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The Herald & Review Archives
Herald & Review (Decatur, IL)
October 14, 2007
Section: News
Page: B1
Political Watch
INGRAM & FRAZIER
The Macon County Democratic Central Committee voted unanimously Monday in favor of supporting the effort to allow Decatur voters to decide if they want to replace the current council-manager form of city government with aldermanic representation. "The central committee members feel this issue needs to be resolved by the voters of Decatur," said Jim Underwood, county Democratic chairman. "The Change Decatur coalition has worked hard to put this question on the ballot, and we support its efforts. It’s an important issue that affects how many of our citizens in Macon County are represented. "We are not endorsing either form of city government. But we feel it needs to be decided before another election cycle occurs. We challenge our counterparts, the Macon County Republicans, to support the effort to get this issue on the ballot." Republican County Chairman James Gresham said the Change Decatur supporters will address the GOP central committee Wednesday concerning their initiative. "I don’t know how our people will react to that," Gresham said. Proponents filed their petitions Thursday with the Macon County Circuit Clerk’s Office. A judge will review the petitions and must certify the issue for the ballot. The question could be on the Feb. 5 primary election ballot. If approved by voters, the change in government from a part-time mayor and seven council members elected at-large to 22 aldermen elected from 11 wards and a full-time mayor would take effect with the April 2009 municipal election. n o n The Central Park fountain has been turned off as the city of Decatur enacts mandatory water conservation measures, beginning Monday. Many residents don’t know water in the fountain is recycled, and the act is an important symbolic gesture, Mayor Paul Osborne said. "I think it’s important for the fountain to be shut down to show that we’re all serious about conserving our water and restricting our water use," Osborne said. "It’s time now to start conserving as much as we can." n o n A surprise candidate has emerged in Macon County Board District 1, where Public Defender Jon Baxter is circulating nominating petitions to run as a Democrat. Incumbents Linda Little, a Republican, and Melverta Wilkins, a Democrat, had been expected to seek re-election unopposed in the district. Should Baxter enter the Feb. 5 primary, he and Wilkins could be nominated on the Democratic ticket, then vie with Little for the two open seats in the Nov. 4 general election. District 1 traditionally has been a swing district with its three seats split between the two major parties. Currently, board Chairman Bob Sampson, a Democrat, holds the third seat. Baxter is expected to step down in January as public defender, opening the door to a run for local office. n o n Two members of the Illinois congressional delegation recently were recognized for their services. U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, was named by House Republican Leader John Boehner as the new ranking member of the U.S. delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly replacing the late U.S. Rep. Paul Gillmor, R-Ohio. Shimkus has served as a parliamentary delegate since 2001 and sits on the body’s Defense and Security Committee. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., received the Guardian Award from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, an annual recognition of leadership on substance abuse issues. This year, Durbin, a member of the Senate Anti-Meth Caucus, joined U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, to introduce the Methamphetamine Production Prevention Act of 2007 to promote the use of electronic logbook systems by pharmacies to better track the sales of ingredients that could be used to make meth. Durbin also sponsored the Family-Based Meth Treatment Act of 2007, with U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn. It would help provide comprehensive, family-based substance abuse treatment for methamphetamine addiction. Ron Ingram can be reached at ringram@ herald-review.com or 421-7973 and Mike Frazier can be reached at mfrazier@ herald-review.com or 421-7985.
Copyright, 2007, Herald & Review, Decatur, IL
