The current Mayor of Galesburg has announced he will seek re-election next spring.
Incumbent John Pritchard currently has no challengers, though there is plenty of time before voters go to the polls next year.
Pritchard is on the tail end of his first term. He won election in 2013, beating then incumbent Sal Garza with 53 percent of the vote.
Pritchard says he’s running again because he feels there is more work to be done.
He tells WGIL continuing the development of what he calls the city’s “strategic plan” is a priority.
“There are several levels to that,” Pritchard says. “Some of that work has been done initially and more needs to be done to complete it. That goes into updating some of the plans in the city, whether it’s regarding community development or regarding parks and recreation or regarding some of those other things. So, there’s a number of pieces that are moving ahead right now.”
Pritchard highlights past balanced budgets and securing a utility tax and $10 million bond issue for public infrastructure work as accomplishments.
Those funds have been a topic of debate among Galesburg aldermen, some wanting $3.45 million of the bond money to go toward a renovation of the Broad Street Armory.
Pritchard has said he wants to find a use for the Armory but does not support the current proposal and instead feels fixing city streets and sewers should take a top priority.
Members of the public have both commented for and against his argument.
Pritchard is the owner of a number of Galesburg radio stations including WGIL.
