Aaron Chess is announcing his candidacy for Peoria's 1st District council seat.
Chess is challenging incumbent councilwoman Denise Moore. Calling himself a "product of these projects," he is a native of the First District, which includes Peoria's South Side and North Valley neighborhoods.
He made his campaign announcement Saturday in front of the old Harrison School, a dilapidated symbol of disinvestment in the city's South Side.
"If we tear it down, we build back up. We either put a community garden, or we put community centers, or homes, to ensure that this place is used properly, and not just a place for vacant buildings and rodents to run in and out," he said.
The old Harrison school was built in 1901 and has remained vacant since the new Harrison Community Learning Center was built in 2010.
Chess proposes a "Buy Back the Block" initiative, wherein community members buy back property one block at a time to fix up old homes and businesses or tear down and build anew to revitalize the city, with the goal of local ownership.
He also wants to build up trade and vocational career opportunities for 1st District residents through Illinois Central College and the high schools, and take a localized approach to combatting the area's food access issues.
"I believe where we should start now is more local. We have to support our local businesses. We have a lot of men and women that have business endeavors, and I 100% back local businesses before we bring in another chain store to help ensure that money stays in our community," he said.
Chess said fixing up infrastructure like roads and sewers, and improving community-police relations by requiring officers to live in the areas they patrol would be among his other priorities if elected.
He also said he'd regularly hold town hall meetings at community locations like the Carver Center and Boys & Girls Club if elected. Chess unsuccessfully ran for an at-large council seat in a crowded field of candidates last year.
The election for Peoria City Council is next year.
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