Belleville mayoral race shows split between powerful Democrats in metro-east
The non-partisan Belleville mayoral race has shaped up to be a contentious battle between two well-known and accomplished women backed by two powerful Democrats in the metro-east.
St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern (D-Belleville) is supporting incumbent Mayor Patty Gregory. He served as the city’s mayor from 1997 to 2004, when he became board chairman.
Illinois State Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) is supporting Gregory’s challenger, City Clerk Jenny Gain Meyer. He has served as a state legislator off and on for nearly 35 years. His district, the 113th, includes Belleville.
Neither Kern nor Hoffman has made an official endorsement in the mayoral race, and neither has responded to multiple requests for comment from the BND. But they’re working behind the scenes, helping to collect signatures, raise money and distribute campaign literature.
Last fall, Kern collected signatures on petitions to get Gregory and Irma Golliday, a candidate for Belleville city clerk, on the April 1 ballot, city election records show. Gregory and Golliday are running as a team.
“I think he will be (endorsing me), just like he did last time,” Gregory said last week, when asked about Kern’s support, adding that they talk regularly and he offers her advice.
Meyer has worked on Hoffman’s campaigns for years. She served as his campaign manager from 2012-13, according to her LinkedIn page, and she’s still listed as treasurer for the Committee to Elect Jay C. Hoffman on the Illinois State Board of Elections website.
Recently, Hoffman joined canvassers for Meyer going door-to-door in Belleville neighborhoods. He also walked with her along the city’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade route, handing out candy.
As for fundraising, Gregory started this year’s campaign with about $11,000 left over from her 2021 race against the late former Mayor Mark Eckert. Some $6,000 of that came from Barbara Kern, Mark Kern’s mother, Board of Elections fundraising records show.
Meyer has received more than $12,000 in contributions from area unions and their political-action committees, which also have shown particularly strong support for Hoffman over the years.
Meyer verified last week that Hoffman hadn’t made an official endorsement in the mayoral campaign.
“He supported my decision to run,” she said earlier this year.
The St. Clair County Democratic Central Committee website makes no mention of Belleville city races. Its chairman, Robert Sprague, signed a petition to get Gregory on the ballot.
Gregory, 71, is a retired public-school teacher for 34 years who taught special needs and second grade. She also served 20 years as founding executive director of Art on the Square.
Meyer, 49, is former director of environmental programs for St. Clair County Health Department and former director of health, housing, building, cemetery operations and animal control for Belleville. She was elected city clerk in 2017 and reelected in 2021.
Contractor Ryan Musick is running for mayor as a write-in candidate.
Who are elected Belleville officials supporting for mayor?
City election records show that Belleville City Council members who collected signatures on petitions for Gregory last fall were Ward 1 Alderman Bryan Whitaker, Ward 6 Alderwoman Mary Steihl, Ward 6 Alderman Chris Rothweiler, Ward 7 Alderman Dennis Weygandt and Ward 8 Alderwoman Kara Osthoff.
Petitioners for Meyer included City Treasurer Sarah Biermann, who’s running for reelection unopposed; and Ward 5 Alderwoman Shelly Schaefer, a candidate for city clerk. Biermann and Schaefer have joined Meyer for neighborhood canvassing in recent weeks.
Ward 4 Alderman Johnnie Anthony and Ward 5 Alderman Ed Dintelman each made a $250 contribution to Meyer’s campaign, according to Board of Elections records.
Ward 1 Alderwoman Lillian Schneider, Ward 3 Alderman Kent Randle, Ward 4 Alderman Raffi Ovian and Ward 7 Alderman Phil Elmore told the BND that they’re remaining neutral in the mayoral race.
Elmore is “strongly encouraging residents to vote for (Schaefer) over Golliday” for city clerk, he stated in an email.
Ward 2 Alderwomen Carmen Duco and Jamie Eros, Ward 3 Alderman Scott Ferguson and Ward 8 Alderwoman Nora Sullivan didn’t respond to an emailed question about mayoral endorsements.
This story was originally published March 24, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
