The election is right around the corner, and for 3rd Ward alderman candidates, the race is a little bit different than all the others.

The seat was vacated Dec. 1, when former 3rd Ward Alderman Bill Hanna moved out of the ward. Now, three candidates are fighting to replace him.

The candidates are Susannah “Sukey” Blake, Dan E. Seymour and Gary L. Wiggins.

Blake has been a resident of the ward since 1982.

She first ran for an aldermanic seat in 1983 but dropped out of the race. She ran again unsuccessfully in 1987 against Hanna as the only candidate to oppose him.

Blake is a teachers’ aide in an alternative program in Cortland. She also is a member of the 3rd Ward Coalition Steering Committee and the Parent/Teacher Association. She has been active on a grassroots level for the revitalization of downtown DeKalb.

“The 3rd Ward has come a long way since 1987,” she said. “A lot of it has been cleaned up and I’d like to see that progress.”

Seymour has lived in the ward for 12 years and is the vice president of DeKalb Revitalization, Inc., a non-profit organization. He also is a member of the 3rd Ward Coalition Steering Committee.

“My basic goal is to provide good quality government for the citizens in the 3rd Ward,” he said. Seymour said he is diversified in his range of experience for the aldermanic seat.

Wiggins was born in DeKalb and has lived here since.

“One of my biggest goals is to improve and maintain the quality of life,” he said. “The quality of life might mean different things to different people—like improving sidewalks or streets or better representation from the council.”

Wiggins served nine years on the economic development committee, both at the city and county levels.

He is on the board of directors of G’KATS, a program sponsored by the Northern Illinois Academy of Gymnastics that helps area youths with their gymnastic skills.

Wiggins is also the president of the DeKalb County Building Trades Council. He has volunteered with Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS) and also the opportunity house.

Also, he is the business manager of Local 612 of Plumbers and Pipe Fitters, 637 N. 11th. St.