A political unknown who filed to run in Peoria’s April mayoral race has been indicted for submitting forged nominating petitions.
Jake Ryan, 23, faces 13 felony counts of perjury, mutilation of election materials, and forgery tied to the paperwork he filed with the Peoria County Election Commission (PCEC). A Peoria County grand jury issued the indictments on Tuesday.
“Maintaining integrity in our elections is fundamental to our democracy, and anyone attempting to undermine this principle should anticipate serious charges,” Peoria County State’s Attorney Jodi Hoos said in a media release.
Ryan, a Richwoods High School graduate who has spent most of his life in Peoria, joined incumbent Mayor Rita Ali and current city council members Chuck Grayeb and John Kelly in filing nominating packets in late October to run for the office.
He withdrew from the race on Nov. 6, four days after objector Brian Barkley filed a complaint with the PCEC. That case never went before the election board.
Eleven people provided sworn statements indicating they had not signed Ryan’s nominating petition, even though their names were on the documents.
A self-described “entrepreneurial consultant,” Ryan had vowed to bring 1,000 jobs to Peoria within four years if elected.
A primary between Ali, Grayeb and Kelly will be held Feb. 25, with two candidates advancing to the April 1 consolidated general election.
