Gregory chairs last meeting after breaking ‘glass ceiling’ at Belleville City Hall
Patty Gregory, Belleville’s first female mayor, pounded the gavel for the last time Monday night at a City Council meeting.
Gregory lost the election on April 1 after four years in office. Her successor, City Clerk Jenny Gain Meyer, will be sworn in May 1. Both were honored at the meeting for their service.
“I do want to thank all of you for giving me the opportunity to serve in the city I love,” Gregory told officials and audience members.
They gave her a standing ovation.
Gregory was elected in 2021, defeating the late former Mayor Mark Eckert, who had served for more than 16 years. On Monday, she joked about people who doubted she could do the job.
Gregory also discussed Art on the Square, the annual art show she founded and directed for 20 years. That volunteer position created a track record of leadership that propelled her into elective office.
“When we started Art on the Square, it was a thought in my mind, and I knew that Belleville had the perfect setting for it,” Gregory said.
“And so I’m grateful that we had wonderful people working on the committee, all volunteers. They came in, and we worked very well together. I think (Ward 6 Alderwoman Mary Stiehl) can attest to that and several people here. We never even had an argument at Art on the Square in all those years.”
Gregory later had a public falling-out with show leaders who replaced her. It began with her bid to continue as director while serving as mayor. The board viewed it as a conflict of interest.
Meyer, a former board member, addressed the issue in a conciliatory note Monday night after Gregory presented her with a plaque for serving eight years as city clerk, beginning in 2017.
“I want to thank you for being the first female mayor,” Meyer said. “And honestly, yes, nobody can take away Art on the Square from you.”
Four Gregory supporters from the audience spoke during a public-participation period at the meeting. They listed her accomplishments as a teacher for more than 30 years, director of Art on the Square and mayor.
Paula Badger, an art-show volunteer, described Gregory as “small but mighty.” Another speaker was Marilyn Vise, a longtime friend who formerly worked as administrative liaison to the mayor.
“I want to thank Jenny and Patty for breaking the glass ceiling,” Vise said, prompting a round of applause.
Gregory hugged and presented plaques to Meyer and Shelly Schaefer, who has served as Ward 5 alderwoman for eight years. Schaefer won election in April to replace Meyer as city clerk. She beat candidate Irma Golliday, who ran with Gregory as part of a team.
Gregory also congratulated Sarah Biermann at the meeting. Biermann will continue as city treasurer after running for reelection unopposed. Gregory noted the strong showing of female office holders and alderwomen.
“You’re going to do a great job,” she told Meyer.
Ward 4 Alderman Johnnie Anthony, the longest serving alderman, presented Gregory with a plaque. He praised her “fantastic” accomplishments and called it an “honor” to serve with her.
Anthony pointed out that the audience was witnessing the first African American alderman in the city of Belleville pay tribute to the first female mayor. He was elected in 2004.
“I tell her all the time that we have made history for the city,” Anthony said. “It’s something that will be written in the history books for the kids to look at and learn forever.”
Meyer won the mayor’s race by a vote of 3,510 (about 63%) to 2,067 (37%), according to the St. Clair County clerk’s office. Write-in candidates, including declared candidate Ryan Musick, received 18 votes.
