Live blog: Greater Peoria Area coverage of the 2025 General Consolidated Election

Voters in the two-school District 52 in Washington overwhelmingly approved the issuing of $23 million in bonds for the construction of a new Lincoln Grade School.

The referendum passed with 62.25% voting in favor and 37.74% voting against, with 2,310 votes counted in total.

District residents will see an estimated $11 per month increase in property taxes on a $100,000 home, $25 per month for a $200,000 home and $38 per month on a $300,000 home. The bonds will be paid back over 25 years.

In return, residents will receive a new Lincoln Grade School building on the 32-acre campus of Washington Middle School.

The current Lincoln Grade School administrators say the aging building has issues with climate control, infrastructure, small classrooms and crowded hallways.

The building was built in 1949 and serves more than 400 kindergarten through 4th grade students.

The new building is expected to be finished in time for the 2027-28 school year.

Incumbent LaTrina Leary is set to return to her position as supervisor for Peoria Township.

Leary, a Democrat, received 44.15% of the total vote on election night, while Republican challenger Anita Meeker received 25.39% and Independent candidate Frank Abdnour received 30.46%.

Abdnour’s run was an attempt to return to the seat after an absence. He previously lost as the incumbent to Leary in 2021’s Democratic primary by just a handful of votes. Leary moved on to an unopposed General Election.

The Peoria Township office primarily handles property assessment and various programs addressing poverty in an area contained entirely within the Peoria city limits.

Former city council member and mayoral candidate Jim Montelongo is the winner of the race for Peoria city treasurer.

Montelongo defeated opponent Brooke Petty Sommerville by more than 1,600 votes. Montelongo received 55.18% of votes, while Sommerville received 44.82%.

Montelongo, who narrowly lost a mayoral election to second-term mayor Rita Ali four years ago, says his time as an at-large city council member gave him an appreciation for city finances and the annual budget process.

The position of city treasurer is being vacated by Chet Tomczyk, who agreed to not seek election when he was appointed to fill out the unexpired term left by the resignation of Stephen Morris last May.

Some of Montelongo’s other stated priorities include going after outstanding money owed to the city, increasing communication with the public and participating in discussions on pushing back the deadline to have public service pensions fully funded.

Peoria City Council fifth district representative Denis Cyr will return to his seat for a third term.

A former pro hockey player and financial adviser, Cyr soundly led the election against challenger retired Caterpillar scientist Hind Abi-Akar.

Cyr received 63.82% of the district’s votes, Abi-Akar received 36.18%. The gap totals more than 1,000 votes.

Abi-Akar campaigned on an analytical approach to the city council seat, with a focus on public safety and business growth.

Cyr pointed to his track record as the basis for his campaign and said the relationships he had fostered in the position were too valuable to stop now.

He said projects like development within Tax Increment Financing districts required continuity and his return to the seat.

Cyr has also been one of the most vocal proponents for measures intended to lower property taxes on City of Peoria residents.

He introduced a measure late last year to freeze the city’s tax levy, which narrowly failed to pass a divided city council.

If a very slim election night margin holds, Andre Allen is returning to his seat in the Peoria City Council’s fourth district.

Allen passed challenger and political newcomer Jamie Messmore by just 79 votes, at 2,043 to 1,964. The Peoria County Election commission has about two weeks to continue counting mail-in ballots, with a final certification date of April 15.

Mail-in ballots could tip such a thin margin either way.

In addition to being a city council member, Allen is also employed by Peoria County as the Chief Officer of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Some of his priorities for his re-election include raising the public perception of safety, improving road quality in the large and diverse district and continuing economic development.

Messmore is an owner of three Molly Maid cleaning service franchises. She says her business experience qualifies her for the fiscal responsibilities of serving in government.

During the campaign, Messmore raised issues with some of Allen’s actions on the council, including his approval of the city council’s purchase of the PNC Bank building in downtown Peoria from Cullinan Properties and his opposition to the ordinance banning public camping and homeless encampments.

Messmore also pointed to the Big Hollow Road Best Buy’s planned move from Peoria to East Peoria as a sign the business community in District 4 is looking for new leadership.

Andre has defended his votes as the correct decision for the time and circumstances. He says he’s not concerned with replacing the Best Buy, as the space will attracting another business.

Andre points to new businesses like Aqua Tots, Academy Sports and Raising Canes as signs the district continues to attract further investment.

The race for Peoria City Council’s District 2 seat teeters on a very thin margin with all precincts reporting their election night results.

Peoria political newcomers Alex Carmona and Estrella Diaz are competing to fill the vacancy left by long-serving councilmember Chuck Grayeb. Grayeb failed to advance his mayoral run past the primary.

The candidates are running to represent a sprawling district including the Center and West Bluff neighborhoods and downtown. A strip of central Peoria in the district also includes Bradley University and Illinois Community College.

As of election night, Carmona holds a 73 vote lead over Diaz, at 1,360 to 1,287.

The Peoria Election Commission has about two weeks to continue to count mail-in ballots that are received before the April 15 deadline when final results are certified.

When contacted by WCBU, Carmona, an artist, said he’s “cautiously optimistic” his lead will hold. He said, whatever the outcome, he’s proud that both District 2 candidates ran a “very clean race.”

Caterpillar employee Diaz said either outcome is a win. Either she will lose and begin working on places to improve for future political endeavors, or she will win and fill the seat.

“Either way, it’s the people’s choice, it’s what the people want,” Diaz said.

Diaz ran with aiding low income families, increasing affordable housing and addressing crime as priorities of her early campaign.

After advancing from the primary, she told WCBU she wanted to increase her focus on the district’s small business community in the leadup to the general election.

Carmona ran a campaign largely focused on business development and a hands-off government approach to growing the local economy.

After advancing from the primary, Carmona told WCBU he wanted to strengthen his messaging on improving district infrastructure.

First-term incumbent Denise Jackson is set to return to the Peoria City Council horseshoe.

The teacher and former broadcast journalist unseated Denise Moore for the seat four years ago. This year, Jackson soundly defeated challenger James Kemper, a design director at Demonica Kemper Architects.

Election night results show Jackson with 75.73% of votes, while Kemper received 24.27%. The gap totals almost 1,200 votes from the district’s residents.

Jackson said she’s “excited, humbled and thankful” to receive a second term.

“I think it says a lot about the work that we have put forth over the last four years,” she said. “I could not have done the things that I was able to accomplish in the First District without the support of Mayor Rita Ali. I’m grateful for her leadership, grateful for the opportunity to serve.

“But we have only scratched the surface in terms of the work that we hope to accomplish. Hopefully with another four years, we’ll be able to continue some of the progress that we’ve begun.”

District 1 traditionally included Peoria’s South Side; it now includes the Warehouse District and portions of the West Bluff after redistricting.

Kemper ran on a platform of being “smack dab in the middle” of the three areas making up the district. Some of his priorities included reducing crime, facilitating job creation and encouraging business growth. One of Kemper’s specific infrastructure plans was improving the intersection at Main Street and University Street near the Bradley Campus.

Jackson told WCBU she wanted to return to her role to keep Peoria on the “right track.” She also cited affordable housing availability and neighborhood investment as major priorities of her platform.

Kemper previously lost a bid for the District 2 seat in 2021 and was a finalist for the at-large council appointment eventually filled by Kiran Velpula.

Pekin City Council member Dave Nutter has been re-elected, while newcomers Jimme Fletcher and Peg Phillips have claimed the other two open seats.

Nutter topped the six-way field for the three available spots with 19.34% of the 3,577 ballots cast. Fletcher was just seven votes behind Nutter at 19.26% and Phillips came in third at 18.1%.

The trio finished ahead of Matthew Johnson (16.47%), incumbent appointee Chris Onken (16.19%) and Christopher Hogue (10.67%) in the unofficial Tazewell County results posted Tuesday.

Lilija Stevens is set to be the first new mayor of the city of Washington in 24 years and the first woman mayor in the city’s 200-year history.

The Washington council member surpassed fellow council member Mike Brownfield with 2,295 votes (54.56%) to 1,911 (45.44%).

Election night totals are unofficial, as county election commissions will continue counting mail-in ballots over the next two weeks.

If her lead holds, Stevens replaces Mayor Gary Manier, the longest serving mayor in the city’s history. Manier announced he would not run for a seventh term last year.

Stevens ran on a platform of government transparency. Some of her suggestions include a city newsletter, an electronic message board in front of the Washington Fire Station and simplifying the system through which council members can put items on meeting agendas.

Stevens has been vocal about her desire to see a town hall meeting with the Hengst Foundation, the developers of a proposed $12 amphitheater project on city-owned land that has been a hot button issue at city council meetings.

Stevens previously led an effort to make city elections in Washington nonpartisan, which passed overwhelmingly.

She lost to Manier in an earlier 2021 mayoral run by just 78 votes.

Todd Sluder will fill the Ward 1 Alderperson vacancy left by Brownfield’s mayoral run. Sluder received 626 votes (53.78%), while candidate Paula Johnson received 538 (46.22%).

Only 15 votes separate the candidates running for Metamora village president, according to Tuesday’s unofficial vote totals.

Challenger Dawn Deeb has 300 votes to incumbent John Cummings’ 285, with Woodford County’s election website indicating all precincts reporting.

That represents less than a 3% advantage for Deeb (51.3-48.7%).

Developer and real estate agent Adam White will be the next mayor of Delavan, replacing retiring longtime Mayor Liz Skinner.

White received 56.6% of the 336 votes counted in the Tazewell County city’s lone precinct, outdistancing city council member Ben Ross (26.5%) and Nicholas Georgi (17.0%).

A former Marine Corps veteran, White emphasized attracting new businesses to Delavan. He is a partner in the redevelopment of multiple downtown establishments, including The Exchange and Trio’s Pizzeria.

It is 7 p.m. and polling sites are closed across Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties.

As polling places receive their last ballots, election commissions will begin counting votes. Peoria County Election Commission Executive Director Elizabeth Gannon told WCBU early votes and vote-by-mail ballots will be the first counted and posted by the commission.

County election commissions begin posting result updates in the hours following the polling places shutting down. The results posted tonight are unofficial and subject to further counting as additional vote-by-mail ballots come in during the allowable two week time frame.

Gannon says Peoria County results will be certified as final on April 15.

Peoria County result updates throughout the night are available here, Tazewell County counts are available here and Woodford County counts can be viewed here.

The City of Washington elects their first new mayor in 24 years tonight.

Mayor Gary Manier chose not to run for re-election and a seventh term. He served longer than any mayor in Washington’s 200-year history.

Council member Mike Brownfield is running for the position against fellow council member Lilija Stevens, who had previously unsuccessfully campaigned to unseat Manier. Stevens lost the 2021 mayoral election by just 78 votes.

The candidates outlined their platforms at a League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria forum in February. The forum was largely cordial, as described by WCBU reporter Steve Stein.

Both candidates highlighted their own accomplishments and avoided discussing the opposing platform.

Both candidates also stated they believe a town hall meeting should be held regarding one of Washington’s largest current political topics: the proposed construction of a $12 million amphitheater by the nonprofit Hengst Foundation on the city-owned 223 property at the intersection of U.S. Route 24 and Nofsinger Road.

Council members and Washington residents have raised a litany of concerns with the project, including noise, feasibility and a perceived possible conflict of interest that resulted in a council request for a legal opinion.

Both candidates also say city communication should be improved and the city’s Economic Development Commission, which hasn’t met since 2021, should be revived.

Stevens’ campaign slogan is “Trust Through Transparency.” Some of her proposed measures to increase transparency are a city newsletter, an electronic message board in front of the Washington Fire Station and streamlining the system for council members to put items on a meeting agenda.

Brownfield has advocated for “complete, accurate and fact-based information on city media platforms accessible by everyone” and an economic development policy focused on attracting new business to increase tax revenue.

Candidates Paula Johnson and Todd Sluder are running to replace Brownfield’s Ward 1 council seat, it’s the only contested election in the handful of seats left open by council member’s choosing not to run for re-election.

Peoria County Election Commission Executive Director Elizabeth Gannon says they haven’t encountered any problems or abnormalities at their polling places through the first 10 hours of Election Day.

“It has been slow but steady,” said Gannon, estimating about 8,000 ballots cast throughout the county as of 4 p.m. “We’re going into our last three hours here, so people will be getting off work and hopefully we'll have more people showing up still.”

Gannon said early voting saw 4,166 ballots cast ahead of Election Day. She said the election commission has already received more than 9,000 vote-by-mail ballots and she expects another 500-600 are yet to arrive.

“Those results that you see tonight are not official results,” she said. “We will continue to count to vote-by-mail ballots as they come in for the next two weeks. As long as that vote-by-mail ballot is posted by today, Election Day, it can be processed and counted.”

Gannon said the early votes and vote-by-mail returns that are already in her office will be the first results posted tonight, likely by 7:30 p.m. She said they will add to the counts every Tuesday and Thursday before the final results are certified on April 15.

She said there are no provisions in the state election statute that would trigger an automatic recount.

“It does have to be requested by the candidate,” she said. “we will definitely cross that bridge if we get there. We are anticipating some very close races for this election, so we'll just see how that plays out.”

One of the five district seats on the Peoria City Council is guaranteed to have a new representative. One incumbent is assured of another term, while three others face a challenger in their re-election bids.

Newcomers Alex Carmona and Estrella Diaz are vying for the open District 2 seat long held by Chuck Grayeb.

Carmona has identified neighborhood infrastructure and business growth among his priorities. Diaz emphasized a desire to work for the people to enact change, while helping businesses access needed resources.

Grayeb vacated his District 2 position to launch a bid for mayor, but failed to advance from the three-way primary.

Tim Riggenbach is running unopposed in seeking a fifth term representing District 3.

In District 1, first-term incumbent Denise Jackson is challenged by James Kemper. Jackson says she wants another four years to keep Peoria on a pathway to progress, while Kemper believes prioritizing business growth will help the city grow its tax base and increase revenue.

Like Jackson, District 4 council member Andre Allen is making his first bid for re-election. He is opposed by first-time candidate Jamie Messmore, a local business owner. Both candidates list public safety, infrastructure and economic development as priorities.

Allen also says developing strong community relationships is key to accomplishing goals, while Messmore stresses a need to hold down property taxes and focus on business retention.

In District 5, incumbent Denis Cyr is opposed by retired Caterpillar scientist Hind Abi-Akar in his race for a third term.

Cyr, a financial advisor and former pro hockey player, says he offers continuity for the district while maintaining a focus on business growth, infrastructure, and fiscal responsibility. Abi-Akar has criticized Cyr’s voting record and says she would bring analytical perspectives to the city council.

Polls close at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The results are scheduled to be certified after two weeks to allow tabulation of vote-by-mail ballots postmarked no later than April 1.

The elected council members will be sworn in during a special City Council meeting on May 6.

Joe Deacon

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WCBU

As Peoria residents head to the polls on Election Day, arguably the biggest choice they face is whether to give first-term Mayor Rita Ali another four years in office, or change course by electing at-large City Council member John Kelly for the top position.

Ali has said she believes Peoria is in a better place than it was four years ago, and she’s earned an opportunity to continue in the same direction.

“We’ve made good progress over the past 3½ years,” Ali told WCBU after launching her re-election bid. “We’ve had surplus budgets; we’ve seen progress in economic development. We’ve seen progress in numerous areas of growth and opportunity within the city.

“I think that, for the most part, people are satisfied with my leadership and the work that has been done.”

Kelly, who has served on the city council since 2019, has emphasized a focus on growth and economic development since announcing his mayoral bid.

“We need to change Peoria from being a stagnating city to a real growth city,” Kelly said following a mayoral primary debate in January. “The key to that is the people of Peoria, and if they’re not getting there, it’s public policy that’s holding them back.

“I want to change public policy to free up the people of Peoria.”

Ali was chosen on 52.2% of the ballots cast in the three-way primary on Feb. 25, while Kelly finished with 24.3% and advanced ahead of fellow city council member Chuck Grayeb by a little more than 100 votes.

The 2025 General Consolidated Election is underway.

Polls are open throughout Tazewell, Woodford and Peoria counties until 7 p.m. tonight.

WCBU will begin posting election result updates as counts are shared in the hours following polls closing.

Some races monitored closely by the newsroom today include mayoral races in Peoria and Washington, contested city council seats in Peoria and the Morton 709 school district board. You can find more information about those races and their candidates in the linked stories.

Follow the links here for polling place information for Peoria County, Tazewell County and Woodford County.