Peoria's first-term incumbent and two city council members filed paperwork Monday to run for the city's mayorship next year.
Mayor Rita Ali, at-large council member John Kelly, and 2nd District council member Chuck Grayeb all submitted their documentation as the Peoria County Election Commission office opened at 8 a.m. Those names shouldn't come as a surprise to many. All three politicians have previously announced their intentions to run for mayor in 2025.
Ali was an at-large council member before running for mayor in 2021. That was an open race after four-term incumbent Jim Ardis announced he wasn't running again. Ali defeated former 4th District council member Jim Montelongo in the April 2021 general election by just 43 votes.
Ali is the retired vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion at Illinois Central College. She is the first woman and first Black person to hold the office in city history.
Kelly, a retired financial advisor with Morgan Stanley, has served as an at-large member on the council since 2019.
Grayeb is a retired Peoria Public Schools administrator and the dean of the Peoria City Council, serving as the 2nd District's representative since 2013. He was previously an at-large member for three terms.
Oct. 28 is the last day for candidates to file paperwork for the Feb. 25, 2025 consolidated primary in Illinois. The mayoral candidates must submit at least 828 signatures from qualified voters within the city of Peoria, though candidates usually go far and above the minimum to stave off petition challenges.
Any objections to nominating papers must be filed by the end of Nov. 4.
