By Heart of Illinois ABC
BLOOMINGTON – Two candidates declared victory Tuesday night to become the finalists vying for the Ward 7 seat on the Bloomington City Council.
Just over 300 people cast ballots in the city’s only primary with Kelby Cumpston receiving nearly 35% of the vote and incumbent Mary “Mollie” Ward garnering just under 34%.
Cumpston had 105 votes. Ward had 102. Daniel Freburg was third, followed by Coretta Jackson and June Peterson-Middlebrooks.
The primary narrowed the field from five to two in the ward covering part of Bloomington’s west side.
“Our message of putting people first strongly resonated with voters in Ward 7,” Cumpston said in a social media post.
“Let’s elect a progressive voice to the Bloomington City Council who will advocate for community needs such as affordable housing, racial justice, and accessibility,” Cumpston also said.
Cumpston is a construction company project manager, and serves on the city’s Property Maintenance Review Board.
“I’m thrilled and grateful to announce that our campaign has won a place on the ballot for the April 6 City Council election,” said Ward on her Facebook page.
“The outcome of today’s primary demonstrates the confidence that Westsiders have in us — and their interest in getting the day-to-day work of governing done rather than just making noise,” Ward also said.
Ward was appointed Ward 7 alderwoman last fall after Scott Black moved out of the ward. She’s co-founder of the McLean County Interfaith Allliance and director of spiritual care and ethics committee co-chair for Carle BroMenn Medical Center and Carle Eureka Hospital.
Cumpston and Ward will be on the April 6 election ballot.
Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected].
