BY APRIL EVANS
Voters in the three largest southern Vermilion County towns — Georgetown, Tilton and Westville — will choose a mayor Tuesday. Nine candidates are vying for the three positions.
In Georgetown, Mayor Darrell Acord decided not to seek re-election to a fourth term. Vying for his seat are current aldermen Darren Alexander and Rusty Berry, former alderman and mayor pro-tem Dennis Lucas and newcomer Cathy Jenkins.
In Tilton, Mayor David Phillips seeks re-election to a third term. He is being challenged by former county board member Robert “Jim” Watson and newcomer John Criswell.
In Westville, Mayor Jeff Slavik will not seek re-election to a second term. Looking to fill his seat is current alderman Sheldon “Smitty” Smith and newcomer Jeff Ellis.
Georgetown
The outcome of the Georgetown race will be as interesting as the pursuit. Not only are there four residents attracted to securing the mayoral seat, but Berry withdrew and now has re-entered the race.
Berry announced he was withdrawing from the race at last month’s candidates’ forum, citing the unknown status of his job transfer. He works for Peabody Coal Mine, which announced its closing recently.
He said it wouldn’t have been fair to voters for him to stay in the race at that time.
Since then however, he’s been told he will be closing down the mine for the next two to three months and then permanently in Vincennes on Fridays and weekends.
He said now knowing his work status, he’s fully back in the race.
“It wouldn’t be a problem for meetings and I’ll be available during the week to serve the city,” said Berry.
All candidates for Georgetown mayor agree the biggest issue in town right now is the impending decade or longer project to separate sanitary and storm sewers and upgrade the wastewater treatment plant.
Berry said he has reviewed the engineering plans and feels it can be accomplished within the next 10 years.
Alexander said the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency already has mandated the problems to be fixed and its time to get it done. His concern is how to pay for it.
“There is a possibility of this being passed onto Georgetown residents through sewer and water rates,” said Alexander. “They just can’t afford it. People on fixed incomes can’t do it.”
Lucas said while the project is inevitable, the plan that has been drawn still needs to be approved. Also, funding it will be the biggest issue.
“We’ll need to find the cheapest money without putting a big burden on the citizens of Georgetown,” said Lucas.
Jenkins agreed that funding the project will be key.
“There’s no way the state is going to have the money to do it all at once,” said Jenkins. “It will have to be done incrementally, so that people see its being addressed.”
Other concerns Berry said he’ll address in town is moving back to asphalting roads, rather than tar-chipping; filling empty buildings in town with businesses; and working with civic organizations to make Georgetown a better place.
“I’d love to see a large drugstore come to this town like a CVS or Walgreens, because more tax revenue means more money for the town,” said Berry.
Alexander’s concerns include giving kids in the community more opportunities; opening the doors of city hall to the people; and having a better working relationship with civic groups in town. He’d like to see a skateboard park built in town.
“Kids are the future and if there’s nothing here for the kids to do, what’s going to make them want to move back here and raise their own families?”
Lucas said he’ll have an open-door policy at city hall if elected; wants to clean-up eyesores in every ward; will work hand-in-hand with other city organizations; wants more for children to do in town, such as a skateboard park; and wants to bring businesses back into Georgetown, not giant retailers, but smaller competitive ones that would be supported.
“All of us need to work together,” said Lucas. “We need to work together if we want to get anything accomplished for this community.”
Jenkins would like to have more for older children, ages nine to 16, to do constructively in town; and would like to hold town meetings to keep residents more informed.
“We need residents to be aware and involved of projects to keep our town moving forward,” said Jenkins.
Tilton
In Tilton, Criswell’s main initiative is to get a grocery store in town. He also feels the city should be more controlled in spending; police patrols should be increased in the city, rather than on Georgetown Road; that established businesses need help to grow; and he’ll increase communication with the people of Tilton and take their input.
He also plans to help senior citizens.
“I will donate half of my salary as mayor to a senior citizens fund,” said Criswell. “It will go to help a senior that can’t pay his taxes or to a senior who is about to lose his house.”
Watson also agrees that a grocery store is needed tremendously in town. He also wants to see more sidewalks constructed; would like to appoint a committee to look into a program to help people who get laid off pay their mortgages and taxes; and guide fiscal responsibility in the village.
“I’m concerned for the people,” said Watson. “I will put out a financial report to every voter in the community as to what is spent.”
Phillips said he’s worked hard for the village in the past and will continue pursuing residents’ best interests if elected again. He’ll continue to build and foster relationships with business owners and developers.
“They have to have your trust,” said Phillips of developers.
He said he works with four different developers and also works toward getting a grocery store in town daily. Some of the businesses successfully located to town include Vermilion Chevrolet, UBid, Blackie’s Engineering, International Greenhouse Company and Earl Gaudio and Sons.
Phillips said the village has 24-hour police protection; has asphalted more roads in the last four years than since the 1970s; completed the Central Park area sewer and Linden Street pump station projects for $1.2 million less than estimated; and are currently in the process of converting the village financials to a line item type of budget.
“We’re not a wasteful community,” said Phillips. “We live within the means of our budget. Our job is to collect your taxes and responsibly spend your money.”
Westville
Both mayoral candidates in Westville say finishing the sewer improvement project in town is a top priority.
Ellis said besides continuing to get the sewer problems fixed, he also wants to give the people of Westville a better avenue to share concerns.
“They say they don’t have a voice,” said Ellis. “I would just listen to the people more. It’s the people’s village. You have to give them what they want.”
Ellis said if elected he wants to “bring the fun back into the town,” by bringing back car shows and a fair. He also feels the village council needs the youth perspective, which he said he offers.
Smith said finishing the projects on the sanitary sewer system are crucial, but also sees steering forthcoming stimulus money in the right direction as important. He said West Main Street from the railroad tracks west to the city limits is slated for resurfacing with the money.
He also said he’ll be readily available for residents to discuss concerns and would like to hold town hall meetings exclusively for that purpose.
“The biggest thing is that I like the people of Westville and there are things that need to be done,” said Smith. “I am available and I want to see these projects get done. I will operate within the means of the income.”
TILTON
Name: John Criswell
Age: 69
Employment: Retired from Hyster/NACCO of Danville after 39 years; currently self-employed with his own lawn business.
Political Experience: none
Name: David Phillips
Age: 50
Employment: Mayor of Tilton, eightyears; has worked in all city positions, including head of public works, since 1977
Political Experience: Mayor of Tilton, eight years
Name: Robert “Jim” Watson
Age: 59
Employment: Retired from Hyster/NACCO of Danville after 21 years
Political experience: Vermilion County board member, eight years
WESTVILLE
Name: Jeff Ellis
Age: 26
Employment: Salesman at Earl Gaudio & Sons of Tilton, four years
Political Experience: none
Name: Sheldon Smith
Age: 77
Employment: Retired from Material Service Corp. after 36 years; Westville Chief of Police, three years; Westville village patrolman, nine years.
Political Experience: Current Westville Village trustee, two years; Westville-Belgium Sanitary Board, two years; Westville Grade School Board, five years.
GEORGETOWN
Name: Darren Alexander
Age: 36
Employment: Warehouse Manager at Glaco Midwest Inc. of Georgetown, three years
Political Experience: Georgetown city alderman, four years
Name: Rusty Berry
Age: 34
Employment: Unit manager at Peabody Coal Mine in Vermilion Grove, eight years
Political Experience: Georgetown city alderman, six years
Name: Cathy Jenkins
Age: 56
Employment: Senior manager for medical reviews at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois of Danville, 22 years
Political Experience: none
Name: Dennis Lucas
Age: 59
Employment: Retired truck driver, 13 years; currently a lunchroom supervisor and volunteer at Mary Miller Junior High School.
Political Experience: Georgetown City Alderman, five years; mayor pro-tem, about two years.
