A Knight in Dragonland

Probably the most controversial local issue around Pekin lately is the recently implemented impound ordinance. The financial success of this ordinance over the first three months of its existence is described here, and the Times editorial board discusses the issue here.
Like the Times editors, I have mixed thoughts about the ordinance. I can [...]

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The proposed parking code ordinance (discussed on this blog here and here) was tabled last night pending the recommendations of the traffic safety committee regarding on-street parking. Council Members Blanchard, Jones, Kortkamp, Dunn and Abel voted to table the measure, while Council Member Strand offered the sole nay vote. She didn’t see the [...]

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The Pekin Daily Times Opinion Page, in the space usually occupied by letters to the editor, included a section today entitled “Voices from the Web.” The topic: the proposed front yard parking ban. The reaction: based on the selection of “Voices” printed, overwhelmingly against. Eight out of nine “Voices” printed were opposed [...]

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I guess Pekin City Council member John Abel decided that if he was going to propose something extremely unpopular, he’d better do it early in his term so that people forget about it by the time his term comes up in 4 years.
But a night-time street parking ban? After all the uproar about the [...]

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City staff, council members and incoming Mayor Dave Tebben all sported emerald green bow-ties as Mayor Frank Mackaman adjourned the previous council and passed the gavel yesterday evening. New council members Barb Strand, John Abel, Rusty Dunn and the veteran Jim Jones were sworn in along with Mayor Tebben, joining Sue Ann Kortkamp and [...]

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Jonathan Ahl asked me an excellent question during our election coverage on WCBU, and I didn’t have a good answer for him at the time.  Jonathan asked if more competition in the race for mayor might not be better for Pekin.  Now I have an answer that’s a little better than “I like [...]

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Phew! I’m back from participating in WCBU’s election night coverage. I’d like to thank Jonathan Ahl for inviting me and my fellow panelists H. Wayne Wilson, C.J Summers and John Morris for not laughing at the new guy. It was good to meet all of you.
As any who listened will have noticed, [...]

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Mayor:
Dave Tebben – I think I’ve made my reasons for this choice abundantly clear.
City Council:
Barb Strand – She’s an honest, hard-working & experienced public servant with the interests of Pekin’s children at heart. Strand is the perfect pick for a pediatrician and father of four.
Chad Schmidgall – I think his architect’s vision and [...]

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Edgar Sandoval has a couple interesting yet quite disturbing posts regarding mayoral candidate William Toel.  In one post Edgar reveals Toel’s history of claiming to be a prophet.  In another post he accuses Toel of not just bending the truth, but of outright lies directed at Dave Tebben’s personal history.  On a [...]

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There’s going to be a Richwoods High School reunion on WCBU tomorrow night. Joining me (Class of 1990) will be fellow ex-Knights C.J. Summers (Class of 1988) and John Morris (Class of 1986). The evening will be filled with off-key renditions of the Richwoods fight song and talk about the glory days of [...]

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Pekin City Councilman Bill Maddox set up his own candidate forum at the Knights of Columbus hall on Wednesday. He was not able to attend the April 3rd forum and wanted this opportunity to address concerned voters.
The Journal Star article states that Maddox was unable to attend either the March 27 SBA forum or [...]

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… and the dance is called “the Twist.”
Edgar Sandoval has already blogged about this subject, but I think it bears repeating.  During the recent mayoral debate, Toel criticized Tebben for (1) failing to stop the sale of the Pekin High West Campus to Merle Huff and (2) opposing the federal prison.  John Neumann, a past [...]

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Mayor Frank Mackaman named Sue Ann Kortkamp to complete the remainder of Daryl Dagit’s term with the unanimous consent of the city council tonight. Kortkamp offers valuable experience and would seem to make a fine addition to the council. The Journal Star outlines her qualifications:
Kortkamp previously served on the council from 1983 [...]

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After watching the Daily Times / Friends of the Public Library forum, I think I have better idea about the personalities of the city council candidates and where they stand on the issue of a public smoking ban.
Barb Strand was the most sympathetic to the idea of a public smoking ban. She’s the only one [...]

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After watching the Daily Times / Friends of the Public Library mayoral debate last night, I was left with a few impressions.
Dave Tebben should be a lock for mayor for anyone who saw this forum. He has that easy comfort with addressing the public that a leader should have, and his answers were thoughtful [...]

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