Vacancy on Lincoln City Council created as Whittaker steps down         

Primary election just around the corner

Lincoln has two alderman contests

[February 23, 2007]  The city of Lincoln will seat winners of the April primary in May, but there is a vacancy in Ward 3 to be filled now. Mayor Beth Davis read a letter of resignation from Alderman Daron Whittaker before the council on Tuesday evening.

In the letter Whittaker apologized for missing meetings recently and said that he had reached a "painful, yet needed decision to step down." He cited increased business needs, and he needed more time to spend with his children at this time. He said he would continue to be available to help with city matters. "I'm sorry for this decision, but it's what's best for all at this moment," he wrote.

Whittaker chaired the Streets and Alleys Committee and served on the Finance and Policy and Procedures Committee; Fire and Water and ESDA Committee; Grounds, Buildings and Local Improvements Committee; and Police Committee. Other assigned positions included the city's Legislative and Grant Writing Committee and the Website Committee and the city council's representative to the Healthy Communities Partnership, the Lincoln Planning Commission, the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce and the Looking for Lincoln program.

The five Lincoln wards are each represented by two aldermen. The four-year term process is designed so that every two years one person's term expires in each ward. This two-year alternating allows more continuity of representation within each ward. There's always someone there who knows some history.

In this situation, Whittaker was actually the newcomer, beginning his first term of office last May. Ward 3 continues to be represented by Jonie Tibbs.

Davis said she knew that Whittaker had his heart in this and said, "Hopefully he will be back in the future."

In the meantime, she is accepting recommendations for an appointment to that position. The person must be a resident of Ward 3.

Mayor Elizabeth Davis
P.O. Box 353
Lincoln, IL 62656

217-735-3912

Primary election

Monday will be the last day for absentee voting before Tuesday's primary election.

The city of Lincoln has two contested races for alderman. Both are for Republican representation in the April 17 general election.

Candidates in Ward 2 are Bill Shelby and Kathleen M. Horn. In Ward 5 are Jeff Hoinacki and Derrick R. Crane.

[]