Ward 1 race features fresh face, veteran
The race for alderman in Ward 1 features a political newcomer and a veteran of Springfield politics.
Charles “Chuck” Redpath, who served on the city council from 1987 until 2007, has been gearing up for the race since 2013, when he established a campaign committee and started raising money. He formerly represented Ward 4 in the north side of the city and purchased a home in Ward 1 in 2011.
T. Ray McJunkins, who moved to Springfield 12 years ago to become pastor at Union Baptist Church, has never held elective office, but he did run for the city commission in Salina, Kansas, during the 1990s. During his time in Springfield, he helped found the Faith Coalition for the Common Good, which unites congregations throughout the city to work on common goals, such as increasing job opportunities for minorities.
McJunkins, who has the backing of the Democratic Party, allows that he is the underdog in this race, considering Redpath’s name recognition, but he doesn’t sound discouraged as the April 7 election nears.
“On the one hand, I’m an underdog,” said McJunkins, who is 52. “On the other hand, I’ve been in the ward longer than he has.”
McJunkins vows that he would not vote for tax or rate increases.
“We’re going to have to do what needs to be done based in the right-now,” McJunkins said.
At the same time, McJunkins says that he wants the city to complete the 11 th Street corridor to provide a direct link from areas near the University of Illinois Springfield to the city’s core.
“Eleventh Street will connect Ward 1, again, with the city,” McJunkins said. “You’ve got to spend money to make money. I think it would be worth the money.”
McJunkins said he supports the development of Hunter Lake and also believes that City Water, Light and Power should pursue renewable energy sources even if not legally required to do so. He attributes CWLP’s financial woes to poor management and says that the utility, which is now being run by chief utility engineer Eric Hobbie, needs a general manager.
“I really think the CWLP problem is just mismanagement,” McJunkins said. “I think he (Hobbie) has some strengths in some areas, but I boldly say it’s not in the area of being a general manager.”
McJunkins also says that the city needs to increase minority hiring and that success should be judged on results, not plans.
“If you want to impress me, don’t tell me what you’re doing, show me,” McJunkins said.
Redpath, who has the backing of Sangamon County Republicans, says that transparency in city government is a top priority. He says he’s wary of a plan to establish an inspector general’s office that proponents say could cost $200,000 or more each year. The city has already allocated at least $79,000 for the office on an interim basis, but there is no assurance that it will become a permanent part of city government.
“We’re paying out a lot of money right now for an inspector general and I don’t know that it’s money well spent,” said Redpath, who is 58. “I’ve always felt that the aldermen are supposed to be the watchdogs of the council.”
Redpath says that the city should scale back payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) that CWLP now makes to the city to fund nonutility operations. Utility rates, he says, are too high. He favors Hunter Lake. Renewable energy is a good idea, he says, but the cost has to be right.
“Everybody would like to say they’re for renewable energy, solar, wind or whatever it is,” Redpath said. “It has to be reasonable for the ratepayers.”
Redpath said that he’ll push for economic development and he has a track record that includes the development of Walmart, Lowe’s, Menards and other stores on Dirksen Parkway during his previous stint on the council.
“Long story short, the people know me,” Redpath said. “They see my record, they see my record on the north end in Ward 4. They know I’m a man of my word.”
Redpath is retired from state employment after working as head of investigations for the attorney general’s office for 21 years and for state conservation police, where he was deputy chief of operations before retiring four years ago. He ran unsuccessfully for state representative in 2006 and now calls his decision to run for the Statehouse “a bonehead move.” He rules out a run for any office other than alderman.
“I will not run for another office,” Redpath said. “I’m not going to pull a Mike Houston on you. I’m not going to turn around and say, ‘I changed my mind.’”
Contact Bruce Rushton at [email protected].
