Galesburg Mayor Peter Schwartzman has received eight applications to fill the vacant Ward 1 City Council seat, with plans to nominate a replacement candidate for the Council’s approval at its Sept. 15 meeting.
The vacancy emerged after Alderman Bradley Hix, a Ward 1 representative since 2019, resigned at the end of August due to a move outside Ward 1 boundaries, as reported by WGIL. Under city statute, Schwartzman has 60 days from the vacancy—until late October—to nominate a Ward 1 resident, with the Council required to approve within 30 days. If the first nominee is rejected, a second can be proposed with another 30-day approval window; if both fail, Schwartzman can appoint temporarily from the two candidates until approval or the next election.
Schwartzman expressed satisfaction with the applicant pool, telling WGIL, “I was actually [satisfied] with the number, diversity and the quality.” He noted this is the largest and most diverse group he’s encountered in his three appointments, saying, “This is definitely the largest and most diverse contingent to apply.”
The mayor said the field includes two men and six women, four candidates of color, and an age range he estimates from late 20s to mid-70s. He pointed out that the candidates bring a variety of professional backgrounds, including academic roles, food industry experience, and other local employment.
When asked what he seeks in the next Ward 1 council member, Schwartzman outlined specific criteria: “I will be looking for a community member that (1) has a history of community engagement and connection (2) has a working knowledge of City government (and current events).”
For the selection process, Schwartzman said he avoids interviews, noting, “I didn’t [interview] in the past and most likely will not this time.” He prefers a detailed application to assess candidates, adding, “I structured my application to make it sufficient to make a determination.” He cited this method’s success in past appointments, relying on written submissions.
Schwartzman plans to announce his choice early this week, aiming to have the appointee considered at the Sept. 15 City Council meeting.
