William E. Mason | |
---|---|
Mayor of East Saint Louis | |
In office 1975–1979 | |
Preceded by | James E. Williams |
Succeeded by | Carl E. Officer |
Personal details | |
Born | 1933 or 1934 (age 89–90) [1] |
Education | PhD Saint Louis University [2] |
William E. Mason is an American politician who was elected as the second African-American mayor of East Saint Louis, Illinois, then the largest city in St. Clair County, Illinois.
Mason served as superintendent of the East Saint Louis school district. [3] [4] On April 1, 1975, [5] Mason defeated the incumbent mayor of East Saint Louis, James E. Williams, one of the few African-American mayors in the country. [3] Mason won by a margin of 6,457 votes to 5,600 in an election marked by low voter turnout. [2] The election was marred by allegations of election fraud and ballot-stuffing. [4] Mason assumed control with more power than previous mayors due to a change to the aldermanic form of government replacing the previous five-member commission model. [2]
Mason's term marked a return to patronage politics with only one of eighteen council members belonging to the prior mayor's independent status with the other seventeen all part of the Democratic political machine. [4] His term began contentiously with Mason dismissing 20 supporters of former Mayor Williams. [4] When a block of alderman passed a resolution seeking to strip him of appointive powers, he subsequently vetoed the resolution. [4] During his term, Mason was successful in soliciting $54 million in federal funds and reducing crime by 21% [4] but was unable to improve on the 30% unemployment rate and halt the declining population. [6] He also left the city in a deep fiscal hole with $20 million in debt, a $1 million fiscal deficit, $3 million in past due loans, and $5 million in unpaid bills. [4] In 1979, he was defeated by a 3 to 1 margin in the Democratic primary by Carl E. Officer. [6] [7] In 1983, he unsuccessfully ran again for mayor in the Democratic primary against Officer. [4]
That's what William Mason, 52, loves to hear. Mayor from 1975 to 1979...
William E. Mason | |
---|---|
Mayor of East Saint Louis | |
In office 1975–1979 | |
Preceded by | James E. Williams |
Succeeded by | Carl E. Officer |
Personal details | |
Born | 1933 or 1934 (age 89–90) [1] |
Education | PhD Saint Louis University [2] |
William E. Mason is an American politician who was elected as the second African-American mayor of East Saint Louis, Illinois, then the largest city in St. Clair County, Illinois.
Mason served as superintendent of the East Saint Louis school district. [3] [4] On April 1, 1975, [5] Mason defeated the incumbent mayor of East Saint Louis, James E. Williams, one of the few African-American mayors in the country. [3] Mason won by a margin of 6,457 votes to 5,600 in an election marked by low voter turnout. [2] The election was marred by allegations of election fraud and ballot-stuffing. [4] Mason assumed control with more power than previous mayors due to a change to the aldermanic form of government replacing the previous five-member commission model. [2]
Mason's term marked a return to patronage politics with only one of eighteen council members belonging to the prior mayor's independent status with the other seventeen all part of the Democratic political machine. [4] His term began contentiously with Mason dismissing 20 supporters of former Mayor Williams. [4] When a block of alderman passed a resolution seeking to strip him of appointive powers, he subsequently vetoed the resolution. [4] During his term, Mason was successful in soliciting $54 million in federal funds and reducing crime by 21% [4] but was unable to improve on the 30% unemployment rate and halt the declining population. [6] He also left the city in a deep fiscal hole with $20 million in debt, a $1 million fiscal deficit, $3 million in past due loans, and $5 million in unpaid bills. [4] In 1979, he was defeated by a 3 to 1 margin in the Democratic primary by Carl E. Officer. [6] [7] In 1983, he unsuccessfully ran again for mayor in the Democratic primary against Officer. [4]
That's what William Mason, 52, loves to hear. Mayor from 1975 to 1979...