Third candidate emerges in 2013 race for mayor

Allen F. Boseneiler, 69, of Rock Falls, announced his candidacy on Friday. Boseneiler operates Boseneiler’s Family Laundry on West Second Street.

He is running against Mayor David Blanton and current City Clerk Bill Wescott.

The election is April 9.

Boseneiler said he was unhappy with the city’s handling of a proposed project that would have moved state agencies from Sterling to Rock Falls.

He organized a petition drive to put before voters the question of whether Rock Falls should borrow $7.3 million to develop the riverfront. The petition drive ultimately failed to get enough signatures.

He called the riverfront project “ill-advised” and said it could have put the city in a bankruptcy situation.

Boseneiler also said he wants to help businesses grow and expand in Rock Falls.

“I intend to make sure we do better with business so we know what’s going on with them, so we know what they want to do,” he said.

Boseneiler said he took courses in engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and at Northwestern University. He also said he worked at the state Department of Transportation.

Boseneiler was born in Sterling and lived in Dixon for 20 years. A Sterling High School graduate, he has lived in Rock Falls for the past 6 years.

He has been involved with the Latin American Social Club, Rock Falls Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5418, and Sterling Moose Lodge. He also has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity.

In consolidated elections in the city administrator form of government, such as Rock Falls’, there is no primary election, according to City Clerk Wescott.

The first day for candidates to file paperwork to run for mayor is Monday. Filing deadline is 5 p.m. Dec. 26.