"I will create a safer, more affordable and better-connected Urbana. I believe in practical policies that focus on the primary duties of the mayor’s office: overseeing staff, transportation, emergency response and communication.”

“Annie Adams is pleased to announce the endorsement of former Champaign County Executive Darlene Kloeppel. She served as the executive from 2018 - 2022. Kloeppel believes that Annie Adams is the candidate most ready to take on the duties of the Mayor’s office.”

“The Urbana Police Union is proud to endorse Annie Adams for Mayor. She understands that a safe, thriving community depends on a modern, well-supported police force that works in partnership with the people we serve,” Urbana’s police union, Fraternal Order Lodge 70, wrote in their endorsement today.”

“My husband and I have lived in Urbana and been involved in our community for over a decadeBefore moving here, we lived in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. When my husband got a job at the University of Illinois Foundation, he worked here during the week and sent me pictures of locally made scones, pizza, and other Urbana delights. He kept suggesting I visit for a long weekend. When he brought his bike down, I knew things were serious.”

“Urbana is losing about one trained officer a month, leading to burnout, mandatory overtime, and low morale. We have three to four officers on duty at any given time. The night I did a police ride-along, one patrol officer was on duty. The other scheduled officers were on sick leave and in police training.”

“Renters span the age and income spectrum, and there should be choices for them, no matter where they fall on the continuum.

“We should ensure that our residents have choices when it comes to where they live, how they live, with whom they live and how much of their income they spend on the home they live in.

“I want to swifty respond to the display of a swastika on social media, and defense of it’s use, by a member of Champaign City Council, Davion Williams. There is no acceptable enabling, defending or explaining away the use of that symbol of hate. I call on the council member to resign immediately. Williams’ history of antisemitic words and actions cannot be ignored. We are one community - hate in Champaign can quickly become hate in Urbana. To our community of Jewish faith and all members of our community who stand with them, I stand with you, too.”

“To foster racial unity, we must deepen our understanding, respect and connections to one another and our diverse cultures. According to the 2023 Census, Urbana is a vibrant community where 0.1 percent of residents are Native American, 7.8 percent identify as two or more races, 9.3 percent are Latino, 14.5 percent are Asian, 16.9 percent are African American, and 55 percent are White.”

I want to grow Urbana responsibly, in concert with residents, in a way that will raise city revenue. In 1970, our city was 6 square miles and had 34,000 people. In 2020, it was 12 square miles and had 38,000 people. In addition, 31% of our land area is property tax-exempt. To move our city forward, we must responsibly grow Urbana to raise tax revenue and repair our streets.

“I will lead city efforts to protect the Mahomet Aquifer, Urbana’s sole source of drinking water. Having testified for a moratorium on carbon sequestration projects under the aquifer, I will continue to champion regional efforts to safeguard this vital resource…We will collaborate with the Sustainability Advisory Commission and local experts to create a comprehensive Urbana climate action plan, guiding our city toward a sustainable future.”

“My administration will introduce a Teen Council and collaborate with Urbana’s leadership to amplify youth voices. Students have expressed ideas about mental health support, safe routes to school, lowering speed limits, adding crosswalks and the role of school resource officers. Questions such as why automated license plate readers, like those at the University of Illinois, aren’t implemented in Urbana have also emerged.”

“Raised in a multiracial household—African American, Belizean, German, Polish, and Vietnamese—I witnessed firsthand the harm caused by racism, sexism, and poverty. While in college, I taught at the University of Minnesota's alternative high school, supporting Native American students affected by cultural violence, and led the Teens Care Fresh Force program for at-risk youth. These experiences solidified my commitment to empowering marginalized young people.”

“Urbana is a city enriched by innovation, arts, and vibrant cultures. As Mayor, my top economic development priorities will be to create a safe, affordable, and connected community while fostering businesses, engaging entrepreneurs, and attracting investments. My administration will prioritize safety, accessibility, and affordability to ensure Urbana remains attractive to residents and businesses. We will enhance walkability, bikeability, and public transit to foster connections and make Urbana easier to navigate. A growing and diverse population will strengthen the tax base, reduce costs per household, and support high-quality services from public works, fire, and police departments.”

“Starting and running a business is hard. My husband and I have owned two small businesses, so we know firsthand the challenges of starting, sustaining, and growing a business. For the past decade, I have worked tirelessly to support local businesses through initiatives like the Urbana Amble (2020-2024) and Imbibe Urbana (2015-2018), which attracted and connected thousands of people to downtown Urbana during our First Fridays and Mistletoe Market events.”

“Immigrants are our neighbors, colleagues, friends and family members, contributing to Urbana’s emergence as a hub of arts, culture and innovation with their knowledge and experiences. One in five Urbana residents is an immigrant. Immigrants in Champaign County contributed more than $1.4 billion to our economy in 2016 and paid more than $57.2 million to state and local taxes, according to the 2018 Gateways for Growth Community Data Report.”

“Urbana needs safe, sustainable streets that are accessible and equitable for everyone. With nearly 20 percent of households not owning a car, young people unable to drive and many older residents relying on alternative transportation, it is more important than ever that we create safe, welcoming streets and paths that connect our community to schools, workplaces, parks, libraries, grocery stores, community centers, places of worship and other essential destinations.

Annie Adams, said she is in favor of a 10-cent bag tax “to reduce plastic bags in our community” and help subsidize recycling services.

“The residents of Ward 3 have waited far too long for a grocery store,” Annie Adams said during public comment.

“As a community that welcomes people from around the world, Urbana must prioritize public safety and equip the city with tools to protect residents effectively. I support adopting automatic license plate readers to enhance safety under clear, data-driven and transparent guidelines, safeguarding our civil rights and liberties.”

Urbana, IL (News-Gazette) — “As a person who has experienced these traumas, I take effective law enforcement seriously,” she said. “And as a person who has friends and family who are not White and not straight, I need law enforcement to be equitable and just.”