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By 25 News
BLOOMINGTON – High school history teacher and former Pekin City Councilman Cody Hendricks announced Thursday he wants to become an alderman in Bloomington.
Cody Hendricks is running for Ward 6 alderman in the 2023 municipal elections. The redrawn Ward 6 covers much of the downtown area and parts of Blooomington’s west side.
Hendricks was 18 when he was elected to the Pekin City Council in 2011. He served a four year term, and currently teaches history at Olympia High School in Stanford.
Hendricks calls Downtown Bloomington the “heart and soul” of the city. Its revitalization is one of his priorities, while also preserving its historic features.
“We have a real opportunity to revitalize and help enhance our downtown’s accessibility and growth while keeping the historic charm that makes it unique in the local area,” Hendricks said in a news release.
“Study after study shows that strong downtowns produce even greater returns that can then be used to support other parts of the city – namely areas of west Bloomington and the downtown surrounding communities,” Hendricks said.
In Bloomington, Hendricks has served on the Sister City and Beautification Committees.
Current Ward 6 Council member De Urban has said she’s not running for the seat next year. She was appointed in 2021 to replace Jenn Carrillo, who moved out of the ward.