastructure to support all the new development they’re doing. I’d like to address property taxes. I understand the city has done a good job in keeping their portion of the tax bill in line, but when you have everyone’s taxes continually going up, I’d like to address that.”
What can the council improve on?
“(The council can improve on) managing the budget, common sense decisions, making people aware of what’s going on, putting information out there for the people and having more transparency within the council.”
Why should East Peorians vote for you?
“I really feel that East Peorians need representation. Everyone deserves to be heard and everyone deserves to have a voice and that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to be a voice of the people.”
Zachary Oyler
Age: 26
Education/Military Background: Master’s degree in business administration from Robert Morris; bachelor’s degree in business administration from Robert Morris
Occupation: Logistics Planning Analyst at Caterpillar
Why are you running for City Council?
“There’s a lot of needs out in the community and I think they’re looking for city councilmen to try and meet those needs. I’ve always had a strong interest in politics and government and decided I wanted to take the next step and run.”
What are some projects you would like the council to work on?
“(The) No. 1 (project) is infrastructure. I think we need to allocate some of our expenses to find more money to do some very much needed waterline and road work.”
What can the council improve on?
“Communication and keeping our citizens informed of what’s going on in the community. I think we need to have a website or some type of communication to tell citizens where the city council is with their decision making and what issues are up for discussion and what the impact will be on the taxpayers.”
Why should East Peorians vote for you?
“The main reason people should vote for me is I can guarantee I’m going to be out in the neighborhoods meeting with people, finding out what the issues are and working for them to try and meet those needs. It’s all about serving the citizens of the community.”
