Three newcomers were elected to the Galesburg city council in Tuesday’s consolidated election, with only one incumbent reelected.
Ward One council member Bradley Hix defeated challenger Steven “Champ" Coleman to earn a second term on the council.
“I’m very humbled by the overwhelming victory tonight,” Hix told TSPR. “I look forward to moving the city forward.”
Challenger Heather Acerra won the Ward Five seat over incumbent Jaclyn Smith-Esters.
Smith-Esters was appointed to the seat to replace Peter Schwartzman after he was elected mayor in 2021.
“I feel very excited and also grateful and I'm ready to go to work for this town,” Acerra said after her win.
Her top three priorities as council member will be working toward a more modest community center, fixing up streets and sidewalks, and focusing on fixing or removing unsafe buildings around town.
Ward Three council member Kevin Wallace lost his re-election campaign to newcomer Evan Miller.
Wallace was also appointed to the council in 2021 by Mayor Schwartzman after the resignation of Lindsay Hillery.
In Ward Seven, Steve Cheesman defeated incumbent Larry Cox, who was first elected to the council in 2019.
Cheesman said the people in his ward want their voices to be heard, to work together, and to get back to “common sense.”
“That’s what we need to do as public servants, serve our citizens and help them have the best opportunities, and a city that works for them,” Cheesman said.
The new council will be seated next month.
Ward One: Incumbent Bradley Hix - 400
Challenger Champ Coleman - 239
Ward Three: Incumbent Kevin Wallace - 148
Challenger Evan Miller - 210
Challenger Thomas Roberts -88
Ward Five:
Incumbent Jaclyn Smith-Esters - 252
Challenger Heather Acerra -304
Ward Seven: Incumbent Larry Cox -453
Challenger Steve Cheesman - 580
