EDITORIAL: Hard pass on Nokomis City Council run in 2027

July 17, 2026 6

NOKOMIS — Petitioning for the 2027 consolidated election is just over a month away. That may very well linger in the minds of Nokomis residents as they ponder if the current sitting members of the Nokomis City Council deserve to remain there.

The council currently has four of the original five members who were elected in 2023. Commissioner Lou Stauder resigned in 2025, a seat later filled by the appointment of Charlie O’Malley. The others are Tisha Morris, Michael Glenn, and Scott Arkebauer, as well as Mayor Dylan Goldsmith.

Questionable actions throughout this term, not limited to the June 17 incident involving the Nokomis Police Department, may force a referendum on whether they should remain in office.

Low voter turnout has been an ongoing problem in local elections, which is an ass-backwards priority. Local elections should be significantly more important than what happens in Hillsboro, Springfield, or Washington.

It took a write-in candidate in 2015 to fill an unfilled seat for City Commissioner, while the mayoral seat held by Terry Hill went uncontested.

In 2019, the mayoral race was slightly more competitive. There was also a six-way race for City Commissioner.

In 2021, following the resignation of Russ Foster as mayor, there was a special election for mayor, as well as an open commissioner seat. The open commissioner seat was due to a resignation.

In 2023, the mayoral race remained competitive. The field of candidates for City Commissioner expanded to seven.

I know, because I ran a write-in campaign in 2015 and made the ballot in 2019, 2021, and 2023.

Why don’t they care?

Nokomis is split into four precincts, three of which actually determine city elections. The other is dedicated to the Village of Coalton. The following data is based simply on those three precincts voting for mayor and city commissioner.

In 2015, voter turnout for Nokomis’ local elections averaged around 13.9% in voter turnout. The actual number of people who cast votes: 210. Out of 1,512 registered voters. Abysmal.

In 2019, the election was taken a little more seriously, resulting in a voter turnout averaging at 41.61%. That was partially due to a contested mayoral election and a stacked roster of candidates for city commissioner. Out of 1,418 registered voters, 588 would cast their votes, an increase of 180% versus 2015.

Voter turnout flopped in the 2021 special election. Despite the voter base expanding by 20 voters and voter turnout outperforming 2015 by a few percentage points, it did not matter. Voter turnout dropped to an average of 18.02% in races that some voters would completely ignore. 256 votes cast out of 1,438. Unacceptable.

In the 2023 consolidated election, voter turnout would rebound to an average of 30.88%, a significant drop in comparison to 2019. Another two-way race for mayor, and a seven-way race for commissioner. But what is more alarming is the number of people who didn’t bother to vote in the race at all. In Nokomis 2, 14 of 149 ballots wouldn’t register a vote on the race. Nokomis 3, it was 7 of 125. In Nokomis 4, it was 9 out of 153. They were simply more concerned with other local-level races, such as the school board, library board of trustees, park commission, college board of trustees, and regional boards of education.

Why the 2027 election should matter

The 2027 consolidated election should matter to the people of Nokomis.

All five seats on the Nokomis City Council are up.

Two seats on the Nokomis Park Board are up once again.

A majority of seats on the Nokomis Township Public Library Board of Trustees are up. Two seats for a full term of six years are up. One seat is up for the remaining four years of the term. Another is up for the remaining two years of the term. Three seats are not up due to those trustees being elected in 2023 and 2025, respectively.

And as usual, four seats will be up for the taking for the Nokomis CUSD #22 Board of Education.

Why I am unimpressed with the current city leadership

While completing the new water plant project was a huge plus, there really isn’t much on the city’s side worth praise.

All this talk about revitalizing Nokomis? They’re trying to steal credit from Newkomis.

All this talk about fixing infrastructure in Nokomis? Trying to steal credit from Newkomis.

All this talk about getting a grocery store? That was an original Newkomis idea, not the city council’s. They had their chance after Kroger closed, but completely botched the deal to bring Save-A-Lot into that building.

All this talk about housing? Pretty sure that the city had zero involvement until Newkomis got the ball rolling.

Most of the improvements to this community have been thanks to efforts by Newkomis, not the city.

Why I won’t be running in 2027

In fairness, why should I continue wasting my time on a losing effort for the Nokomis City Council? I’ve run four times with poor outcomes. Because with the City Council races, it always seems to be the last name that gets you elected into office. Not so much with any of the other races in Nokomis.

Why should I put my current elected role as trustee of the Nokomis Township Public Library Board of Trustees at risk?

The library board of trustees was struggling in trying to get candidates to run, so I took advantage of the 2025 consolidated election. Although I am usually not a fan of uncontested elections, I was elected alongside Margie Eisenbarth to a six-year term, starting my term last June.

I am also in my second year as Board President, in which I believe that I have done my best to be a proper steward to keep our local library open.

I’ve gone through enough disappointment with this community that it just isn’t in my best interests to even consider another run for City Council in 2027.

Jake Leonard, Executive Editor-In-Chief

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Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.