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]
Referencesedit
^May, Lee (September 15, 1986). "All-but-Dead City : E. St. Louis: Hope Amid Hopelessness". The Los Angeles Times. That's what William Mason, 52, loves to hear. Mayor from 1975 to 1979...
^ abcFranklin, Donald E. (April 2, 1975). "Mason Defeats Williams for E. St. Louis Mayor". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
^ abcdefghTheising, Andrew J. (August 1, 2013). Made in USA: East St. Louis, the Rise and Fall of an Industrial River Town. Virginia Publishing. pp. 25–28. ISBN978-1891442216.
^Delaney, Paul (April 23, 1975). "East St. Louis, Decayed and Desperate, Still Has Hope". The New York Times.
^ abSheppard Jr., Nathaniel (March 26, 1979). "Voters in East St. Louis Hope to Oust Graft". The New York Times.
william, mason, east, louis, mayor, william, mason, american, politician, elected, second, african, american, mayor, east, saint, louis, illinois, then, largest, city, clair, county, illinois, william, masonmayor, east, saint, louisin, office, 1975, 1979preced. 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 William E MasonMayor of East Saint LouisIn office 1975 1979Preceded byJames E WilliamsSucceeded byCarl E OfficerPersonal detailsBorn1933 or 1934 age 89 90 1 EducationPhD Saint Louis University 2 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 References edit May Lee September 15 1986 All but Dead City E St Louis Hope Amid Hopelessness The Los Angeles Times That s what William Mason 52 loves to hear Mayor from 1975 to 1979 a b c Franklin Donald E April 2 1975 Mason Defeats Williams for E St Louis Mayor St Louis Post Dispatch a b Williams Ousted as Mayor Mason Wins in East Saint Louis The Edwardsville Intelligencer April 2 1975 a b c d e f g h Theising Andrew J August 1 2013 Made in USA East St Louis the Rise and Fall of an Industrial River Town Virginia Publishing pp 25 28 ISBN 978 1891442216 Delaney Paul April 23 1975 East St Louis Decayed and Desperate Still Has Hope The New York Times a b Sheppard Jr Nathaniel March 26 1979 Voters in East St Louis Hope to Oust Graft The New York Times Dobbin Ben December 1981 East St Louis Down but not out Northern Illinois University Libraries Illinois Periodicals Online Preceded byJames E Williams Mayor of East Saint Louis1975 1979 Succeeded byCarl E Officer Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William E Mason East St Louis mayor amp oldid 1066791777, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
