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Farmington mayor

Stufflebeam, Zessin vie for position

By JEFF LAMPE
For The Weekly Post

FARMINGTON – Two candidates are vying to become mayor of Farmington in the April 4 election.

Kenn Stufflebeam, 55, was elected as mayor in 2013 and then stepped down June 11, 2015, to be replaced by Kent Kowal. On March 5, 2022, Stufflebeam came full circle, leaving his position as an alderman to serve as acting mayor when Kowal left the position.

Stufflebeam is a key account manager for Cintas, and he and wife Anne have two daughters, Meredith and Alexis.

Chadric Zessin, 29, is a newcomer to the political scene but is familiar with Farmington, where he has lived for all but four years of his life. An HVAC automation technician, Zessin is the new Farmington-area representative for the Spoon River Scenic Drive. Zessin is single but said he has “two well-behaved dogs and a vocal and opinionated Maine Coon” cat.

Here are the candidates answers to questions regarding the election.

Question: Why are you running to be mayor of Farmington and what are your priorities?

Stufflebeam: To continue moving the City of Farmington forward. Farmington is a great place to raise families and I am committed to ensure that this continues. I want to make sure that we have a viable police force that is well trained and partners with the community for safety, fiscally responsible City Council that uses our tax dollars wisely, and complete transparency of the decisions that are made for the citizens of Farmington.

Zessin: I am running for mayor because I believe it is time for the next generation to be involved in how the city is run. My priorities are bringing back the feeling of community and pushing the city into the 21st century, while still recognizing what makes our town significant, its history.

Q: Why are you a good candidate to be mayor?

Stufflebeam: I am the right candidate because of my past experience and my commitment to being fiscally responsible. I want to make sure we that we use the TIF District dollars responsibly, and in ways that move the community forward.

Zessin: I would be a great candidate for mayor because, while I am young, my ideas are fresh and they will help this city to regain its momentum and keep us moving in the right direction.

Q: What are the biggest issues facing Farmington and what are the city’s biggest strengths?

Stufflebeam: Farmington is a great community. We have many businesses that chose to make this their home. I want to make sure we help market existing businesses while trying to attract more businesses and services that will benefit our citizens.

I would like to partner with our Chamber of Commerce as well as Fulton and Peoria county economic councils to show that Farmington is a viable community to place a business. Our citizens are very loyal to Farmington and will support businesses as they open.

While inflation is affecting many communities around us, Farmington is well placed and very healthy. In the last three years, Farmington has not increased its tax levy. We have done this by being fiscally conservative. I want to continue this trend.

We have money in the bank to maintain city services while not being an overbearing burden on our homeowners. The city is committed to continually upgrading our infrastructure as needed and keeping our police force well trained.

Zessin: One of the biggest issues Farmington is facing is the lack of options for eating or things to do.
Next, the people want to pay their city bills online. This seems to be a frustrating issue with a lot of the people I have spoken to.

One of the bigger strengths of the city is its history. I think that we need to be pushing more about the fact that we were a prominent stop on the Underground Railroad. We also have a decent school system. Farmington has a lot of untapped potential that I also see as a major strength.

Q: Where do you envision the city offices being located in the next five years?

Stufflebeam: I do not see the city offices moving in the next five years. Farmington has a solid building that can be updated and adapted to meet our needs. It is centrally located and paid for. In the next few months, we will be begin planning on how to update the facility a piece at a time to better suit our needs. This will be done without raising taxes.

Zessin: I hope the location will be revisited at least within that time. I love how central it is currently, but the building is old and outdated. We need to build a new building. If financially plausible I would love to see a new building in the same place.

Q: Anything else?

Stufflebeam: It is my privilege to be the mayor of Farmington. I want to continue to operate in transparency to serve our citizens. There are many aspects of the city that we can be very proud of: Oak Ridge Cemetery, Jacobs Park, Dimmit Park, Reed Park and the Farmington Historical Museum. I encourage everyone to take some time to visit these places.

Our city crew does a tremendous job maintaining our parks and cemetery while the entire volunteer staff at the museum will help you understand the history of our city.

Our school is a shining star of our city as well. In my travels with my job, rarely do I find someone who has not had a positive experience at our school.

Farmington has lots to be proud of, and I want to make sure this continues. This is not done by one person but on the backs of the people that have stepped up to help steer this ship we call the City of Farmington. Please take time to vote on April 4.

Zessin: I would like to see more visually appealing buildings such as bringing back plants and foliage around town. We need to have more events and festivals like the Italian Fest.

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Williamsfield School Board one of few contested races

By JEFF LAMPE
For The Weekly Post

WILLIAMSFIELD – As another election approaches, most voters will have little to decide when they head to the polls April 4.

In addition to contested races for the Brimfield School Board and the Farmington mayoral race (see story, above), the Williamsfield School Board election also features more candidates than positions open.

You can’t tell that from the ballot, though. Listed as running for the Williamsfield CUSD 210 school board are three candidates: Brittany Byrd, Chad Goff and Jenny Smith. There are also two write-in lines provided on the ballot. Write-in candidates are Brittany Gibbs and Rachel Tucker.

Write-ins typically face a stiff challenge to get elected, since their names are not listed on the ballot and must be spelled correctly to count if a voter writes them in.

Here are questions posed to the candidates and their replies, which have been edited for clarity and space.

Question: Can you provide some background on yourself?

Byrd: I grew up on a small farm in Loami, Ill. I have a bachelor of science degree in business management from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. I have worked for the State of Illinois since 1999, first as an accountant and since 2001 as a bank examiner. My husband, Tony Byrd, is a self-employed contractor. We moved to rural Dahinda 16 years ago and have two children who have attended Williamsfield schools since Pre-K.

Gibbs: I have two sons who attend Williamsfield Elementary. I grew up in Williamsfield and currently work at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Galesburg as a nurse.

Goff: I graduated Abingdon High School in 1991, served in the U.S. Marine Corps and met my wife, Angela Hilman Goff, in 2000. In January 2020 I hung up my duty belt, packed away my law-enforcement equipment and began a career with IDOT.

Angela grew up near Oak Run and I have fond memories of spending time with my grandfather on his farm outside of Dahinda. My parents and Angela are Bomber alumni and in 2006 we moved to Oak Run. We have two children and I have been a volunteer coach in ROWVA-Williamsfield middle school baseball, JFL football and this summer girls 14U softball.

Smith: I grew up in Morton and work as an animal-control officer in Peoria. I’m married to Jason Smith and we have four children. We moved to Williamsfield in 2008. Two of our children graduated from Williamsfield CUSD 210 and two are still students in the district.

Tucker: My husband, Cory, and I have two children, one who is a recent WHS graduate and one who is a kindergartener. I was born and raised in Dahinda and graduated from WHS. I have a bachelor of business in finance from Western Illinois. Even while living in Galva for 12 years, we remained a part of this community since so many family members live here. We have lived in Williamsfield since 2017.

Q: Why are you running for a seat on the Williamsfield CUSD 210 School Board and what are your priorities?

Byrd: For over eight years, I have voiced my concerns about staff turnover and checks and balances. I’ve become increasingly concerned about the lack of checks and balances in regard to finances and the number of faculty/staff members that have left.

Gibbs: I’ve been impressed with the positive direction our school has gone over the years. I chose to run to help facilitate the continued growth of our schools and to assist in maintaining a positive and peaceful atmosphere.

Goff: I became involved in board meetings during the COVID lockdowns. I watched our kids struggle through remote learning and many other parents I spoke to expressed the same experience.

After surrounding schools, including Galesburg, returned to full time, our district had not made available any information regarding students returning full time. I attended a board meeting and asked the question. I was informed by Superintendent Tim Farquer, as well as our board, that they would return our children back to school full time the following school year.

I came away from that meeting upset for our kids and disappointed in our board. I organized a meeting with other parents, a special meeting was held and the board voted unanimously to return our kids to school full time.

If elected, my priorities are to ensure the board is following its own rules. I will work diligently to keep our taxes low and not support frivolous spending on unnecessary projects. I will work to keep our children safe while receiving the best education by the best educators that our district can recruit and retain. I will work with the educators, their union, administrators and other board members to promote a favorable culture in the school and advocate for proper union representation for our district employees. I will work to keep local control of our school. I will make sure educators, students and parents can provide opinions and suggestions without fear of retaliation.

Smith: I’m running for school board because we are very invested in the school. My priority is making our school the best it can be while addressing the concerns of the community, faculty, staff members, taxpayers, parents and children.

Tucker: I try to live a “service above self” life and want to give back to my community. I have witnessed the amazing transformation of Williamsfield schools from my time as a student to now. I am interested in making sure the opportunities continue, in making things even better for all the stakeholders and in learning the ins and outs of the business side. My priority is to make sure the school board does all within its power to give the best education by the best educators in the best environment while being financially responsibly with taxpayers’ money.

Q: What makes you a good candidate for a school board position?

Byrd: Serving on our school board is a positive way I could contribute and help ensure all stakeholders opinions are represented, respected and heard. I can help provide adequate oversight and transparency over the finances. I know many of the faculty/staff members and I have been an advocate for the teachers for many years.

Gibbs: In my career as a nurse, collaboration is important. I’m successful because I can see the big picture and am able to consider each side’s concern or idea and piece the puzzle together for all involved. I’m motivated, approachable and have effective communication skills.

Goff: I’ve been in a leadership role for more than two decades and understand the importance of a strong employee/management relationship. As a former business owner, I’m versed in finance, budgets, healthcare and retirement systems. I’m a proud union member and have been through many contract negotiations. As a former law-enforcement officer, I’m a listener, a fact gatherer, and I don’t believe in making quick decisions without doing research and gathering information. I firmly believe in transparency, integrity and character.

Smith: I know many of the staff/faculty members and I have spoken in public comment about the staff turnover. I listen and make decisions based on facts and evidence. Creating an environment where people are empowered, supported and engaged are key to understanding how taxpayers want their dollars spent.

Tucker: I am honest, motivated, educated and caring. I am running to be a part of a great education and a great school for all students. I work with budgets, tax levys, resolutions and contracts at work and thoroughly enjoy it. My youngest son is just starting his school career; so while I have a long road ahead, I want to be a part of the school in a positive manner.

Q: What are the biggest issues facing CUSD 210?

Byrd: Two of the biggest issues that I see facing Williamsfield CUSD 210 are the lack of transparency over finances and faculty/staff turnover.

Gibbs: I see some of our biggest issues also as opportunities. I think with continued improvements within our community, our numbers in the district could also increase. Being a small community has huge benefits but unfortunately that also creates challenges. When you are short on numbers you may not have enough kids to fill certain classes, making it difficult to offer. Also being short in numbers affects sports and other activities.

Goff: Transparency with the taxpayers, our teachers and students. Being financially responsible, doing our due diligence in reviewing bills and ensuring the proper bidding process is being followed.

Communicating with and encouraging our community for their input and involvement on major projects and controversial issues. Making certain there are checks and balances and clear guidance for our administrators. Promoting a culture where our educators strive to be the best at their craft and our students excel.

Smith: The biggest issues are staff retention and finance concerns.

Tucker: I believe Williamsfield CUSD 210 is facing some of the same issues that schools across the nation are facing – teacher shortage, behavioral and academic problems resulting from COVID-19 shutdowns and burnout and exhaustion. However, it is important to point out Williamsfield is financially strong, receives a fair amount of grants, is working on improving the facilities, has fantastic teachers and helpful staff, has active clubs and programs, has expanding extracurricular activities that are competing at state levels and, most importantly, modern, relevant teaching abilities and flexibility for all students.

Q: Would you have approved an early renegotiation of Superintendent Tim Farquer’s contract and met his various requests?

Byrd: No, I would not have approved Mr. Farquer’s contract. There was no reason to approve a contract that was not due until 2024, especially since three new members would be seated in April.

Gibbs: I’m not able to answer a yes or no to this question due to not being present in the executive session, where it was discussed and where information was presented. I know most of the people on the current board and the ones that I know are kind people who want what is best for our school and community. I would trust them to make the decision again.

Goff: No. The board members that approved the contract did so in poor faith and not in the district’s best interest. It was financially irresponsible, undermines the new board members as well as the ones that did not support it, and eroded the integrity of the board. It provided unprecedented contract terms based from personal agendas instead of merit. If not for concerned citizens the new contract would have taken place in executive session behind closed doors and the public wouldn’t have known until after the fact.
Smith: No, there was no reason to approve a contract extension. I voiced my opinion about the contract extension prior to the approval and after the approval in public comment. Two board members who were leaving the board tied the hands of the future board, and essentially, the taxpayers.

Tucker: Matters involving personnel are discussed in closed session. Since I am not privy to that information, I cannot answer.

Q: Anything else you would like to add?

Byrd: I chose to run because I want to make a difference, not because a group of individuals convinced me to run. It was a decision that I came to after talking to my husband and children. I listen to facts, ask questions and then make a decision. Everyone’s voice matters in this community and community members should be comfortable sharing their opinions. Our school district needs to retain and recruit quality teachers.

Goff: My decision to be a candidate took months and many discussions with friends and family. I wasn’t talked into running as a candidate or as a write-in in order to keep a favorable board and to allow our district to continue operating business as usual.

I don’t believe in choosing sides but was put on one when I advocated for our students to return back to school. The only side that I am on is that of the district. I’m on the side of its educators, students, employees and taxpayers.

Smith: I love what this school offers in curriculum and I loved the atmosphere. However, I feel the atmosphere has changed over the last few years. I would also like to see formal committees meeting for transparency and oversight.

Tucker: I have not been coerced into running nor have I been paid to run. I am running because I want to. I welcome all voters to the write-in candidates’ Meet and Greet Sunday, April 2 from 2-4 p.m. at The Watering Hole in Oak Run. Come ask questions before making an informed vote on Tuesday, April 4.

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