City of Peoria dossiers

These issues are in scope for the Mayor and City Council:

1. Flock and Axon spy cameras
2. Homeless ban
3. Zoning

The mayor serves 4-year terms.

The mayor's term ends in 2029.

Mayor Rita Ali (D)

1. 11,006 votes against 7,122 last cycle
2. Voted against Ordinance 18,220, the homeless ban
3. Opposed the 2026 "Build Plan" as part of the Illinois Municipal League (CI Proud)

The five district council members each represent one district of Peoria. District council members serve 4-year terms.

All district terms end in 2029.

Denise Jackson (D) - 1st District

1. 1,882 votes against 576 last cycle
2. Voted against Ordinance 18,220, the homeless ban
3. March 2025 comparison with opponent James Kemper
4. WCBU articles on Denise Jackson

Alex Carmona (I) - 2nd District

1. 1,478 votes against 1,431 last cycle
2. "I would like to try to promote the idea that the government should stick to its essential functions and do those to the best of its abilities, and allow the free market to be as free as it can be here, so we can bring more business opportunities to Peoria for its citizens"
3. "Do I like the fact that (homelessness is) basically being criminalized? No, I think there should be a very high standard for putting a person in a cage. And I don't think this is one of them. That doesn't work well for me."
4. Was not on the council when Ordinance 18,220, the homeless ban, passed

Timothy Riggenbach (R) - 3rd District

1. 2,223 votes, unopposed last cycle
2. Tim Riggenbach voted for fines and jail time for homeless encampments (Ordinance 18,220)
3. WCBU articles on Tim Riggenbach

Andre W. Allen (D) - 4th District

1. 2,212 votes against 2,091 last cycle
2. Chief DEI Officer for Peoria County
3. Voted against Ordinance 18,220, the homeless ban. "expressed opposition to any ordinance that included incarceration as a penalty and indicated support for a revised version of ordinance Option 2". (Option 1 is what the council passed)
4. Chosen by Governor Pritzker to serve on the Tri-County River Valley Development Authority

Denis Cyr (R) - 5th District

1. 2,886 votes against 1,739 last cycle
2. Voted for Ordinance 18,220, the homeless ban
3. "fiscal conservative", "family values", and "consistent voice for public safety" according to WCBU on Denis Cyr, 2024

Sources

1. 2025 Candidates - Peoria County Republicans
2. April 2025 Cumulative Election Results

At-large council members represent the entire City of Peoria. At-large council members serve 4-year terms.

All at-large terms end in 2027.

John L. Kelly (R)

1. 8,649.4167 votes last cycle
2. Ran against Rita Ali in 2025
3. Voted for Ordinance 18,220, the homeless ban
4. Supports a land-value tax "We have a system where we punish people for having a nice building, or fixing up a building"
5. Opposed a city tax on cannabis because it would push buyers toward illegal sellers WCBU on city cannabis sales tax
6. Tax abatement for single-family homes
7. WCBU articles on John L. Kelly

Zachary M. Oyler (?)

1. 7,809.0833 votes last cycle
2. "The Events That Led Me to Treatment", blog from Zachary's ex-wife Heather detailing alleged domestic abuse
3. Zachary Oyler pleaded not guilty to domestic violence charges
4. Voted for Ordinance 18,220, the homeless ban
5. WCBU articles on Zach Oyler

Dr. Kiran Velpula, PhD, MBA (?)

1. 8,614.6667 votes last cycle
2. Few stated positions other than wanting to bring healthcare and biotech businesses to Peoria
3. Voted for Ordinance 18,220, the homeless ban
4. WCBU articles on Dr. Kiran Velpula

Dr. Bernice Gordon-Young PhD, LCPC (?)

1. 9,464.0833 votes last cycle
2. WCBU articles on Dr. Bernice Gordon-Young
3. Voted against Ordinance 18,220, the homeless ban

Michael P. Vespa (D)

1. 6,349.7500 votes against 5,629.6667 last cycle
2. Supports body cameras on police officers, and wants to fix food deserts
3. Voted against Ordinance 18,220, the homeless ban

Sources

1. April 2023 Cumulative Election Results

Peoria City Council Districts (big PDF map)

1. Peoria City Council meetings on YouTube
2. City Council minutes, Nov 19th 2024 Ordinance 18,220, the anti-homeless ordinance