Less than two weeks before Election Day, Springfield council candidates tout experiences

Eleven candidates in five contested aldermanic races took part in a forum at Union Baptist Church Thursday just two weeks shy of the April 4 consolidated election.

The forum, which drew about 60 people, was sponsored by the Faith Coalition for the Common Good, the League of Women Voters of the Springfield Area, Sustainable Springfield and the Springfield branch of the American Association of University Women.

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Candidates fielded a range of questions including issues they would champion if elected, broadband and homeownership disparities to the need for a second lake.

Participating were incumbent Roy Williams Jr. and challenger Bill Eddington in Ward 3; Larry Rockford, Jason Ratts and David Yankee vying for an open seat in Ward 4; incumbent Lakeisha Purchase and challengers Sam Cahnman and Calvin Pitts (write-in) in Ward 5; Jennifer Notariano and Alyssa Haaker going for an open seat in Ward 6 and John Houlihan running in Ward 7.

Houlihan's opponent, Brad Carlson, was absent from Thursday's forum.

Who took part?

Roy Williams Jr. said he saw the deterioration of his neighborhoods and the deterioration of the people around him and "then I got involved. I got involved in the Faith Coalition through my fraternity and through other organizations trying to make a difference to the point when an opening came up in 2021 because (Ward 3 Ald.) Doris Turner became (48th District) state senator, I put my name in a hat and I got selected and I've been enjoying what I do.

"I really fight to fix some of the imbalances in Springfield," Williams added.

Bill Eddington said the north and east ends of Springfield have been deprived in the last 20 years. "The jobs, they've disappeared," said Eddington, a mason for over 30 years. "We have to bring good jobs back to this community and it has to be on a level for everyone.

"I would like to see the east side come back to life along with downtown."

Born and raised on the north end, Larry Rockford considers infrastructure, crime, and fly dumping as issues throughout the city. "Working with various departments throughout my career, I know who to call, how to get things done and I plan on doing that," Rockford said.

A retired City of Springfield worker, Rockford rates his experience "second to none."

Also a north-ender, Jason Ratts said he prides himself on getting elected to the Sangamon County Board three times.

In addition to fly dumping and infrastructure problems, "a lot of people have complained about drainage issues (on the north end)," said Ratts, a licensed practical nurse with Memorial Health at Koke Mill Medical Center. "When it rains, it floods (the) basement. I think that is a big issue."

David Yankee, a resident of Springfield since 2006, admitted "not much is being rejuvenated (on the north end).

"Yes, we all want to grow Springfield, but I think it needs to go in all directions, not just north, not just east, not just west, not just south," added Yankee, a financial advisor with Cornerstone Financial Services and a volunteer with United Way of Central Illinois, the Springfield Urban League and Springfield Housing Authority, in addition to being a foster father.

Appointed to the city council in 2021, Lakeisha Purchase calls Ward 5 "the economic engine of Springfield," home to the Mid Illinois Medical District, the Capitol Complex, downtown Springfield and the city's historic sites.

The most rehab project is the former Shop 'n Save building on North Grand that "sat like a missing front tooth for years," Purchase said. "It was my first initiative as alderwoman." MedicsFirst held its grand opening at the building Friday.

During his time on the city council from 2007 to 2015, Sam Cahnman said he came up with creative solutions to problems facing the city.

This time around, Cahnman, an attorney, would seek to require emergency medical technicians to wear body cameras after a December incident in which two EMTs were charged with first-degree murder in the death of Earl L. Moore Jr. Cahnman also wants to pass an ethics ordinance that prohibits contractors doing business with the city from giving campaign contributions to city elected officials.

Calvin Pitts, the founder, president and CEO of Southtown Construction Training Center and B.O.N.E. (Bringing Others New Empowerment) LLC, said his first priority, if elected, would be to schedule a series of town meetings.

"Most people look at things as happening and complain," said Pitts, who is launching a write-in campaign after being removed from the ballot in December. "But for me, I look at the current situation with an attitude of what step can I take to make things better."

Jennifer Notariano said "listening to constituents is the biggest part of this job and meeting their needs and connecting them to services."

Residents, added Notariano, a contract specialist with the Capital Development Board, want solutions to speeding and increasing walkability and bike-ability of neighborhoods and they want answers for aging infrastructure. "They want to see vacant buildings and lots turned into useful businesses, not dumping grounds," she said.

A lifelong citizen of Springfield, Alyssa Haaker calls Ward 6 "a diverse ward, with a lot of business and home ownership concerns."

A former prosecutor who is now an attorney for the Labor Council of the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police, Haaker said she takes safety "very seriously and one of my goals is to encourage a supportive and collaborative relationship with the Springfield Police Department and our citizens." Haaker said her law background will help with issues that come before council.

John Houlihan grew up in Ward 7. The policy and budget staffer for the Illinois State Senate said he got into the race to talk about issues like public safety, infrastructure, and economic development.

Houlihan said he will "constantly continue to learn and research as much as possible every issue before making a decision on how to vote."

Addressing the digital divide

Williams noted that broadband was cut from the city budget several weeks ago.

"We're moving all city services online, but we cut broadband," he said. "The aldermen and alderwomen who did that ought to be ashamed."

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Ratts said for families who can't afford the internet or have capabilities for children to do homework when they have to work remotely, "I see that as an issue."

That also goes for people who have to work from home, Ratts said. "People who can't afford the internet at home, how are they going to work from home?" he said.

Yankee said as technology gets more and more advanced, "there's going to be 100% need for broadband.

"Regardless of what the cost is, no child should be left behind and no child should have the fault of not having the internet here," he added.

Broadband, Pitts said, is "definitely necessary. The kids are going to need it, but also businesses."

Pitts said the city can address the fly dump issue as well with broadband. "We can install cameras and access Wi-Fi and monitor areas that people can go into at night time with no one looking," he said.

Notariano said broadband "is not a luxury. It should be treated like other any other utility." She said the city needs to identify areas lacking in service.

"We need to make sure we're directing any other available state and federal dollars to those areas (that need broadband) and city dollars can follow," Notariano said.

Homeownership disparity

The candidates addressed the racial disparity in homeownership across the city. For white residents, 75% own their home but only 19.5% of Black residents are homeowners.

Houlihan said addressing the issue would start by working with the local loan providers "to figure out programs we can start to work with the Black community and help first-time homebuyers in this community and build those people up."

Haaker said part of the issue lies with bringing better paying jobs to Springfield "to incentivize home ownership."

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"I was recently a first-time homebuyer (in Ward 6) and I know there is money out there," she said. "We need to do a better job as city government as far as letting our constituents know what is out there."

Cahnman said the city should try to use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money to assist people with lower incomes purchase homes.

Another thing the city council should have done was use Pitts' company to train workers on construction trades by fixing up dilapidated houses, Cahnman said. "The city council voted (Mayor Jim Langfelder's proposal) down. It would have been a good start," he said.

A second city lake

Rockford said he supported Lake II being built and that the city needs "to be proactive not reactive. We have that opportunity -- there are a lot of communities that wish they had that opportunity to build a lake."

Eddington said he would weigh how a new lake would be used for recreational purposes. "I would have to see the numbers," he said. "I don't want to spend taxpayers' money just for another lake we don't need. But if it's needed, I can see that."

Purchase voted earlier to have another study done by the Army Corps of Engineers. Purchase said she would make "the best decision from that study, but also hear feedback from Ward 5 residents."

Early voting is open. Residents have until Thursday to request a vote by mail ballot.

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Springfield city council candidates take part in election forum