The Candidates for Pekin City Council will take part in a public forum on Thursday, March 13, from 6:00 to 7:45 p.m. at the Pekin Public Library. The forum for the six candidates seeking three council seats in the April 1 election is sponsored by the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the library, the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria and the Dirksen Congressional Center.

Candidates for the council are, in ballot order: Christopher Hogue, Chris Onken, Matthew Johnson, Dave Nutter, Jimmie Fletcher, and Peg Phillips. 

The first hour of the forum will feature candidate opening statements, followed by a series of  questions each directed to all candidates to answer in turn. After a short break, candidates will take part in a separate interview segment in which they will individually answer questions developed by the Chamber and forum moderator to provide the audience more specific details about candidates’ campaign platforms and the policies they’re championing.

The forum will be moderated by Dirksen Center communications director Chris Kaergard, a former journalist who has moderated multiple election forums in Tazewell and Peoria counties.

Voters who are interested but unable to attend in person can watch the forum via live-stream or after the fact on the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria YouTube page.  

Early, in-person voting has begun for the election, and is available at the Tazewell County Clerk’s Office in the McKenzie Building, 11 S. 4th St., Room 203. Polls are open for in-person voting on Election Day, April 1, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.