Meet Bill Eddington, candidate for Springfield City Council in Ward 3
Editor's note: This is one of a series of articles previewing candidates vying in the April 4 consolidated election. Early voting is underway.
Bill Eddington's motivation for taking on incumbent Ward 3 Alderman Roy Williams Jr. is simple: he wants to see more investment and attention given to the north end and east side areas contained within the district.
"They haven't had an active voice (in the council) for years," Eddington said. "The east end's been really let down materially compared to some of the other areas and there's no reason for it. The money's there, it's just that nobody's stepped up to the plate and said, 'Hey, how can we get some improvements for our area of town?'"
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With that in mind, Eddington wants to be an alderman who is active within the community, fighting for what's best for Ward 3.
"I will be an active member because I would like to see this city – on the east side – come back to what it was," Eddington said. "It's been neglected. I've seen so much (and so many) years gone by. I want to attract businesses to this side. Some of the neighborhoods I've walked, I'd go, 'Some of these people have given up.' I'd like to give them a boost to get back in the game again."
Here's a quick look at Eddington and what he brings to the table:
Bill Eddington
Age: 59
Occupation: Third-generation bricklayer, owner of Eddington Masonry
Family: Unmarried with two children and one step-daughter
Prior political experience: None
Education: Graduated from Griffin High School in 1981; enrolled in classes at Lincoln Land Community College before attending Robert Morris University; went to the International Masonry Institute in Maryland; also has diving instructor training credentials from Rainbow Reef Dive Center in Florida
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Bill Eddington is candidate for Springfield City Council Ward 3
