Spring Break
Six people vie for two open seats
Tuesday's city council primary vote will narrow pool to four
Rob Siebert/Senior City Reporter
Issue date: 2/26/07 Section: News
The primary elections in this year's city council race will take place on Tuesday.
Six candidates are on the ballot, competing for two open seats, including current council members Larry Rennels and Jeff Lahr, whose two-year terms end April 30.
Rennels, 59, is seeking his fourth term. He said he decided to run again because he enjoys it, and because the city has a lot planned in the next several years, so he'd like to stay in office.
He specifically cited the upgrade in the city's waste water treatment plant and opportunities for economic development as reasons he'd like to stick around.
Lahr, 43, is aiming for a second term on the council.
Lahr could not be reached for comment.
Challenging the councilmen are: local musician Jenny Keefe, retired Coles County banker Tim Newell, retired truck driver Terry Beason, and T.K. Slaughter, secretary and treasurer for Gano Welding and Supplies.
Jenny Keefe
Keefe, 30, leases a home near Lake Charleston. She said the controversy surrounding the expiration of leases on lakeside properties inspired her to run.
If elected, Keefe would like to start a curbside recycling program to slow the swelling of the landfill between Mattoon and Charleston.
She also hopes to place mirrors on the corners of the town square, so that drivers can better see oncoming traffic.
Keefe would also host informal discussion groups with the community to further open the lines of communication between the council and the public.
Terry Beason
Beason, 51, has lived in Charleston his entire life. Now that he is retired, he feels it is time to give something back to the community.
Beason said he hopes to bring new businesses into the city. While he is happy with what Charleston currently has, he believes the city can do better, especially in terms of nicer restaurants in town.
Beason would also like to take a closer look at the proposed ethanol plant to be installed near the city, as it is close to existing factories, as well as Jefferson elementary school.
Tim Newell
Newell, 58, is a life-long resident of Coles County, and said he chose to run out of a desire to make Charleston a better place.
"I'm very fond of this community," Newell said. "It's been good to me."
Newell is a math teacher at Charleston High School and said he'd like to be active in bringing new businesses to the city, and allow local business owners to stay in the community, rather than leave.
He would also like to see improvement continue on the city's water/sewer infrastructure.
T.K. Slaughter
Slaughter, 43, is running for city council for the second time. He ran in 2005, but was defeated in the primary.
He decided to run a second time because of infrastructure problems in the city. He mentioned the city's bumpy sidewalks, and that it would be extremely difficult to get a wheelchair down some of them.
"I feel that I can act in the best interest of the community," Slaughter said.
Slaughter also said he'd like to "de-litter" the city's skylines, adding that there are more telephone poles than trees on Sixth and Seventh Streets.
After the votes are tabulated, the two candidates with the lowest number of votes will be eliminated and the remaining four will go on to the general election on April 17.
Residents can vote at their local precincts.
The results will be announced at the Coles County Courthouse, or on county's web site.
Six candidates are on the ballot, competing for two open seats, including current council members Larry Rennels and Jeff Lahr, whose two-year terms end April 30.
Rennels, 59, is seeking his fourth term. He said he decided to run again because he enjoys it, and because the city has a lot planned in the next several years, so he'd like to stay in office.
He specifically cited the upgrade in the city's waste water treatment plant and opportunities for economic development as reasons he'd like to stick around.
Lahr, 43, is aiming for a second term on the council.
Lahr could not be reached for comment.
Challenging the councilmen are: local musician Jenny Keefe, retired Coles County banker Tim Newell, retired truck driver Terry Beason, and T.K. Slaughter, secretary and treasurer for Gano Welding and Supplies.
Jenny Keefe
Keefe, 30, leases a home near Lake Charleston. She said the controversy surrounding the expiration of leases on lakeside properties inspired her to run.
If elected, Keefe would like to start a curbside recycling program to slow the swelling of the landfill between Mattoon and Charleston.
She also hopes to place mirrors on the corners of the town square, so that drivers can better see oncoming traffic.
Keefe would also host informal discussion groups with the community to further open the lines of communication between the council and the public.
Terry Beason
Beason, 51, has lived in Charleston his entire life. Now that he is retired, he feels it is time to give something back to the community.
Beason said he hopes to bring new businesses into the city. While he is happy with what Charleston currently has, he believes the city can do better, especially in terms of nicer restaurants in town.
Beason would also like to take a closer look at the proposed ethanol plant to be installed near the city, as it is close to existing factories, as well as Jefferson elementary school.
Tim Newell
Newell, 58, is a life-long resident of Coles County, and said he chose to run out of a desire to make Charleston a better place.
"I'm very fond of this community," Newell said. "It's been good to me."
Newell is a math teacher at Charleston High School and said he'd like to be active in bringing new businesses to the city, and allow local business owners to stay in the community, rather than leave.
He would also like to see improvement continue on the city's water/sewer infrastructure.
T.K. Slaughter
Slaughter, 43, is running for city council for the second time. He ran in 2005, but was defeated in the primary.
He decided to run a second time because of infrastructure problems in the city. He mentioned the city's bumpy sidewalks, and that it would be extremely difficult to get a wheelchair down some of them.
"I feel that I can act in the best interest of the community," Slaughter said.
Slaughter also said he'd like to "de-litter" the city's skylines, adding that there are more telephone poles than trees on Sixth and Seventh Streets.
After the votes are tabulated, the two candidates with the lowest number of votes will be eliminated and the remaining four will go on to the general election on April 17.
Residents can vote at their local precincts.
The results will be announced at the Coles County Courthouse, or on county's web site.
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