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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Monday, December 1, 2008 10:05 PM CST
Inyart to pursue another term as Charleston mayor

By ROB STROUD, Staff Writer
rstroud@jg-tc.com

CHARLESTON — Mayor John Inyart announced Monday that he plans to seek a second term, as next week’s filing period for the April election approaches.

“I’d like the opportunity to continue in the role of mayor if it’s the desire of the voters. I truly appreciate the support I’ve received from my family and friends and if re-elected will do my best to continue to represent all of Charleston,” Inyart said in a press release.

Inyart was elected in April 2005, running unopposed after Dan Cougill opted not to seek re-election as mayor. Inyart owns the Midas Auto Service Experts shops in Charleston and Mattoon.

The city council seats held by Jim Dunn and Lorelei Sims also will be up for election in April. Dunn has said he plans to run again. Sims has said she intends to move outside of the city limits, so she does not plan to seek re-election.

Candidate nominating petitions are available 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on week days at City Hall, 520 Jackson Ave. The filing period will start Monday and end Dec. 15.

City Clerk Deborah Muller said Monday afternoon that 13 nominating petitions have been picked up so far. She said candidates do not need to disclose whether they are running for mayor or a council seat until they file their petitions.

In his announcement, Inyart cited several factors that he views as positive signs of Charleston’s progress. He said the city has ensured its fiscal security by operating under a five-year planning system and reinstating a fleet plan for replacing vehicles. He added the city manager form of government has been fully enacted.

“During the last 3 ½ years (I have) transitioned the role of mayor to that of part time, ensuring that (City Manager Scott Smith) has the latitude to make the day-to-day decisions and the authority given to him by state statute to run the city,” Inyart said.

City officials have used e-mail and “smart phone” technology to speed communications with each other and the public, according to Inyart. He said they also have regularly met with Eastern Illinois University, the Charleston school district, the city of Mattoon, Coles Together, and the Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce officials.

The city has seen its property tax base grow due to commercial and student rental housing development, Inyart said. The city has stepped up efforts to get run down properties repaired or demolished and has gotten 25 decaying structures demolished so far this year, he said.

Inyart said the city has increased public safety by returning the fire and police departments to full staffing levels, offering two police canine units, adding a fourth ambulance to the fleet, and making other improvements. He added the city’s insurance rating has been improved from a level 5 to a 3.

“This rating is used by many insurance companies to calculate the risk factor of insuring properties in our community. The net result may mean lower insurance premiums for many homes and businesses,” Inyart said.

The mayor said examples of public improvements in recent years have included work on the Sixth-Seventh streets corridor and other roadways, renovations that have brought City Hall into compliance with handicapped accessibility requirements for the first time, and upgrades to the public swimming pool.

If re-elected, Inyart said he would like to pursue the city’s application for a low-interest loan from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to help fund state mandated improvements to the wastewater treatment plant and research the possibility of annexing adjacent areas where development is likely to occur.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my first term as Charleston’s mayor,” Inyart said. “Residents have been upfront with their concerns and I’ve tried my best to be attentive and responsive in addressing them. I’ve made decisions based on what I feel is best for the overall health of our community.”

Contact Rob Stroud at rstroud@jg-tc.com or 348-5734.

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smilininonu2 wrote on Dec 1, 2008 5:32 PM:

" OH PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE...someone else run for Mayor!!!!!!! "

Texas T wrote on Dec 1, 2008 8:21 PM:

" "I truly appreciate the support I've received from my family and friends"

what about the rest of the people of Charleston? They don't deserve his appreciation? Don't you just love politicians? "

lefty wrote on Dec 1, 2008 10:22 PM:

" I remember when Inyart first ran. He specifically stated this was a one-term only affair.

Surprise surprise, one term isn't enough. In all honesty, it's a small promise to break, but he did break it. "

Harry Potter wrote on Dec 2, 2008 8:56 AM:

" Let's see now, Charleston is twice as big as Wasilla Alaska, so would Inyart be twice as qualified as Palin to run for VP? Oops, he would have to run for and be the governor for a about a year first. He had better start practicing his you betcha's, dropping his g's and get that wink down pat. This is more exciting than FutureGen, a potential VP candidate right here in Coles county. "

sapient wrote on Dec 2, 2008 10:28 AM:

" He must be doing a good job based on the people who are criticizing him.
Those who are his 'friends' support him. Is he supposed to appreciate the non-support he gets from his enemies?

Candidate nominating petitions are available 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on week days at City Hall, 520 Jackson Ave. The filing period will start Monday and end Dec. 15. "

das wrote on Dec 2, 2008 10:47 AM:

" I really hope the people of Charleston get smart and do not re-elect this man. I have worked with him on many occasions and he is not a good person to work with and does not have Charleston in his best interest. "

Old Grumpy wrote on Dec 2, 2008 11:29 AM:

" Charleston employs fewer firefighters than Mattoon and those firefighters also provide paramedic ambulance service to the citizens of Charleston. Charleston just lowered their insurance rating by 2 classes so their citizens will pay lower insurance rates. What is Mattoon doing to lower our rates? "

TWO CENTS wrote on Dec 2, 2008 11:55 AM:

" At least Palin was running for (Vice)-President...... "

warrior wrote on Dec 2, 2008 2:21 PM:

" Inyart or Palin would still be more qualified than the idiot that got elected. who's only real contribution to life is a speech he gave in 2004. Dem's keep running their mouths about Obama, but apparently haven't been paying much attention to who's he's putting into his Administration (the Clinton idiots).I wonder if Bill had to sign some papers saying he won't chase Obama's interns around while Hilarious Clinton is out of the country. As far as Inyart running again, please don't, you have already done enough for our city. Such as a $50,000 sidewalk on the East side of Rt. 130 that no one uses. This money could have been spent on building sidewalks that people would have actually used. "

Midnight Writer wrote on Dec 2, 2008 3:09 PM:

" First of all John Inyart is not a politician. He is a good and decent man who is unselfishly serving your community. You may fairly criticize a decision that he has made but this is one man who cannot be criticized for his integrity. He has always put Charleston first.You know a mayors job is like a cop if you get a ticket for speeding, he's a bum but when you need help you call the police. P.S. What are you doing for your community? "

Raptor wrote on Dec 2, 2008 7:51 PM:

" I concur with Midnight Writer. Inyart is doing a good job and we are lucky to have him.

However I would support another candidate if we had one who thinks they can do the job.

The more people we have involved in the community the better our community will be.

Get those petitions turned in folks and let's see how it shakes out. "

Chris 2.0 wrote on Dec 2, 2008 8:22 PM:

" Old Grumpy wrote on Dec 2, 2008 11:29 AM:

" ... Charleston just lowered their insurance rating by 2 classes so their citizens will pay lower insurance rates. ... "

That is in part because the gift from Mattoon taxpayers allowing Charleston the use of their fire station at the airport to lower the ISO rating at Coles Business Park. "

thing wrote on Dec 3, 2008 8:06 AM:

" Chris2.0, that's part of it. The fire station at the airport is actually in charleston's limmits. He also mentions adding a 4th ambulance, however most of the time there are not enought medics to man it. Minimum staffing is 7, 4ambulance's x 2medics= 8, as far as the mayor goes, I have nothing bad to say, he has made a iot of improvements in the city. "

Old Grumpy wrote on Dec 3, 2008 9:21 AM:

" Chris 2.0, it appears Mayor Inyart is a better than Mattoon's mayor. He lowered his City's insurance rates while letting Mattoon taxpayers pay the bill.

With pension obligations taking up so much of our budget why are we (Mattoon citizens) paying for firefighters to staff a station that provides Charleston citizens more benefits than it does Mattoon citizens?

Maybe Mattoon needs a mayor more interested in saving his citizens money then spending it? "

Harry Potter wrote on Dec 3, 2008 11:18 AM:

" ..... as far as the mayor goes, I have nothing bad to say, he has made a iot of improvements in the city.

------------

First of all, what's an iot? (just kidding)

Secondly, did he approve the boiler slag fiasco, and the quarter of a million dollar clean up caused by that poor decision?

Third, has he done anything about finding a competent public works director? "

ak927 wrote on Dec 3, 2008 8:11 PM:

" Unselfishly serving his community. First of all on many occassions I have contacted the mayor on issues from EIU partying traffic, city ordiances, property maintenance, and even zoning issues. Every time he has basically told me that we should move. Well, we finally took his advice and moved from a home we loved and neighbors we adored. However, Mayor Inyart does not believe that every tax paying citizen in Charleston should have the same protections and rights. His beliefs lie on what side of Lincoln Ave you live on. He is afraid to take a position of opposition. Or stand up for the rights of the citizens of Charleston. I will personally cross party lines to vote for another candidate. "

longtimegone wrote on Dec 4, 2008 11:14 AM:

" it will die with allfour feet in the public trough. "

eugene wrote on Dec 4, 2008 12:36 PM:

" He likes that " good ole' boy system " too much. He is just a younger Wayne Lanman. "

cd wrote on Dec 4, 2008 3:50 PM:

" I wonder who is paying for the new Midas building in Mattoon. CVS wants to buy the land where Inyart's Mattoon Midas stands now. How old is the present Midas building in Mattoon anyway? "