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Mayoral Candidates: Should GREDA Stay or Should GREDA Go?
The candidates for Galesburg mayor couldn't escape their first candidates forum without taking on one of the biggest issues the city is currently facing -- economic development.

The candidates, during a forum heard live on WGIL Monday night, were all asked about what, if any, relationship the city should have with the Galesburg Regional Economic Development Association.

Former Mayor Bob Sheehan, for one, says he doesn't think the city needs GREDA, but it does need all the help it can get from throughout the area. "We can work with other governments, work with the State of Illinois, and I think we need to, simply to get our name out on the map," Sheehan said. "We need to work with Peoria and the Quad Cities, anything along I-74. We need to make this a corridor."

Fifth Ward Alderman Karen Lafferty, meanwhile, says the city can't afford not to have GREDA on board. "GREDA does this, because this is their job," Lafferty said. "$75,000 a year to pay GREDA is a very nominal fee. The City can't do it on that."

Former alderman Margaret Hall, however, says it's not solely up to her to decide, but generally favors GREDA. "I think there needs to be some minor changes in the way the contract is set up now," Hall said. "But I have talked to some of the people from GREDA. There are a lot of very good, very hard-working people there."

At least one candidate suggested using GREDA was akin to outsourcing, and that's failed in the past.

Others, however, suggested that while changes could be made, GREDA has gotten a bad rap.

You can hear the candidates' forum in its entirety by CLICKING HERE.


(Participants in the forum are, from left to right: candidates Eric Delawder, Sal Garza, Margaret Hall, and Karen Lafferty, along with Co-moderator Tom Martin. WGIL News Story & Photo by Will Stevenson.)
03 24 09 by Newsroom
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