One of the contested races for the Galesburg City Council next month will be in an area that includes the city’s downtown. Incumbent Peter Schwartzman will face a challenge from Ted Hoffman in Ward 5.
Schwartzman is a Knox College professor seeking his second term on the city council. Hoffman served for 38 years in the Galesburg Fire Department.
Both candidates said a top priority is to improve staffing levels in the city’s police and fire departments.
Outside of that their priorities differ.
Schwartzman said he wants to increase access to information about local government.
“I’m pushing the city to create an app that any citizen can access critical information. Like when are meetings, when are deadlines, what can my children do today or this week or what programs are starting,” Schwartzman said.
Schwartzman said he would also push the city to offer wi-fi Internet access throughout the city for free or at a reduced rate.
Hoffman said he would push for infrastructure improvements.
He said he would use one of the city’s resources to try and raise money to fund department staffing and other improvements.
“We had tried at one time to work with Monmouth to sell water. Water is one thing we make money on. Water is something we should be working as a partnership with Monmouth, if they’ll go along, and we can certainly help them save money for their customers,” Hoffman said.
The election is April 7th.
