Challenger beats incumbent in East St. Louis’ 20th Precinct

A longtime precinct committeewoman lost her bid for another term in a lottery run-off.

Edith Moore, the incumbent in Precinct 20, and challenger Nathaniel McCloud tied in the March 15 primary election with 212 votes each. A lottery pull was held Wednesday morning, as required by state law, and McCloud won.

Moore, a Democrat, had been the Precinct 20 committeewoman for 28 years. When asked for her reaction, she replied, “It is what it is.”

McCloud emerged from the East St. Louis Election Board Office on the third floor of City Hall with a broad smile and proclaimed, “You’re looking at your new Precinct 20 committeeman.

“What God has for you no person can take from you. This has been a tough run, but, I am thankful,” he said.

A St. Clair County judge in January denied an effort by Moore to keep McCloud off the ballot.

Moore argued that McCloud filed a document with St. Clair County Clerk Tom Holbrook withdrawing his name from the primary election, and that his name should not be on the ballot.

McCloud said, under oath, that he never ever filed a document withdrawing his name as a candidate, and he never authorized anyone to file any such document on his behalf.

“I do respect Miss Edith Moore. I hope to make a legacy for myself. I hope to keep the precinct up like she has for the last 28 years,” McCloud said.

McCloud said he ran for precinct committeeman to bring out more youths to vote and let them know if you work hard, good things come to you.

“I want young people to know that if they want to see things change, they have to get involved. I hope that I can work together with Miss Edith Moore to keep our precinct moving forward,” McCloud said.

This story was originally published April 8, 2016 at 11:18 AM with the headline "Challenger beats incumbent in East St. Louis’ 20th Precinct."