Harrisburg's crowd of candidates a good sign: Montfort

HARRISBURG - Voters in the April 2 Harrisburg municipal election will have a wide range of candidates to choose from, many of whom are running to make a difference, an outgoing city commissioner says.

Beth Montfort, the city's public health and safety commissioner, is the only current commissioner not running for re-election. She said the 17 candidates for mayor and council should be an encouraging sight for anyone who cares about the community.

"I think many of the people who have filed to run really do care and have good reasons for running," Montfort said. "And, of course, some people have an agenda. I hope they elect the ones who want to make a difference and not the ones with a hidden agenda."

The three-way mayors' race offers quality candidates in Montfort's opinion. Current Mayor John McPeek, former mayor Robert Wilson and retired U.S. Army 1st Sergeant John Okerson are running for mayor.

"I think the candidates for mayor are running for the right reasons. They want to see change. Times are bad in Harrisburg, in Saline County and in Illinois," Montfort said.

Current city commissioners Richard Harper, Natalie Miller and Mike Weirauch are running for re-election. Harper and Miller were elected in 2015 and Weirauch was appointed to the seat vacated by McPeek when he was appointed mayor in 2016.

McPeek filled the vacancy left by Dale Fowler after Fowler was elected to the Illinois Senate in 2016.

Rounding out the 14 candidates running for the four, 4-year terms on the council are former mayor Ron Morse, former commissioner Ron Fearheiley, Raymond Gunning, Jamie Lambert, Paul Pyle, Shawn Turner, Rupert Johnson, David Reed, Roger Angelly, Zack Gibbons and Bobby Brown.

On Wednesday, Harrisburg City Clerk Sally Wofford said no objections have been filed against any city candidates, meaning that unless a candidate withdraws by Jan. 25, everyone will be on the ballot in April.

Montfort, meanwhile, said while she's leaving the council, she will remain active in the community.

"I'm not going away, I'm just not running for council," she said.

Montfort said she intends to form a group of community-minded people to help local governing bodies improve the region.

"I want to form a concerned group of citizens to help the council and help the county board," she said. "And, it doesn't need to stop there. All of southern Illinois, and the state as a whole, needs help. Taxes are too high, too many people are leaving and no new jobs are coming in. It's very bleak. But I think we can do something to make a difference."

Group Editor Renee Trappe contributed to this report.