Politics: 8 out of 11 Peoria City Council members think LaHood should be state’s attorney
I just received an invitation to a party for Darin LaHood, the former federal mob prosecutor who’s running for Peoria County state’s attorney.
The invite lists eight members of the Peoria city council who have endorsed LaHood, who is the son of retiring Congressman Ray LaHood (R-18th). These include Mayor Jim Ardis; at-Large council members Eric Turner, Gary Sandberg, George Jacob, Jim Montelongo, Ryan Spain; 3rd District Council member Robert Manning and 5th District Council member Patrick Nichting.
The three council members who didn’t endorse LaHood are Barbara Van Auken, 2nd District; Bill Spears, 4th District; and Clyde Gulley of the 1st District. I know that Spears and Van Auken are active Democrats (I’m not sure of Gulley’s party affiliation, nor how active he is in party politics).
Of the eight who endorse LaHood, I’m betting there’s only one among them who could be considered a mostly Democratic voter. So some of the support for LaHood may be based on party loyalty. But I’m not seeing the Democrats on the council flocking to jump on the Kevin Lyons bandwagon, either.
Crime has become a huge issue in the city, and council members hear complaints and concerns every day. Some of them are even victims of violent crime. Right after his election close to three years ago, Mayor Ardis tried to get all the players in crime prevention together to brainstorm for ways to alleviate the problem. Lyons showed Ardis the back of his hand by deriding the task force as a waste of his time.
That left a lot of bad feelings toward Ardis at Peoria City Hall. I think there are more than eight people around that horseshoe who want to see Lyons returned to the private sector, whether they are saying so or not.
The get-together will be held 5-8 p.m. Thursday, May 22, at Agatucci’s Restaurant, 2607 N. University.
Complimentary pizza and beverages will be served and campaign donations will NOT be solicited. I won’t be able to attend for work reasons, but I’ll be there in spirit.
