Published: December 03, 2008 09:23 am      

Wood running for mayor in ’09

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — City Councilman David Wood has announced he will be running for mayor in the Feb. 24, 2009 consolidated primary election.

“Mt. Vernon has a combination of wonderful opportunities and serious problems,” Wood stated in an official release. “The interstate exchange provides us a great chance to bring more jobs with better salaries to our area. We must act now to move out of the economic stagnation, which has plagued our great city for the past 30 years. I am confident I have the business background, experience in finance and the leadership skills necessary to support the business we have and embrace the new business we want.”

Wood will be running against incumbent Mayor Mary Jane Chesley, who picked up a petition to run for a second term in office on Sept. 16, the first day to pick up petitions

“This truly is a turning point for Mt. Vernon, maybe our last chance to get our city on track for growth,” Wood said Tuesday after announcing he was running for mayor.

Wood graduated from Mt. Vernon Township High School in 1972 and has earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Illinois. He is a certified professional accountant and private business owner of Wood Forensic Valuation Services of Mt. Vernon. In addition to serving on the City Council, Wood is a past member of the District 80 School Board and served as president for two years. He is a member of noon Rotary and the Elks Lodge in Mt. Vernon.

Petitions for mayor and two city council seats are available for the primary election at the office of City Clerk Jackie Sharp at City Hall. The filing period to return petitions is Dec. 8 through 15.

In addition to the position of mayor, two council seats — the ones currently held by Shirilyn Holt and Mike Walker — are up for election. According to Sharp, four people have picked up petitions for city council — Larry Griffin, Dan Voyles, Ralph Nabors and Dennis McEnaney.

Other positions up for election is city clerk and city treasurer. Sharp has picked up a petition to run for another term, and Doris Stover has picked up a petition to run for another term as treasurer.

Consolidated elections will be held April 7, 2009.