Angelica Mangieri was unanimously elected as the new Ward 1 council member for the Galesburg City Council during Monday’s meeting. The council voted 6-0 in favor of her appointment, filling the vacant seat with a candidate praised for her community involvement and collaborative spirit.
The Ward 1 position became vacant following the resignation of longtime Alderman Bradley Hix, who had represented the ward since 2019. Hix, Galesburg’s longest-serving council member at the time, stepped down at the end of August after moving outside city limits.
Mangieri, whose nomination was announced last week, was not present at the meeting but provided a statement to WGIL: “Honestly, it means a great deal to me. It means a chance to put my love for this city into action. I’m always grateful for new opportunities to serve my community. And I’m very excited to roll up my sleeves and get to work for Ward 1.”
Mangieri, who will not be sworn in as a Council member any earlier than the next meeting Oct. 6, will serve through April 2027. Her selection follows a thorough evaluation process by council members, who commended her dedication and readiness to serve.
Mayor Peter Schwartzman expressed enthusiasm for Mangieri’s appointment, telling WGIL, “I think she’ll be a great addition.”
Schwartzman highlighted the council’s diligent review process, noting that members independently assessed Mangieri’s qualifications and commitment. “I wanted to be sure she was willing to put in the time and was a true team player,” Schwartzman said. “We don’t need someone who’s going to come in with their own agenda. The nomination isn’t for me, it’s for the Council, and it’s for the community.”
Prior to the vote, Ward 3 Alderman Evan Miller shared that he met with Mangieri for two hours on Friday to discuss her nomination. “It was a very good meeting. I 100% support appointing her,” Miller said.
Ward 7 Alderman Steve Cheesman echoed similar sentiments, noting that he was “very impressed” after speaking at length with Mangieri. “She said she was looking forward to working with everyone, and was willing to listen, learn, and contribute. I think she’ll make a fine member of the Council, and I support her without question,” Cheesman said.
