Freeport Mayor Jodi Miller thinks it’s time for Freeport voters to consider the role political parties play
in municipal elections in the city of Freeport. The two-term mayor believes since political parties play no
role in the delivery of municipal services to constituents, they should have no role in the municipality’s
elections.
 

“Unlike at the federal and state level where our political parties develop platforms and policy positions
for federal and state legislation,” says Mayor Miller, “political parties rarely develop those at the local,
municipal level. Local governments are mainly in the business of delivering services for their taxpayers
and rate payers. Political ideology and partisanship are rarely useful—and I’d argue harmful--in the
functioning of city government.”
 

Freeport’s partisan municipal primary and consolidated elections add an extra layer of confusion for
voters by allowing city and township candidates to run as Citizen and Peoples Party candidates. The
historical origins of these two parties and their purpose are unclear, but serve very little, if any, function
in Freeport elections as neither party has a platform or an organization.
 

“I really couldn’t tell you what the difference between either Citizen or Peoples Party are or what
purpose they serve,” admits Mayor Miller. “I think most voters in Freeport find it confusing.”
In Stephenson County, Freeport is the only municipality that has partisan elections.
 

To change Freeport’s municipal elections from a partisan to non-partisan election would require voters
to make that decision through a referendum. Mayor Miller says she would like to see the incoming
Freeport City Council consider placing such a referendum on the ballot in 2026.