Lynwood Mayor Jada Curry said economic development, public safety and addressing the village’s finances will remain top priorities in her second term.

“I inherited a ton of debt,” Curry said, after she ousted former four-term incumbent Eugene Williams in 2021. “It wasn’t going to go away in one term, but we’ll continue to chip away at it and try to manage it, and we’re going to also keep our focus on community engagement, because that’s really important.”

Curry, along with her Lynwood Strong slate, declared victory in the Democratic primary Tuesday night at a packed Lynwood Bowling Center.

Wearing shirts emblazoned with her slate’s campaign slogan, #LynwoodStrong, a passionate crowd of supporters gathered for the incumbent, who defeated challenger Detonya Armstrong with 808 votes, or 62%, compared to 492 for Armstrong, according to unofficial results from the Cook County clerk’s office.

Curry made her entrance around 8 p.m. as supporters chanted “Four more years!” while clapping.

“It’s been a challenging journey, but we’re here,” Curry said. “I am extremely grateful to the residents of Lynwood, and I’m looking forward to four more years of hard work.”

Curry, elected in 2021 as Lynwood’s first female African American village president, ran with a slate including trustees Randall Blakey and David Lilly, both up for reelection, Police and Fire Commissioner Bryan Hurt, running for trustee, and Clerk Karen Wingfield-Bond, seeking reelection.

Unofficial results show Hurt, Blakey and Lilly leading for the three trustee seats.

Curry said Glenwood Mayor Ronald Gardiner told her to run her race like you’re going to lose.

“I felt like that was good advice, because if you’re overly confident you’ll get lazy, and we never got lazy,” she said. “We’ve been out here doing the work, and now we’re seeing the fruits of our labor.”

Curry’s team faced opposition from The Lynwood Choice Team headed by Armstrong, a registered nurse who has lived in Lynwood for 10 years.

After the results were in, Armstrong maintained her sentiment at the polls, stating that her priority is the village.

“I hope that we can all come together for the village,” Armstrong said.

She expressed disappointment over the low voter turnout, with just 17% of more than 7,500 registered voters casting ballots.

“No matter how it goes, we have to voice our opinions better. We have to come out and vote,” she said. “I think I was more disappointed about the lower vote turnout than the outcome.”

Other members on Armstrong’s slate were incumbent Trustee Rolanda Clark, Linda Miller, a registered nurse, and Jacqueline McGee, a community advocate who works in early childhood education.

The village president’s salary was increased from $20,000 to $85,000 in 2022, according to the municipal code, following approval at a board meeting Feb. 22, 2022, meeting minutes show.

The salary adjustment will take effect after the April 2025 consolidated election.

Each trustee receives $3,900 annually, while the clerk’s salary is set at $24,400 per year, according to the municipal code.

The village president’s salary was lowered in 2019 under former four-term incumbent Eugene Williams, from $85,000 to $20,000, to take effect in the next term starting in 2021, when Curry was elected. The change was approved at a Aug. 27, 2019, board meeting where Curry was the only trustee to oppose the salary reduction.

As she heads into a second term, Curry said she wants to bring new businesses to Lynwood, a goal shared by voters at the polls Tuesday.

Darnell Boxley, a Lynwood resident for 23 years, expressed his approval of Curry’s first four years in office.

“She’s bringing businesses, she’s out in the public talking to people,” Boxley said. “I think she’s doing a great job.”

Curry said she will keep working to improve the village’s financial situation. Lynwood was sued in 2019 for over $1 million in unpaid risk management fees and put on a payment plan.

In Riverdale, Mayor Lawrence Jackson, under federal indictment, led with 59% of votes against challenger Michael Airhart, according to unofficial results.

Jackson could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Several people who voted for Jackson raised concerns at the polls Tuesday about connections between Airhart’s campaign and Mayor Tiffany Henyard in Dolton.

Airhart, a longtime resident who runs the nonprofit organization Taste for the Homeless, told the Southtown he believes he received “signs from God” to run and bring trust back to the mayor’s office.

While the polls were still open at Village Hall Tuesday, Airhart expressed confidence in his chances of ousting Jackson.

“The people of Riverdale, they are tired,” Airhart said. “Everybody’s tired now, everybody wants something new and different. We’re not indicted.”

Airhart said after votes were counted he is “devastated” by the loss, but is not ready to “throw in the towel.”

“The numbers are not adding up, and so my lawyers are on top of it, and we are going to see what our next move is,” Airhart said. “I’m confused, but it’s not over.”

Jackson was charged in 2023 with perjury and obstruction of justice in U.S. District Court for allegedly lying in a civil deposition about accepting secret funding for his trucking business from a clout-heavy waste hauling firm.

In Riverdale, the village president is expected to work at least 25 hours a week and has a salary of $69,900 a year, which covers all responsibilities, including serving as the liquor control commissioner, according to the village’s municipal code. The village also provides the president with a car. Every May 1, starting in 2010, the village president’s salary will increase by 2% from the previous year, the municipal code states.

Trustees Gregory Lewis, Erik LeVere and Bradley Smith as well as Village Clerk Karen Holcomb also ran to keep their seats. Betty Ervin-Robinson challenging Holcomb and Kenneth Williams, Pamela Henning, Rasheena Thomas and Michael A. Smith ran for village trustee.

Unofficial results show Holcomb leading for the clerk spot, and Bradley Smith, LeVere and Lewis ahead for the trustee seats.

Riverdale trustees are paid $12,000 annually and receive $100 per month for expenses, according to the village’s municipal code. They also have the option to enroll in the village’s health and dental insurance plan. Each year, the trustees’ compensation will increase by 2%, though the board can vote in May to waive this increase for that year, the municipal code states.

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