PEORIA, Ill. – Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis announced in a Wednesday morning news conference he will be moving on from his current post following the 2021 mayoral election.
“Spent a lot of time with my wife, Mimi, and our kids, praying on this. We together have decided I will not be seeking a fifth term as mayor,” he said.
“I’ve been honored to be able to serve the community for almost 22 years, both as an at-large council member and as mayor, but at this time, the best decision for our family is I will not be seeking re-election.”
Family, Ardis claimed, was the biggest player in his decision.
“My wife and I are empty nesters,” he said. “We’re in our 60s now, we have grandchildren, and hopefully, we’ll have more.”
The mayor also pointed to his work with OSF HealthCare, where he has served since March as Strategic Philanthropy Officer.
“I’m extremely excited about the opportunities that presents me, especially in light of the fact I won’t be in elected office, but I’ll still be able to do a lot of good work in the community, promoting what the foundation is responsible for helping the Sisters [of the Third Order of St. Francis] do,” he said.
Ardis’s announcement came one day after his OSF boss, Tom Hammerton, announced he was leaving his post as OSF HealthCare Foundation President/Chief Development Officer to become Vice President of Advancement at Bradley University.
The mayor said he hadn’t given any thought to filling Hammerton’s vacancy.
Despite the hardships Peoria faces, economically and otherwise, Ardis said he believes the future will be bright.
“I’m confident this will allow some people who may not have entertained a thought of running against a fourth-term incumbent, and I’m confident Peoria will have strong leadership going forward as determined by our citizens,” he said.
If Ardis’s announcement does inspire anyone to throw their hat into the ring, they will be entering an already-crowded squared circle.
Councilwoman Rita Ali, activist Chama St. Louis, pastor Chuck Brown, Andy Diaz of Caterpillar, and Couri Thomas of the Peoria Area Food Bank have already declared their candidacies.
Thomas in 2017 came within around 1,000 votes of defeating Ardis.
Ardis has served as Peoria Mayor since 2005, making his tenure the longest in terms of consecutive terms served, and the second-longest overall tenure in Peoria history.
