Kelly backs out of Peoria mayoral forum due to conflict with St. Patrick's Day
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — An upcoming mayoral forum with Mayor Rita Ali and At-Large Councilman John Kelly has been canceled.
The forum, which was to be recorded at the studios of WTVP-TV next week, was canceled after Kelly, citing an unspecified conflict, backed out of the March 17, said the station in a news release.
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But when reached for comment, Kelly said he chose not to go because it was St. Patrick's Day. When asked why he committed originally, he said, 'I was going back and forth on it.'
He said he would use the holiday to hit a number of places in Downtown for his campaign as well as take part in the parade. 'It's always a big day for me anyway,' he said.
He did say he would consider another date but the station, in the news release, said that 'given the proximity to Election Day on April 1 and several previously scheduled events at WTVP's studio, the forum cannot be rescheduled.'
Robert Parks of the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria, which was one of the sponsors, said Kelly had 'reconfirmed his intentions to appear,' on Saturday but then, on Monday, said he would not be participating.
'It's disappointing,' she said. 'When candidates don't make time to talk to wide swaths of voters simultaneously, everyone loses.'
The event was to be sponsored by WTVP, WCBU-FM, the league and NAACP Peoria Branch.
Both candidates came out of the February primary and are vying for the mayoral gavel in the city's April 1 election. Ali, if she loses, will be off the council, while Kelly will retain his at-large spot as he previously won reelection for that seat on the Horseshoe.
Both were previously involved in an earlier forum in January. The primary election forum can still be viewed on wtvp.org and YouTube and Facebook pages of all presenting sponsors.
Additionally, Kelly said, there is a debate scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at Peoria High School. And, he said, there is a candidate's forum on March 26 with the Kiwanis Club.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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"Marjorie Taylor Greene Latest Public Figure to Falsely Claim George Floyd Died of a Drug Overdose." Snopes, 17 May 2025, LaMagdeleine, Izz Scott. "20 Rumors Involving George Floyd to Mark 5th Anniversary of Murder." Snopes, 25 May 2025, Mattis, James. In Union There Is Strength. The New York Times, NPR Staff. "READ: The Full Statement From Jim Mattis." NPR, 4 June 2020. NPR, Ray, Michael. "James Mattis | Facts, Biography, & Secretary of Defense | Britannica." Britannica, Seligman, Lara. "In Crisis Mode, Trump Again Leans on the Military." Politico, 1 June 2020,
