PEKIN, Ill. – The city of Pekin will soon fill the lone vacancy on its city council with a teacher.
Chris Onken, a P.E. teacher at Pekin Community High School, has been tabbed to replace Becky Cloyd. Cloyd resigned from the council in November. Onken is expected to be sworn-in at Monday’s city council meeting.
Mayor Mary Burress says Onken was one of four finalists interviewed last week from 11 applications submitted to fill the seat.
“He was very calm, reserved in the interview,” Burress said. “Very poised, he just talked like a leader. He was a team builder, everything was building a team, not I. And it was unanimous that we thought he should be the name brought forward.”
Burress says Onken’s experiences in education as a teacher, coach, and volunteer work in Pekin made him an ideal candidate for the position. She also believes Onken will have a calm presence and not create “division” on the council, something Burress says has been an issue in Pekin.
“I got in the interview for his teaching ability, coaching ability, that he will bring togetherness, build a team, work together, and lead the city forward,” Burress said.
Burress says Onken is also looking to bring issues in the community to council for formal discussions.
The mayor is also looking to have a more defined process in the future, in case another vacancy was created on the city council. Burress says the only statute in the city to fill such openings was that the mayor brings a name forward, but no guidance on how to do so. Moving forward, she wants to see a process that involves the city council.
“I wanted their input because I’m trying to build a team here. And I’m trying not to add any more divisiveness for the city of Pekin,” Burress said.
Burress says the process involved consulting with the Illinois Municipal League on what questions to ask candidates. She says the process to draft an official policy is underway.
