Jim Ardis
Encyclopedia
Jim Ardis is a city politician in Peoria, Illinois
. He has been mayor
of Peoria since 2005, and was a city councilman starting in 1999.
man, staying in office from 1969 to 1973. His grandfather on the other side, John Bulger, had been Peoria County
county clerk.
In 1973, he was in the last graduating class at St. Cecilia, a Catholic grade school near Peoria High School
; his brother, John Ardis, was one of the hostages in the St. Cecilia hostage incident that year. Jim Ardis graduated from high school at Spalding Institute in 1977 and from Illinois State University
with a bachelor of science
in industrial technology
in 1982.
Ardis owned O'Leary's Restaurant from 1994 to 1997. From 1999 to 2006, Ardis worked in sales for Univar
; from 2006 to 2010, he was Midwest Vice President of ELM Locating. Since 2010, he has been Executive Director of Corporate Strategies for Peoria-based Axis, Inc., part of Jupiter Strategic Technologies Pvt. Ltd. of Bangalore
.
in 1999, and remained until 2005.
Was was elected as mayor
in 2005, defeating incumbent mayor Dave Ransburg. He won re-election easily in 2009 against a candidate who could not legally take office, due to a felony committed in the 1980s.
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
. He has been mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Peoria since 2005, and was a city councilman starting in 1999.
Background
Ardis is the second-oldest of nine children. When he was 10, his father, Jim Ardis, Jr., became a Peoria city councilCity council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
man, staying in office from 1969 to 1973. His grandfather on the other side, John Bulger, had been Peoria County
Peoria County, Illinois
Peoria County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 186,494, which is an increase of 1.7% from 183,433 in 2000. Its county seat is Peoria....
county clerk.
In 1973, he was in the last graduating class at St. Cecilia, a Catholic grade school near Peoria High School
Peoria High School
Peoria High School is the name of multiple secondary schools in the United States:* Peoria High School of Peoria Unified School District #11, Peoria, Arizona...
; his brother, John Ardis, was one of the hostages in the St. Cecilia hostage incident that year. Jim Ardis graduated from high school at Spalding Institute in 1977 and from Illinois State University
Illinois State University
Illinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest...
with a bachelor of science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in industrial technology
Industrial technology
Industrial technology is the field concerned with the application of basic engineering principles and technical skills in support of industrial engineers and managers...
in 1982.
Ardis owned O'Leary's Restaurant from 1994 to 1997. From 1999 to 2006, Ardis worked in sales for Univar
Univar
Univar is a leading global distributor of industrial and specialty chemicals, with an extensive network of over 170 distribution facilities in North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific region and Latin America, as well as additional sales offices in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.The...
; from 2006 to 2010, he was Midwest Vice President of ELM Locating. Since 2010, he has been Executive Director of Corporate Strategies for Peoria-based Axis, Inc., part of Jupiter Strategic Technologies Pvt. Ltd. of Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
.
Political career
Ardis sold O'Leary's Restaurant in 1997 and was appointed to the Peoria city liquor commission. He was elected a Peoria city councilman at-largeAt-Large
At-large is a designation for representative members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent the whole membership of the body , rather than a subset of that membership...
in 1999, and remained until 2005.
Was was elected as mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
in 2005, defeating incumbent mayor Dave Ransburg. He won re-election easily in 2009 against a candidate who could not legally take office, due to a felony committed in the 1980s.
Electoral History
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Ardis | 12,190 | 55.05% | |
| David P. Ransburg | 9,953 | 44.95% | |
| Totals | 22,143 | 100.00% | |
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Ardis | 14,893 | 90.50% | |
| "General" Butler | 1,563 | 9.50% | |
| Totals | 16,456 | 100.00% | |