Travis Coudal

Travis Coudal

Ward 4 Alderman Candidate · Marengo, IL

"Your alderman should know your name."

I lived here almost ten years and didn't know who represented me.

I've been a Ward 4 resident for almost a decade. In all that time, I never once heard from my alderman. No knock at the door. No letter in the mail. No presence at a neighborhood event. I couldn't have told you their name — and I don't think I was alone in that.

Since I moved to Ward 4 in 2017, there hasn't been a contested election — and three times, nobody even filed to run. The seat was filled by appointment. While I respect anyone willing to step in, being appointed isn't the same as showing up, knocking on doors, and asking for the job. When nobody has to make that case, the connection between the seat and the community never gets built. You end up with a ward where nobody knows who represents them. That's what I want to change.

What I'm committing to.

Mark your calendar.

Key dates for the April 2027 election.

Signatures open
Aug 25, 2026
Petition deadline
Nov 23, 2026
Early voting
Feb 25, 2027
Election Day
Apr 6, 2027

See the full election timeline →

Showing up isn't the end goal — it's how things actually get fixed.

When your alderman knows you, your street issues get heard.
When you see the agenda early, you get a say before decisions are made.
When there's a direct line to your alderman, questions don't have to wait.

That's the difference I'm running to make.

About me.

I've been a Marengo resident my whole life. Aside from a brief stint at college, I've always come back — because this is home. Over the years I've worked in restaurants, CNC manufacturing, and Medicaid eligibility and enrollment. I know what it's like for working families just starting out, because that's exactly where my wife and I are — raising our daughter in Ward 4, with a second child on the way.

We're not passing through. We're planting roots here, and I want to help make Marengo the kind of place we're proud to raise our kids in.

I also help run Beautify Marengo — a volunteer group that does everything from downtown street cleanups to building the planters you see in the city center. When you're helping lead something like that, you see firsthand what happens when a community shows up for itself.

Travis Coudal and family

Are you in Ward 4?

Ward 4 runs from the Kishwaukee River south to Route 20 — covering all of the Avenues, and downtown west to just before Florence nursing home and east to Sponable. If you're not sure, the map can help.

Not in Ward 4? If you're a Ward 3 resident, check out Jason Borders — a fellow Marengo community member and Beautify Marengo volunteer who's also running for alderman in 2027.

Reach me directly.

No form. No staff. Just me.

An alderman who knocks on your door before you ever need to call.