By Heart of Illinois ABC

BLOOMINGTON – Three people including the city’s longest serving alderman are on the ballot next April to become Bloomington’s next mayor, while the field of candidates is so crowded in one city council race that there might have to be a February primary.

Monday was the final day for candidates to file their nominating petitions for the April 6 municipal election.

Two mayoral candidates filed Monday, including Mboka Mwilambwe, who has represented Ward 3 since 2011. The other candidate filing required paperwork Monday was Jackie Gunderson, who earlier this month, lost a close race for a seat on the McLean County Board.

Mwilambwe and Gunderson will face Mike Straza, a local entrepreneur and appointed member of the Bloomington Zoning Board of Appeals.

Incumbent Mayor Tari Renner has decided not to seek a third term.

Five council seats are also up for election next year. In Ward 1, incumbent Jamie Mathy is running opposed on the April ballot. Three candidates are vying for Mwilambwe’s seat in Ward 3. They are Derek Mead, Sheila Montney, and Willie Holton Halbert.

In Ward 5, Joni Painter is not running for re-election. The candidates filing nominating petitions before Monday’s deadline was Nick Becker and Patrick Lawler.

There are five candidates running to represent Ward 7, formerly held by Scott Black until he decided not to seek another term, then move out of the district before his term expired.

Ward 7 candidates are Daniel Freburg, incumbent Mollie Ward, Kelby Cumpston, June Peterson-Middlebrooks, and Correta L. Jackson. The top two candidates in the February 23 primary will square off on April 6. A primary must be held when there are more that four candidates, but election petitions can be challenged to possibly reduce the field and avoid a primary.

In Ward 9, incumbent Kimberly Bray is not seeking another term. Vying to replace her are former council member Jim Fruin and Tom Crumpler.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected].