Belleville city clerk announces her plan to run for mayor
Belleville City Clerk Jenny Gain Meyer announced Thursday that she intends to run for mayor in the April municipal elections.
The post is currently held by Mayor Patty Gregory, who defeated former Mayor Mark Eckert in the April 2021 election. Eckert died in June 2023.
Gregory could not be reached for comment Thursday about her plans for the election.
Meyer, 48, was elected as city clerk in 2017 and then re-elected in 2021. Her term as city clerk is scheduled to end next spring.
When asked about potentially running against an incumbent mayor, Meyer said, “This really doesn’t have anything to do with the current mayor. I’m not here to criticize. That’s not the reason I’m running or anything.
“I’m running because I feel I can bring something to the city,” Meyer said. “I do a lot of stuff behind the scenes and the more I thought about it, the more I thought, well, I can actually do this. I think I can get more done and do more for Belleville by stepping up to be mayor.”
The municipal election is set for April 1, 2025. Candidates were allowed to begin collecting petitions on Aug. 20.
Meyer’s news release outlined her three priorities if she is elected mayor:
- “Revitalizing neighborhoods and homes.”
- “Strengthening public safety.
- “Promoting economic development.”
As clerk, Meyer said she manages all city documents, agendas, minutes, meetings, employee medical insurance, switchboard operations, annual business licenses and Freedom of Information Act requests.
Prior to being elected city clerk, Meyer held positions with St. Clair County and with the city of Belleville. She was director of environmental programs for the county’s health department and director of health, housing, building, zoning and cemetery operations for the city.
“As city clerk, I have seen firsthand the potential and the challenges that Belleville faces,” Meyer said in her news release. “I am running for mayor because I believe in our community’s strength and opportunities, and I want to work with our city leaders, organizations, businesses, employees, and residents to ensure Belleville is a city we want to call home.”
This story was originally published August 29, 2024 at 6:00 PM.
