We told you yesterday the field was set for the Carmi Consolidated Election scheduled for April 1st, 2025. WROY/WRUL News learned this morning of a formal objection filed by current Carmi Mayor Jeff Pollard balking at challenger Bill Stendeback’s petition to run for the office. City Attorney Greg Stewart tells us the objection is based on allegations surrounding Stendeback’s residence status. Per the state statute, the city’s Chief Executive Officer must reside within city limits at least one year preceding the election.
The next step in the process is an initial meeting to be held in City Council Chambers at 10am on Monday, November 25th. The electoral board of review will gather briefly to set the rules of procedure and to set the date for evidence to be heard. The public is welcome to attend the proceedings, but no audio or video recording devices will be permitted.
So, who’s on the review board and how do they get there? Stewart says per Illinois statute, it’s made up of the City Clerk (Cynthia Attebury), the mayor, and the longest serving council member (Mark Blake in this case). Stewart says because the mayor obviously can’t rule on his own objection, that spot on the review board is filled with the next longest serving council member (Steve Winkleman).
The date for evidence to actually be heard is expected to be in early December.
James
November 21, 2024 at 2:46 pmThe mayor needs a crying towel
Fed up
November 21, 2024 at 3:29 pmThe mayor needs strung up like the lil thieving b**** he is.
Just saying
November 21, 2024 at 3:07 pmI think if you don’t physically live in a town, you shouldn’t be able to run for an office in that town or county.
Concerned citizen
November 21, 2024 at 3:48 pmJeff is running scared, he’s wrong.
Unknown comic
November 21, 2024 at 3:58 pmCome on Jeff really?
Brandi Williams
November 21, 2024 at 5:01 pmLike we shpuld expect anything else. Fight this bill
Frank
November 21, 2024 at 7:03 pmPollard for mayor. He’s be doling one heck of a job I think. He is the man for the job and has been doing the job. Some may not agree but it’s only because they either don’t know everything or they are just couch potatoes looking for something to complain about till there government money comes in the mail.
Joe B
November 21, 2024 at 9:03 pmPollard is doing a great job. Everyone makes mistakes and mayor is no different. Live and learn. Stebdeback don’t care about Carmi. Carmi is all drama…always has been…always will be… if Bill gets mayor yall will turn on him too…just wait
Carmi Citizen
November 21, 2024 at 9:11 pmI believe the current mayor has good intentions, and I can appreciate some of the improvements, he has made. However, it feels like there’s a disconnect between leadership and the people of Carmi.
For example, issues like high electricity costs, the state of the water system, and the condition of streets and sidewalks seem to be overlooked. These are real challenges that affect all of us and deserve more focus and transparency.
Leadership isn’t just about making decisions; it’s about listening and being present. Unfortunately, there have been moments, such as when a family raised questions about spending earlier this year, where the response seemed dismissive rather than collaborative. This kind of interaction can create the perception of defensiveness or secrecy, which is not what we need in a small, tight-knit community like Carmi.
I genuinely believe the mayor has the potential to do great things, but it starts with reconnecting with the people—being visible, listening openly, and making decisions that reflect the priorities of the community. Leadership is strongest when it’s rooted in trust and partnership, and I hope to see that approach in the future.
David
November 22, 2024 at 9:19 amI agree with all of your well stated points. Perhaps we will have a leader who knows why the position should be used only for the good of the City and us citizens.
Nancy B
November 23, 2024 at 2:29 amYou people need to get a life or Job. You Dumba** people apparently don’t see the big picture. Lacey Bradshaw was out recruiting someone for Mayor. I can give you names of most everyone she asked!!! She was Shady in school not surprised. She was always drama. Can you imagine the Bradshaw and Nelson’s run Carmi? Oh and you have Attaberry as well. Wonder how much her husband Auto store is making of the city?? All you see is City employees hanging out there!! Along with Bill Stendy. So if Carmi is truly blind you have find them at Attaberry Auto store. I didn’t believe it till I seen it. Yes it seems like revenge. But why? Shady A** people!! I now will stand behind Pollard. Not one person has given a reason not too. People’s true colors always show! I’m sure there is proof Stendy doesn’t live in carmi. He doesn’t deserve to me mayor after the shady things he has done. When he ran his funeral home. Would have never used his place to begin with. Sick
Attebury
November 25, 2024 at 10:32 amIf you are gonna talk s*** about me please do your homework and spell my name correctly. Its ATTEBURY and Im not sure why you are dragging my wife into this she has nothing to do with the issue. And its Professional Auto Parts not Attaberry Auto Store. Id also entertain a motion to sell so you can make all this MONEY. So come up and Ill make you some popcorn and well discuss it And as far as Bill is concerned hes been a customer for years
Democracy Even If You Don't Like the Laws
November 22, 2024 at 12:26 amSince there’s a law that says citizen for a year, does that mean the challenger hasn’t been one for the required length of time? If so, everyone complaining needs a civics lesson.
Gail
November 22, 2024 at 8:31 amCarmi needs a clean sweep in the Mayor’s office. Nothing but ALL FAMILY working there. The only thing I’ve seen that Pollard has done is better all his family and redo his office building. I bet if I wanted to go apply for a job there they’d laugh at me.
Bite Me
November 22, 2024 at 1:55 pmI swear you people in Carmi would complain about anything. I’ve been back to Carmi multiple occasions and I will say the town that I grew up in looks fantastic. I think Mr. Pollard has done a wonderful job with Carmi . And for you people that don’t know most cities get audited and apparently when they did get audited, they didn’t find any discrepancy. So when you talk about Pollard stealing from the city, you need to get your facts straight because you Uneducated people that are complaining usually are the ones that are corrupt and have something to hide. Whatever happened with the Bradshaw case? Did anything happen with that? My question is who paid the bills when he stole and charged the City credit card? As a former, Carmi resident born and raised there and still have family that lives there I have questions as well. Sounds like Mr. Pollard Is being railroaded from what I understand and see. It’s not hard to figure out when you have Jack Bradshaw running for Alderman that’s where all the drama is coming from that would be the Nelson’s and the Bradshaw!! I guess nothing has changed in Carmi!! So sad these people have manipulated all their life in Carmi. That’s what I call a wolf and sheep’s clothing!
And as far as Mr. Stendenbeck, he moved out of Carmi when he moved his funeral home service to Mount Vernon Indiana that’s very well known even though you have a home in Carmi and maybe a PO Box doesn’t mean you reside there full time.. That would be like me moving back to Carmi part-time and running for mayor. You people would have a field day with that. I wish Mayor Pollard, the best endeavors and the best of luck.
Citizen of Carmi
November 22, 2024 at 3:23 pmThis…1000%…. speak the truth and say it louder for the people in the back
Just saying
November 22, 2024 at 3:38 pmBite Me you are right about Pollard getting railroaded. He had a mess on his hands when he first walked in and it takes time, one thing at a time. He has been getting alot of road blocks by some people all the way and still.
Biteme
November 23, 2024 at 12:06 amJust saying
Now we’re down to posting pictures of Stendenck on Facebook showing him in Carmi. Usually, you do see him hanging out at the bars somewhere in the past I remember a few times. If he thinks he’s going to be Scott free on being bashed he’s wrong. This is Carmi folks. That’s exactly why I moved. I only come back to visit family but When I do, I have no desire to run into any of these Leach loving back stabbers . I guess Stendy deserves The same Treatment as Mr. Pollard and his family! There’s some ruthless people out there From what I’ve read and kept up on. Some of you people in Carmi that think you are something wouldn’t make it in the real world. Let’s talk about his daughter that gets around quite frequently with married men! How many marriages has she broken up? If he wants to sling, mud, carmi is a great place to do it . I’m sure if he wants to dish it out there’s plenty of people that will dish it right back to him. Maybe I need to move back to Carmi part time run for something. I still wanna know about the Bradshaw case how that turned out? It was kind of hush-hush. Did his wife truly pay the bills is she is corrupt as he is isn’t the Atteberry lady related to them? Why is she even in public office?
Bite Me
November 22, 2024 at 6:07 pmDoes Carmi people truly think everyone is that stupid? Usually, it’s the uneducated the ones that are complaining or set Home on their a** and do nothing. Carmi is always been for who you are and nothing but drama Hell, I remember back in the day when Jimmy gains was mayor, he used to take kickbacks. It was no secret. Not right, but no secret. After reading everything that’s been going down in Carmi it sounds like the Nelson girl is out for Revenge !! Her husband got caught stealing. When you have a Bradshaw running for Alderman, you can kind of read between the lines with crew. Fake A** people and always have been, they’re not Christians. I would’ve had the Bradshaw girl Charged and thrown in jail she deserves everything she gets! Just saying you, Carmi uneducated people are stupid and blind. How much money is Atteberry’s business making of the city? I’m sure it’s more than anyone makes working for the city. I’m educated but not stupid!! Mr Pollard doesn’t deserve what they have put him through!! But you still have Stupid people truly in Carmi.
Josh Smith
November 25, 2024 at 10:27 amI feel a little less educated after trying to read this
Peace
November 23, 2024 at 12:33 amI’ve been following all of this. I live in Carmi. I think Mayor Pollard has done a wonderful job . We have many things here that he has done for the city of Carmi and its citizens. I must say, I never realized what greedy evil people live in this town. I tend to agree with a few of these comments. This town has done nothing but bash the mayor of Carmi For sometime now. Is it because he’s making the employees Accountable? I read the city past the audit so we know he’s not stealing. The only ones that I know that stole from the city would be the Bradshaws that was public knowledge. I v**uely remember hearing him stealing from the country club as well. We all know his wife worked up there at one point in time. Was she not the one paying the bills? She waited on me up there many times when she worked there. believe she was in the role of paying the bills So she covered up her husband theft? Was she Prosecuted I never read anything about that so who truly is or was stealing money. You can’t pa** audits if you’re stealing. It’s very obvious Jack Bradshaw runner for Alderman Tracy Nelson Lacey Bradshaw. That should be an award-winning council. And I will have to agree what people are saying, Bill Stenberg moved to Mount Vernon to run the funeral home over there. Everyone knows he lives over there and comes over here to visit. I’ve heard several rumors about his daughter breaking up marriages. How can she still be working at the school?
Tony
November 23, 2024 at 3:22 amFed up and all you cry baby Bitches. Some of you must work for the city and actually have to do your jobs. Pollard had the time clock put in so some of you lazy a** people should be accountable for not stealing time. That’s facts. . Most of the lazy ones were abusing their time. Just like they do with Comp time. Thats why the big babies are upset. Maybe they would make more money if they didn’t abuse comp time. And cry that office girls make more money. None of these lazy a**’s deserve what there making. All you hear is back stabbing amongst the employees. You talk about Pollard having family working for city. I believe Atteberry son works for city. The Nelson Bradshaw duo before he was fired. Shall I go on? Many more.
If everyone had to live in the city limits to work for the city I would say there would be no works most of them don’t live in the city limits. You people truly need a life.
Hanky Panky
November 23, 2024 at 5:45 amLord you people are delusional and need to get a life. How pathetic some of you local residence would talk about an elected official the way that you have. What about mayor Gaines May he rest in peace. Well, known fact, he was taking kickbacks for years. Not one person has came up with proof or anything that Mayor Pollard has done wrong. I agree with a lot of what people are saying Lacey Bradshaw has a vendetta against Mayor Pollard. She asked my uncle if he would run for mayor. Oh and so did her Dad Tracy. Sounds like to me that Miss Bradshaw can’t fight her own battle. She has to have daddy. This girl caught so many lies. How can she be trusted? She doesn’t deserve to be alderman or anything else. She should be non-rehire her and her husband both through the city Thief is a thief In my book. You steal from the city you would steal from your own family
The people for Carmi
November 24, 2024 at 9:09 amWhy can’t the PEOPLE decide who wins instead of trying to get one disqualified that has been a resident in this community for years! Funny no-one
Can’t see the whole picture here. Weather you want to or not. It’s clear to see what’s going on. The people of Carmi are not stupid!
Concerned citizen
November 24, 2024 at 10:08 amSTENDEBACK FOR MAYOR ! Let’s pray the Board members do the right thing on Monday ! Yes let the people decide who they want for mayor!
Truth seeker
November 25, 2024 at 6:26 amBill has to live in Carmi for one full year that’s 12 months for you slow people. He has not!!! Where does is wife live? Maybe Atteberry should have researched that for him as well. She’s doesn’t deserve that position. This will be her last term!! There is a way too know the truth if Bill lives here full time!! You find him at the bars on the weekends!!
Concerned Citizen
November 25, 2024 at 6:59 amYou’re right, the whole town is not stupid. It’s not hard to see at all what’s going on. Certain people are vindictive and out for blood (hence if the election goes the way they want. You’ll have a father, daughter, father-in-law and now a yes man mayor in their pocket – they already have the clerk in their pocket) everyone is allowed to their own opinion, and my personal opinion is pollard is doing a great job and no one wants to see the good he’s done. (But I know none of you give a s*** about my opinion – only because I’m backing Pollard)
Hopie
November 25, 2024 at 10:56 amBill doesn’t live in Carmi. I see him coming to town in the mornings on my way to work in Evansville. Why lie? Maybe you people need a picture of him coming to Carmi that early. And what’s up with some of the City employees and Bill hanging out at the auto parts store of Atteberry’s. Same city vehicles every time Do they work or do they hang at Atteberry’s all the time? Why are we paying these employees? I just find it awful odd that you can drive by there and you see Bill Stenbeck’s vehicle the city employees and Miss Atteberry has also been there so actually is trying to get Mr. Pollard out. I’d like to know how much money Atteberry’s are making off the city and why?
Bite Me
November 25, 2024 at 12:21 pmATTEBARFY. Is your so called wife work for the city along with your son? Sure they do. Your auto store is nothing but a gossip mill. Certain city employees hang a lot there! No secret. Looks bad when you’re elected official ( your wife). Doesn’t support the current Mayor. And why? Because she is not trustworthy if you ask me or others. That’s a fact!!! I’m saying when you drive by a business and you see City employees your wife and Bill At your auto parts store makes People question her true sincerity at her job. I’m sorry you people have no reason to treat Mr. Pollard or anybody else in this city the way that he has been treated Including wife. People talk a lot Work around people that you think are your friends are not I would be aware.
Let’s Get Real
November 26, 2024 at 8:12 amSeems to me that a lot of this so called info must be coming from an insider. Trying to make people think it’s residents of Carmi posting this stuff!
Residents from carmi are not stupid! Say what you want try to make the people think your way it’s all been going on too long and it’s time for a change. These comments about fellow workers are definitely coming from inside. Shame on you for throwing them under the bus because you want the heat on someone else. This is about an election between Pollard AND Stendeback people have the right to their own opinions and to back who they want whether it’s the current mayor or a new one. These verbiage of resident of carmi should be made completely clear! Small things left out can make a big difference. It’s a well known fact that Stendeback has been a resident of Carmi for many many years now. Does it say in the law that he has to reside here one total year prior meaning 2023 to present running for mayor? Also, has anyone lived in his home to make sure that he hasn’t resided here every single day also it’s not like he has not been a long-term resident here and coming in from a different state wanting to be mayor. I think the truth will come out and I think that it will be proven that he is a resident here regardless of whether or not he owns a home somewhere else there are plenty of people that own homes somewhere else .I don’t think that it’s in the verbiage that he needed to stay in carmi Illinois for 365 days before running for mayor . But the big kicker is waiting till the last day for a pick up to run for mayor and then filing against Stendeback just a little bit shady. Everyone can see through it doesn’t matter what anyone else post on here that’s coming from the inside. Let’s remember who all these crimes that took place on who’s watch! It was dealt with and over with. What really matters is letting this election be fair letting a resident of Carmi run and letting the people pick their choice ! Let’s be the bigger person and let’s have a real election between two candidates that both have been residence here of Carmi instead of trying to get one disqualified because the other one is scared of losing that’s the real issue here. Board members do the right thing! Your re-election will be next
Heather
November 26, 2024 at 9:12 amLet’s Get Real !!! Your opinion only. No he lives in Indiana most of the time well known fact. My question is what has Pollard truly done to these people of Carmi? That’s my question. Nobody can seem to give a reason. People keep asking where the money is. What money? Pollard seems to have inside untrustworthy people that’s not on his side. Most people can figure that one out! You all are rooting for Bill and why? Favors? Control?
Spectacle
November 26, 2024 at 1:29 pmCorruption! This city is full of it! Bashing family members and bringing in a daughter. Let’s not forget the Mayor was also caught sleeping around with his own kind. So let’s not put someone else’s skeletons out there without putting it all out there. I’m sure most have skeletons but they do not belong in the mayoral race. I wonder who’s getting paid to leak out all this information and keeping up with who and when and where Stendeback is at all times. Must be an exhausting job . Bill at the bars every weekend. Glad you all have time keep tabs on him. But least we forget the Mayor got a dui and he has spent plenty of time drinking at establishments. It’s so easy to bash on one and keep quiet about another.. after all in the end is it not just rumors.. what is the city of carmi becoming ?
Amy
November 26, 2024 at 2:56 pmThis is terrible the way people are talking about Jeff and Bill!
I have to say these two gentlemen are awesome men. I don’t dislike either one of them. But for the citizens and Carmi, I will have to say you people are evil and nasty. By the comments and some of the remarks on here, you guys all need God in your life and ask for forgiveness. SPECTACLE. Your comments are distasteful, but it shows the true mentality of a person coming from you. God bless you all you need it
Carla
November 26, 2024 at 3:00 pmSpectacle, I guess we can say that Bill was burying bodies on top of other bodies!! Maybe you ought to ask around that’s what he did to my family.
Chance
November 26, 2024 at 7:10 pmI like how everyone thinks it’s cool to bash everyone behind a secret name on here. Like seriously people were all adults here why don’t we act like it and put your name on your own work. If you want to talk the talk you need to walk the walk good job keeping classy Carmi residents even the ones who are trying to say their not residents but we all know you are.
Diane Strong
December 5, 2024 at 6:03 pmAre the people adults sure doesn’t sound like it to me. I will use my real name.