PEORIA, Ill. — The number of candidates running for five at-large Peoria City Council seats in next year’s election has been reduced to 10 after one of the candidates announced he’s taken himself out of the race because of a challenge to his election petitions.
On his Facebook page, Shawn Allen said he had a sufficient number of signatures from citizens, but after verifying their addresses, he fell short of the amount required to get on the ballot.
“I truly believe that we would have won one of the five seats, but not this time. This is a huge lesson learned and will only help us be better if we ever decide to pursue any future office,” said Allen who worked nearly four years as a Peoria Police Officer before becoming an executive in the private sector. He’s also a military veteran serving in his 10th and final year in the Army Reserves.
Allen is not related to current Councilman Andre Allen, who represents District 4 and is not up for re-election next year.
According to 25 News, the ten remaining candidates for at-large council seats are incumbents John Kelly, Kiran Velpula, and Zachary Oyler, along with newcomers Mike Vespa, Bernice Gordon-Young, Benjamin R. Nicks Jr., Demario Boone, Lawrence Maushard, Anu Uddavolu, and Clara Underwood-Forman.
