A former Galesburg mayor will seek a third term, saying he would deliver stronger and more positive leadership for the city.
John Pritchard, who served two terms as Galesburg mayor from 2013-21 before losing to Peter Schwartzman in 2021, announced Monday he will run to unseat the incumbent in the April 2025 Consolidate Election.
In a race that drew just 21% voter turnout, Schwartzman defeated Pritchard by a margin of 47% (1,801 votes) to 41% (1,546 votes) in 2021. Kristine Crow claimed 12% (483 votes) of the vote as the third candidate in the race.
Pritchard — the president of Galesburg Broadcasting Company, which includes WGIL Radio — said he believes Galesburg needs a change in the way the mayor leads the city.
“While he’s been mayor, Peter Schwartzman has created a lot of division, and has promoted a lot of negative activity through some of his friends and minions,” Pritchard said. “Leading by bullying is not a successful style of leadership, and we need to make a change.
“I’ve been thinking about running pretty seriously for the last year. I feel like I can be helpful in providing strong, positive leadership for the city of Galesburg. I’ll work in a manner of bringing people together, instead of tearing them apart.”
Schwartzman, professor of Environmental Studies at Knox College, announced in May that he would seek a second term as mayor. He previously served as Galesburg’s Fifth Ward alderman for 10 years.
Tuesday is first day candidates can file
Tuesday is the first day candidates for municipal offices such as mayor, alderman and school board can file nomination petitions for the April 1, 2025, Consolidated Election. Candidates have through Nov. 18 to file nomination petitions.
Other city of Galesburg races to be decided in 2025 include the position of city clerk, and alderpersons in Wards 2, 4 and 6 — Wayne Dennis, Dwight White and Sarah Davis, respectively.
Pritchard was born and raised in Galesburg. He and his wife Jane Johnson Pritchard have four children. His educational background is in economics, which he studied at Knox College.
From 1976 through 1989, he was the publisher of The Register-Mail newspaper in Galesburg. In 1996, Pritchard purchased WGIL and WAAG radio stations, and has since added WLSR and WKAY in Galesburg. He also owns radio stations in Iowa.
Pritchard said his experience in business and management are strengths he would bring to the position of mayor.
Among his accomplishments during his first tenure as mayor, Pritchard said he’s proud to have played a key role in the creation of a local scholarship cooperative with Carl Sandburg College.
The Galesburg Promise was established in 2015 for graduates of Galesburg High School. The award pays up to 16 credits of tuition on a last dollar basis at Carl Sandburg College. The program is funded through a hotel/motel tax and sponsored by the Galesburg Business and Technology Center.
Further job creation a top priority
Pritchard said one of his primary tasks as mayor would be to assist further job creation in Galesburg.
“Like many, many cities that once enjoyed an industrial workforce, we’ve seen that decline and shrink,” he said. “In the last four years, we’ve seen Galesburg’s average median household income go from right about at the national average to about 66% of the national average. So as a community, we’re falling further behind the income levels the rest of the country are experiencing.
“We need to reverse that, so creating good jobs that pay living wages with benefits is probably one of the No. 1 priorities of local government. Obviously, police and fire protection are important, as is keeping the streets maintained.”
Pritchard says its crucial for the next mayor to understand the responsibilities and duties of the office.
“The mayor is the chief representative for the city,” he said. “The mayor is also a diplomat to ensure the desires and concerns of the city administration and City Council members are all met. They’re a negotiator who does a lot of talking with people. Someone who looks for solutions.
“In a council/manager form of government, a mayor is not a manager. The mayor and the council have one employee, and that’s the city manager. It’s not the mayor’s role, or any alderman, to direct city staff to do certain things or not do certain things.”
Pritchard also believes he would be able to conduct more efficient meetings than the current mayor.
“It’s crucial that the mayor is the chairman of the meetings — you run the meeting and can have an impact on the tone, if you choose to,” he said. “I think a lot of the meetings in recent years have been horrifically run — even down to the basics of understanding Robert’s Rules of Order.
“You also have to try and build a consensus and learn concerns or questions from the aldermen before the meetings. The aldermen have to know that they can say something to the mayor in confidence, and it will remain so, and not end up on social media.”
