Sangamon County Democrats, treasurer seek applications for new Capital Township trustee

Local Democrats are looking to fill a vacancy on the Capital Township Board of Trustees.

The Sangamon County Democratic Party and board treasurer and supervisor Joe Aiello are collecting applications to fill the seat of Lakeisha Purchase, who is departing the elected position she has held since 2017 to represent Ward 5 on Springfield City Council.

“I’m looking for somebody that is gonna dive into it like Ald. Lakeisha Purchase did,” said county Democrat chair Bill Houlihan, who will make a nomination. “She held town meetings, she did all sorts of different things and (held) different responsibilities and things that township government has.”

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Aiello, a Republican, said he will consider everyone who applied for the position. He makes a recommendation on who fills the vacant seat on the board and doesn’t have to abide by whoever the party nominates for the vacancy.

Statute requires Purchase’s replacement to be a Democrat. The nominee will be the lone Democrat on the board and will serve out the rest of the term until elections in early 2025.

Houlihan and Purchase said they would prefer if a Black woman looking to run for reelection was chosen to replace her on the board. Purchase was the lone Black Capital Township board trustee and is the only Black woman serving on city council.

Statute requires Purchase’s replacement to be a Democrat. The nominee will be the lone Democrat on the board and will serve out the rest of the term until elections in early 2025.

Houlihan and Purchase said they would prefer if a Black woman looking to run for reelection was chosen to replace her on the board. Purchase was the lone Black Capital Township board trustee and is the only Black woman serving on city council.

Applicants must be a Democrat, resident of the township, and registered to vote.

Capital Township is designed to accelerate access to county government assistance for residents of the township. It also assesses property and provides general assistance for township residents.

Purchase was appointed to city council after she was unanimously approved by the council in September. She was nominated by Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder after former Ward 5 Ald. Andrew Proctor resigned and moved to Chicagoland for a new job and to be closer to family.

Source: https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/2021/10/09/sangamon-county-democrats-looking-fill-capital-township-vacancy/6054319001/

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