Galesburg Mayor Peter Schwartzman aims to name a replacement for Ward 1 Alderman Bradley Hix by September, following Hix’s decision to resign by August’s end due to a move outside city limits.
Hix, who has represented Ward 1 since his 2019 election victory over Angela Bastian and secured re-election in 2023 against Champ Coleman, announced his departure during Monday’s City Council meeting.
Previously: Alderman Hix stepping down from Galesburg Council due to move outside Ward 1 boundaries
The alderman cited his relocation with his wife, Ann, as the reason, ending a tenure marked by steady service as the council’s longest-serving member. With Hix’s exit, Fourth Ward Alderman Dwight White, elected in 2021 and re-elected in April 2025 against Corine Andersen, becomes the senior council member.
Schwartzman will oversee the replacement process, mirroring the 2021 appointment of Jaclyn Smith-Esters to Ward 5 after his own mayoral win. He plans an open application process, seeking candidates with a proven record of community involvement and familiarity with city governance.
“I’ll evaluate applications from those who apply,” Schwartzman said, noting he has no specific nominees in mind yet.
He aims to enhance publicity, reflecting on past instances where low applicant numbers—such as during Smith-Esters’ selection—limited options.
Per City Clerk Kelli Bennewitz’s procedure, Schwartzman has 60 days from the vacancy to nominate, with the council required to approve within 30 days. If the first nominee is rejected, a second is proposed with another 30-day window; if both fail, he can appoint temporarily from the two candidates until approval or the next election.
