Micah Ray - Decatur City Council Candidate - A Ray of hope for Decatur

UPDATE:

Election Day was Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

443 Votes (in a city of 69,000) separated us from victory.

Thank you to everyone who showed up and voted for the "Ray of Hope for Decatur." Perhaps, we'll try again in 2027. In the meantime, let's all continue to encourage our neighbors to Love, not Leave Decatur!

Unexpected note from an 8 year old student at my church tonight:

Pastor Micah,
I’m sorry you lost the election for City Council. If you run next time, I know you will win.
Gideon

Congratulations to those who won election/reelection to the Decatur City Council. I pray you make the best decisions for our city.

This has been the most stressful part-time job interview of my life. At the end, I’m thankful to the many people who showed up for me in the hopes that I would become a RAY of Hope for Decatur. I will continue to pray for the spiritual, physical, and financial growth of our city. I still want people to LOVE, not Leave Decatur.

"HOT BUTTON" Issues in Decatur, IL

Some (who have missed the public forums and newspaper articles) have been asking where I stand on certain "hot button" issues that affect Decatur. As you head to the polls today, here are some of my answers to consider.

Why are you running for the Decatur City Council?
- Population decline is the biggest problem our city faces. A few years back I read an article stating that we lived in the second most exodused city in the United States. When tax-paying citizens leave Decatur, the financial burden for infrastructure weighs heavier on those of us who remain. Every proposal and every decision must be made with this consideration in mind. I want people to LOVE, not leave Decatur. I want to be a voice for tax-paying people with common sense. I want to see our city thrive again. Of course, it’s a “play” on my last name, but I truly want to be a RAY of Hope for Decatur.

What are the three most pressing issues facing the city of Decatur that the city council must address during the next four years? Please explain.
1. Taxes/Budget: Recently, the current City Council voted to raise property taxes by 6 percent. This was done to levy an extra 1.1 million dollars while the city sits on a 7 million dollar surplus beyond our recommended 60 day reserve. Though argued that this tax increase is actually small, all that most residents heard was that their taxes were going up again in an area that already takes a disproportionately high amount in comparison with surrounding communities. People are leaving Decatur in search of financial relief. Just like these families, we need to take a closer look at our budget and our priorities.
2. Crime: It’s difficult to attract new families to your community when they are worried about public safety. Neighborhood revitalization efforts and the complete staffing of our currently understaffed police department will certainly be good starting points in dealing with this issue.
3. Job Creation: First, we make greater efforts to strongly support our local businesses so that they may continue to support our local workforce. Then, we make policy decisions that support new small businesses that wish to join our community. Please note that part of attracting new businesses/jobs (both small and large) is having a qualified pool of talented individuals who are also willing to live and work in the area. This means that we must continue, holistically, to make decisions that benefit both employers and the potential employees in our city.

Neighborhood revitalization is the number one stated priority of the city council. In 2024, the city demolished a modern record 150 buildings, up from 108 in 2023, 64 in 2022 and 36 in 2021. Much of that ramp up was fueled by one-time federal COVID-19 stimulus funds and grants from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. Those funds are no longer available, requiring the city this year to dedicate general funds towards revitalization initiatives. Given the continued need to combat blight in the urban core, how should the city fund these initiatives in the years ahead? Would you support a dedicated revenue stream? If so, what?
- Revenue needs to be spent only on what is necessary to improve the likelihood that our friends and neighbors will LOVE, not leave Decatur. Applying for outside sponsorships or grants would be one way of supplementing the city’s revitalization efforts. Recently, the investments made in the Johns Hill area have yielded positive returns in the areas of lowered crime and general morale. Good strategy will aid in determining priorities of where and how best to invest. Restoration/Revitalization investments now are often better for our communities than future demolitions with an uncertain building plan for the future.

As of the end of January, the Decatur Police Department had only 136 of its 148 budgeted positions filled. Even with actions like relaxing the residency requirement for officers and offering signing bonuses, recruitment remains a challenge. What additional actions can the council take to address the shortage of manpower in the police department?
- Fortunately, through a recent conversation with Chief Brandel, I discovered that Decatur’s recruitment efforts are finally proving successful. Due to varying factors during the past several years, interest in becoming a police officer has been low across the entire nation. Chief Brandel’s efforts through a brilliant social media recruitment campaign along with excellent hiring incentives has given us hope for a nearly fully staffed police department after the next training cycle.

Last year, the city council approved an overhaul of its ordinance pertaining to garbage and recycling services, including authorizing an increase in the base rate to more than $30 per month by 2027. What are your thoughts on the quality of waste hauling service in Decatur and should the council revisit its ordinance? Please explain.
- I have friends currently on city council who report of the many complaints regarding garbage hauling and recycling services in Decatur. There is an obvious lack of communication and full understanding about refuse collection procedures and the like. There needs to be a public forum held soon where the council shows leadership in addressing these concerns. People need to be heard when they have a grievance this prevalent.

The first cannabis dispensary in Macon County opened in Harristown in 2023. Its second is slated to open in Forsyth this spring. Both are just outside Decatur city limits, making them easily accessible to city residents. This also means that the city does not benefit from tax revenue that these businesses generate. Should the city council reconsider its ban on dispensaries and other cannabis-related businesses within city limits? Please explain.
- Cannabis has gone from illegal to prescription-based to recreationally-allowed. As a drug, it seems to now be in a class of public consumption similar to, though not as prevalent as, that of alcohol. I, personally, have never had a drop of alcohol in my life due to personal convictions and the fact that alcoholism runs on both sides of my family. I have also abstained from all other recreational drugs throughout my life. However, I am a strong believer in individual freedom and individual responsibility. So long as your actions do not infringe on the freedoms of others, as an adult, you should be free to do as you wish. Part of my job as a public servant would be to protect individual liberties. So, though I would vote YES on a dispensary, I would, perhaps, preach NO even louder. Also, though our city is not currently benefiting from the revenue, any difficulties associated with cannabis use in our community are already present due to its ability to be acquired just out of town.

Annual police and fire pension contributions continue to grow. Over the years, city staff and elected officials have said that help is needed from Springfield to address the problem. But, that help has yet to arrive, at least in a fundamental way. If it doesn’t in the next four years, what actions should the council take to address this structural challenge in a way that is fair to first responders and reasonable for taxpayers?
- Our first responders began their careers with an understanding of what they were working toward in retirement. They are owed that for which they have faithfully served. However, the current situation is simply not sustainable moving into the future. The imposition comes from Springfield. Springfield MUST address it.

Will you vote to increase property taxes to pay for the growing cost of providing city services? If not, what revenue streams would you consider? Where would you cut?
- Even the public perception that ANY Decatur taxes would increase again would be detrimental to our city. Our tax burden is already disproportionate to surrounding communities. We want our friends and neighbors to LOVE, not leave Decatur. We are currently sitting on a 7 million dollar surplus in excess of the necessary 60 day operating cushion in our city accounts. The recent tax hike was unnecessarily frustrating to our fellow citizens. Just like Decatur families have to find non-essential items to cut from their budgets, our government should be expected to do no less. It’s time for a line-by-line evaluation of where our funds are going followed by public explanation in plain English.

In 2024, the city granted a 99-year easement to Archer Daniels Midland that permits the company to inject and sequester carbon below city-owned land. It can only be terminated if a permitting agency or a state or federal court finds that there has been a violation that adversely affects safe, long-term storage of carbon. Last September, the U.S. EPA in a proposed administrative order alleged that the company violated the Safe Drinking Water Act and the terms of its injection permit when carbon seeped into “unathorized zones” about 5,000 feet below the surface. Should the city explore terminating its easement? And, more generally, do you believe the city should permit carbon storage underneath city-owned land, including Lake Decatur?
- ADM is one of our city’s largest employers. Whenever possible, we need to support the growth of all of our businesses, small and large. However, public safety is PARAMOUNT. Decatur was assured that there would be no seepage and that the process was safe. The continuation of this easement can only continue if the science is solid and the process is perfect. Perhaps the city should look into private testing to make sure that even the EPA tests are consistent. When trying to attract new residents to Decatur, there are few complications worse than rumors of an industrially contaminated supply of public water. Again, public safety is THE priority.

Decatur’s population is now below 70,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. What steps should the city take to halt and reverse decades of population loss?
- Population decline is the biggest problem our city faces. When tax-paying citizens leave Decatur, the financial burden for infrastructure weighs heavier on those of us who remain. Every proposal and every decision that the city council members make must be made with this consideration in mind: We want out families, friends, and neighbors to LOVE, not leave Decatur. We must support strong communities, job creation, and lower taxes.

What do you enjoy most about living in Decatur?
- Everything I love is here: my family, my friends, my church. Also, we’re a nice-sized city with a small-town feel. It’s comforting to have a sense of “community” even in a larger community.

What else would you like to share about yourself with voters?
- I have no sights set on future political power or financial gains. I simply want to serve in the hopes of seeing Decatur thrive again through common-sense, responsible decision making that caters to the citizens who contribute so much to our community.
- When I was 13 years old, I felt a call on my life to serve others in pastoral/church ministry. In this, I have never wavered, and I believe that still-strong call to serve others will translate well as I venture into public service.
- Let’s LOVE, not leave Decatur.
- I’m Micah Ray. I want to be a RAY of Hope for Decatur, and I need your vote on April 1st.

I voted early for a RAY of Hope for Decatur!

Early voting is open today until 4:30.
Election Day is tomorrow!

Out “hanging” in the rain today with my favorite person!

Lettin’ folks know there’s a RAY of Hope for Decatur!

This is the last of them!

Only 2 packs left.
45 doors in 62522 and 45 doors in 62526.

Who wants them? I just need 2 more volunteers
As a team, we’ve hung more than 2,000 of these, and we’re in the home stretch!

Published today!

A few weeks ago, the Herald & Review sent Decatur City Council candidates a survey inviting us to answer several questions regarding issues that will face our city in the next four years.

Below is a link to my answers.
Thank you to Brenden Moore at the Herald & Review for the opportunity to participate in these important discussions.

Meet the Decatur City Council candidates: Micah Ray Micah Ray is the administrative pastor at Salem Baptist Church. He is running for a seat on the Decatur City Council in the April 1 municipal election.

Dear Supporters and Friends,

Over 2,000 door hangers have already been hung! Now, there are only 200 left with only 6 days remaining until the election.

I need volunteers to help hang these final 7 packets of strategic voter addresses. Some areas only have 10 stops. The biggest is only 45 houses.

Saturday will be nice weather, but you can go whenever.

Will you help?
I’ll bring you the packet. Just let me know.