The open seat in Ward 6 being vacated by Kristin Dicenso is the goal of state employee Jennifer Notariano and attorney Alyssa Haaker. Notariano, a Louisiana native, works at the Illinois Capital Development Board and has lived in Springfield since 2016. Former prosecutor Haaker is an attorney for the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council. She is a lifelong resident of Springfield.
Both Haaker and Notariano are looking to be elected to their first government office, although this is Notariano’s second attempt after losing a race four years ago to current city Treasurer and candidate for Mayor Misty Buscher. Neither candidate has any kind of police record we could find aside from minor traffic tickets over ten years ago.
Haaker is endorsed by Central Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council, IBEW Local 193, Plumbers, Steamfitters, and HVACR Techs Local 137, Laborers Local 477, Illinois Union of Operating Engineers Local 965, Springfield Police Benevolent and Protective Association Unit #5, and Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell and former Sheriff Neil Williamson. She is recommended by the Sangamon County Republican Central Committee.
Notariano is endorsed by Springfield Fire Fighters Local #37, AFSCME, Springfield and Central Illinois Trades and Labor Council AFL-CIO, Teamsters Local 916, the Sangamon County Democrats, and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, State Senator Doris Turner, and outgoing Ward 6 Alderwoman Krisin Dicenso.
Notariano is running on a platform of safe communities, cleaning up neighborhoods, and transparent government. She wants to address speeding and improving infrastructure. Haaker’s platform is safe neighborhoods and supporting business expansion to grow. She specifically talks about prosecuting landlords with ordinance violations to crack down on blighted housing and fly dumping, an ongoing problem in Ward 6.