The incumbent mayors in Bloomington and Normal likely will be facing at least one challenger each for their jobs.

For the top job in Bloomington, four people, including Mayor Steve Stockton, have taken out petitions seeking to be placed on the April ballot, while two people in Normal, including Mayor Chris Koos, have petitions.

Candidates can begin filing their petitions Dec. 8. The election is scheduled for April 7.

If a fifth candidate files in either the Bloomington or Normal race, a primary will be required. That would be held Feb. 24.

In Bloomington, former Alderman Walter Petry, 76, of 2004 E. Lincoln Ave. has picked up a petition. So did Gary Stevens, 55, of 1612 Iowa St.

Petry said he is interested in getting back on to the Bloomington City Council while Stevens said he picked up a petition because he wasn't satisfied with the current candidates for mayor.

Stockton, 61, of 19 Brompton Court, is wrapping up his first term as mayor. The retired State Farm Insurance Cos. vice president ran unopposed in 2005, but he has not officially announced he is running for re-election.

Illinois Wesleyan University political science professor Tari Renner, 49, 1016 N. Evans St., announced in April he is running for the seat. He also has taken out a petition.

One topic Stockton said will play into the election is the recent advisory referendum in which people supported paying city workers a "living wage" of at least $9.81 an hour. That rate is determined to be what a person in the area needs to make on a 40 hour-a-week job to afford rent on a one-bedroom apartment.

Stockton said he has been discussing the living wage with Central Illinois Organizing Project and the McLean County Chamber of Commerce, who represent the two sides on the issue.

Renner and Petry favor some form of living wage and said the council needs to listen to the results of the referendum. Stevens said the council needs to find out what the real issues behind the vote are before considering a living wage ordinance.

Normal mayor

Meanwhile, in Normal, Andrew Matthews, a former candidate for the Unit 5 school board, is challenging Koos.

Koos, 60, of 1014 S. Fell Ave., announced his intention to seek re-election in July. He will seek his second full term as mayor.

He was elected to his first term in 2004 after defeating Jeff Fritzen by about 200 votes. Fritzen, who currently serves as a council member, said in July he would not run against Koos this time.

Matthews, 31, of 2343 Cascade Court, said he is "seriously considering" running against Koos because he is concerned about the town's indebtedness.

"The per capita ratio concerns me," he said.

While Koos said he and the current council members are typically tied to the uptown project, "basic services and public safety have always been put ahead" of the project. "We've been strong in that and it's given us the flexibility to do other things."