By DEANA POOLE, THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER
Mar 19, 2011
Excerpted from the SJ-R:
Seventeen candidates for Springfield alderman — 15 men and two women — will appear on the April 5 ballot.
Aldermanic positions are officially nonpartisan, although many of those running have partisan backgrounds. Republicans currently have a 6-4 majority on the council. Aldermen serve four-year terms and are paid about $15,000 a year.
The State Journal-Register today is highlighting the races in Wards 6, 7 and 8.
Ward 7
The race to replace Ward 7 Ald. Debbie Cimarossa has attracted a restaurant owner, a former Marine and an attorney.
Michael Higgins, owner of Maldaner’s restaurant; John Laurenzana, director of marketing and public relations for Capitol Care Center; and Joe McMenamin, who once ran for Ward 10 alderman, are vying to represent Ward 7.
McMenamin 58, was the first to formally launch a campaign in Ward 7.
He did so in the parking lot of the old Kmart building on MacArthur, where after a brief news conference, about 50 people divided into teams, pulled weeds and cleaned up debris.
He also reignited the debate over the lack of a residency requirement for city workers, saying he would support an exemption for current employees who live outside the city limits, but wouldn’t exempt those who want to move out of the city, except by hardship waiver.
McMenamin has called it a “crime” for the previous mayor to negotiate a five-year contract with firefighters union that included 3.5 percent raises each year going into a recession.
“I will be a tireless advocate to strengthen our neighborhoods and improve MacArthur Boulevard, a fiscal watchdog on the city council and a public servant to Ward 7 voters and residents,” he said.
McMenamin has pledged to use his $15,000 aldermanic salary to rent office space along MacArthur and be available there on weekends and at least one night a week, in addition to being available by phone and e-mail.
Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 