Rev. David Goins was elected mayor for the City of Alton during the April 6 municipal election with 2,021 votes in ‘21, making history as Alton’s first African American mayor.
Alton residents elected Goins as mayor with 55.4 percent of the votes. His opponent, Brant Walker, received 1,625 votes, or 44.6 percent.
In a “final stretch” video posted on his campaign’s Facebook page Tuesday night, Goins’ wife Sheila urges residents to be a part of Alton history and vote.
“If you don’t do something different, you won’t get anything different,” she said.
Goins is a lifelong Alton resident who seeks to rebuild “Alton’s reputation as a safe, clean and vibrant city,” according to his campaign page.
“Our businesses and families deserve to experience a strong economy with positive employment opportunities, safe neighborhoods, and quality schools, resulting in stability for our city and its citizens. I promise to lead with integrity, honesty and respect. My actions will follow my words and I will keep my campaign promises,” Goins stated. “I will make it a priority to develop a professional, honest and respectful working relationship with local labor and trade organizations and I will not support further outsourcing of jobs. I will create a community engagement committee that focuses on public safety, crime prevention and strategies to promote community pride and trust. And supporting our public and private schools will be a cornerstone of my administration.”
Goins is pastor of Morning Star Ministry Baptist Church and served as a police officer with the Alton Police Department for 25 years. He is a member of the Alton School District Board of Education and Civil Service Commission member. He and his wife have three children and 11 grandchildren.
In a statement on his campaign’s Facebook page, Walker wrote, “This didn’t go as we’d hoped tonight. I remain as optimistic about Alton as ever. Congratulations to David Goins.”
Walker’s campaign for re-election kicked off on the heels of unwanted national attention after his wife was allegedly caught by police inside a tavern operating in defiance of state shut down orders last year.
She was caught inside Hiram’s Tavern in the early hours of April 5, 2020, shortly after Walker ordered stricter enforcement of the state order on social gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement following the incident, Walker said he instructed the police chief “to treat her as he would any citizen violating the ‘Stay At Home’ order and to ensure that she received no special treatment.”
Other contested Madison County mayoral races
In Glen Carbon, Gori Law Firm attorney and current village trustee Bob Marcus was elected mayor with 948 votes, or 61.4 percent. His opponent, Dany Lawrence, received 596 votes, or 38.6 percent.
“I am humbled and honored to serve as the next mayor of Glen Carbon. I will work hard for the residents so Glen Carbon continues to be a great place to live, work and raise a family,” Marcus wrote on his campaign’s Facebook page. “Thank you to the residents of Glen Carbon, my family, friends and neighbors for all of your support. I would also like to thank my colleagues and friends at the Gori Law Firm for their guidance and encouragement throughout this process.”
According to his biography on the Gori Law Firm’s website, Marcus represents workers and individuals who are injured in trucking accidents, motorcycle and auto accidents. He also focuses on the Federal Employer’s Liability Act (FELA).
“He is committed to providing dedicated and caring legal assistance to victims and families, and at the same time fighting the trucking companies, insurance companies, and railroads to ensure his clients are fully compensated,” the website states.
In Wood River, residents elected Tom Stalcup as mayor with 846 votes, or 76.5 percent. Stalcup’s opponent, Cheryl Goessman Maguire, received 260 votes, or 23.5 percent.
In a statement on his campaign’s Facebook page, Stalcup wrote, “Today, residents of Wood River have spoken, and they have spoken clearly. It is an honor to have been elected as the next Mayor of the City of Wood River. I am excited to take office and begin the important work that is ahead of us. My door will always be open and I will always work for each and every man, woman and child that calls Wood River home. We have a long road ahead of us, but we will achieve greatness together. My thanks go out to each and every person that has supported me, assisted with my campaign and believed in me.”
Maguire also provided a statement following the election.
“Thank you for all my supporters, friends and citizens who put their faith and trust in me,” she wrote on her campaign’s Facebook page. “During this campaign, I’m proud that I stuck to the issues and my accomplishments for the betterment of the city. I still believe Wood River is a great place to live and raise a family. It’s my continued hope that our city will continue to thrive, grow and the projects that we have begun will continue under the new administration, including a recreation center. Best wishes to Tom Stalcup as he takes over as mayor.”
Granite City residents overwhelmingly voted to elect former Madison County board member Mike Parkinson as mayor with 2,458 votes, or 85.1 percent. James Bailey Sr. received 251 votes, or 8.7 percent, and Richard Cohen received 180 votes, or 6.2 percent.
Parkinson could not be reached for comment.
In Edwardsville, candidate Art Risavy received 1,433 votes, or 70.5 percent, to secure the mayoral election. His opponent, Stephanie Malench, received 601 votes, or 29.5 percent.
“Thank you everyone for your votes but unfortunately it wasn’t enough,” Malench wrote on her campaign’s Facebook page.
Risavy, who is an Edwardsville alderman, could not be reached for comment.
In Hartford, William “Bill” Robertson was elected mayor with 152 votes, or 58 percent. James Hickerson received 110 votes, or 42 percent.
“I want to thank everyone who got out and voted,” Robertson stated on his campaign’s Facebook page. “Just proves that every vote counts and that our future is bright.”
In Madison, residents re-elected John Hamm III as mayor with 598 votes, or 57.1 percent. James Gardner Jr. received 365 votes, or 34.8 percent, and Demetrus “Bird” Williams received 85 votes, or 8.1 percent.
“As a proud servant, with over 20 years of experience, it is an honor to continue working on behalf of the people of Madison, Illinois,” Hamm’s campaign’s Facebook page states. “It is important that we continue to have experience we can trust.”