News Local/State

Urbana City Council Member To Pursue Jakobsson’s House Seat

by The Associated Press, with additional reporting from Illinois Public Media
 

An Urbana City Council member says she's running for the Illinois House seat being vacated by a six-term state representative.

Carol Ammons will formally announce her candidacy Tuesday. She's seeking the seat currently held by Representative Naomi Jakobsson, a Democrat who says she's not seeking re-election.

Ammons served on the Champaign County board from 2008 to 2012 and was elected to the city council in April.

She will face Michael Richards in the March Democratic primary. Richards was Jakobsson's campaign manager

Ammons released a statment Monday, saying she's running "because I want to help change the lives of the people in the 103rd. We need jobs, economic development, and educational access."

The only announced Republican candidate is Kristin Williamson. She's vice chairwoman of the Champaign County Republican Party.