Alderpersons Mike Brownfield and Lilija Stevens sit next to each other at Washington City Council meetings.
The seating arrangement in the council's new meeting room at Five Points Washington makes sense because Brownfield and Stevens are the two elected officials who represent Ward 1 on the council.
Brownfield and Stevens were seated next to each other again Saturday in the Washington Public Library meeting room at Five Points, but for a different reason.
They were there for a Washington mayoral candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria. More than 100 audience members, many of them standing, crammed into the room
Brownfield and Stevens are competing in the April 1 election to be the first new Washington mayor in a quarter century.
Gary Manier, who has been the city's mayor for 24 years, longer than any mayor in Washington's 200-year history, isn't running for re-election.
Stevens, an alderperson since 2019 who previously led an effort that resulted in Washington voting overwhelmingly to make city elections nonpartisan, lost to Manier in the 2021 mayoral election by just 78 votes. Manier won 1,557 to 1,479.
Brownfield has been an alderperson since 2013 after being the chairman of the city's zoning board of appeals.
Brownfield's alderperson term expires this year, so he'll be off the council if he loses the mayoral election. Stevens would continue to serve as an alderperson if she loses April 1 because her term expires in 2027.
The mayoral candidate forum was cordial, with Brownfield and Stevens touting their own qualifications and goals instead of criticizing the opposing candidate.
"I like Mike. We have friendly conversations, even when we disagree," Stevens said.
"When I first joined the council, it seemed like every vote was unanimous (in favor)," Brownfield said. "The first time I voted no, jaws dropped. Everyone on the council wants to do what's best for the town. That's why when I walk out of a council meeting, I don't hold any grudges."
After Brownfield answered a question at the forum about how to improve communication from the city to residents, Stevens quipped, "You must have read my notes."
"I got them from Roger," Brownfield responded, eliciting a laugh from Stevens.
Former District 50 Superintendent Roger Stevens is Lilija Stevens' husband.
Here are some other highlights from the forum:
Brownfield says he hasn't made a decision on the proposed amphitheater
Brownfield cleared up what he called a misconception and a quote.
"I've read (on social media) that I'm in favor of building the amphitheater," he said, referring to a $12 million amphitheater proposed to be built on the city's "223" farm property off U.S. Route 24 as a gift from former Washington resident Jim Hengst through his not-for-profit Hengst Foundation.
"I haven't made up my mind on the amphitheater," Brownfield said. "I still have lot of questions that need to be answered."
A Feb. 10 council meeting had two amphitheater-related questions on the agenda, which drew an engaged crowd of more than 100.
Brownfield called the meeting a "circus," which was reported by two media outlets.
He clarified Saturday that he was referring specifically to audience member Casey Doremus and Hengst Foundation interim director of entertainment Nick LeRoy launching personal attacks against each other during public comment and audience members responding loudly to comments made by LeRoy.
"I have little tolerance for audience members doing that when someone is speaking at a council meeting," he said.
Downtown restaurant developers' disputes with neighbors frustrate candidates
While both Stevens and Brownfield said they support and want the $9 million downtown square restaurant under construction to be a success, they're frustrated with unresolved legal and monetary disputes between developer CL Red and the restaurant's neighbors, the Washington Historical Society and sculptor Marlene Miller.
"Plus, I thought the restaurant's redevelopment agreement with the city was rushed through and I didn't agree when some (TIF) money was given by the city to the developers before work was done," Stevens said.
Brownfield said the council and city need to make sure the "i's are dotted and t's are crossed" on future projects this size.
"The restaurant has been a learning experience for the city staff and council," he said.
The city's redevelopment agreement with CL Red still lists December 2023 as the required opening date for the restaurant. No opening date has been announced by CL Red.
Brownfield, Stevens do have common ground
The mayoral candidates agreed that:
- A town hall meeting should be held regarding the amphitheater. Council requested in December that the Hengst Foundation hold a town hall meeting, but an open house was held instead Jan. 22. A town hall meeting was again requested by council Feb. 10. No date has been set for the meeting.
- Communication from the city needs to be improved, and more community involvement in city issues and initiatives is needed. Stevens suggested forming a citizens advisory committee, advertising on city platforms how residents can participate in local government, and inviting residents to meet monthly with elected officials. Brownfield would like to see "Coffee with the Mayor" and "Coffee with the Police Chief" meetings revived. Meetings with city officials and officials from other Washington taxing bodies were advocated by both candidates.
- The city's Economic Development Commission should be revived. It hasn't met since 2021.
Here are the candidates' pitches, goals and ideas
Slick printed information for both mayoral candidates could be picked up outside the meeting room by forum attendees.
Brownfield lists "complete, accurate and fact-based information on city media platforms accessible by everyone," more community engagement and economic development as his key goals.
"The balance of attracting new business to increase tax revenue while supporting current, local businesses is crucial," he says in his brochure.
Stevens' campaign slogan is "Building Trust Through Transparency."
"I have always believed local government works best when it's fully transparent and accessible to every resident," Stevens says in her information sheet.
During the forum, Stevens advocated for a city policy that addresses residents' concerns so they result in a resolution, reviving the city newsletter, transforming the message board in front of the Washington Fire Station into an electronic message board for the department and city, giving alderpersons an opportunity to advocate for their ward, and making the system for putting items on a council meeting agenda easier.
She also wants to revive the 911 remembrance walk. Brownfield served on the committee than planned the event.
"I haven't forgotten about residential speeding concerns, lack of safe sidewalks, pesky solar salespeople and fireworks two weeks before the Fourth of July," Stevens said.
Q&A's elicit revealing answers
Q: How will your governing style be different than Manier's?
A: "Well, first, I won't be the mayor for 24 years. And we'll have more discussions about issues." -- Stevens.
Q: Why are you running for mayor?
A: "I'm not doing this for Mike Brownfield. I have a great life. I want to give back to a place that has given me so much." -- Brownfield.
