Chris Thornton pulled out a close win over Mark Wilson, with Ward 4 Alderman Patrick Toohey trailing, to become Brentwood’s first new mayor in 14 years, replacing Pat Kelly.
With all five polling stations reporting, Thornton took 747 votes, Wilson took 631 and Toohey had 219. Thornton won with 46.66 percent of the vote.
Turnout was greater than in the last mayoral election, in 2011, when 1,018 voted for Pat Kelly, running unopposed.
Thornton couldn’t be reached immediately for comment.
Thornton is an attorney licensed in Missouri and Illinois, specializing in intellectual property and working with small businesses.
Thornton said in his candidate statement he “believes the most effective way to maintain trust between the government and the citizens it represents is transparency and accountability. The key to transparency is consistent, clear communication of the government’s actions and the reasons for those actions.”
Read Thornton’s full statement.
In the races for alderman, David Plufka defeated Hart Nelson for the Ward 1 seat and Steve Lochmoeller defeated Andrew Hartnett in Ward 3. Keith Slusser won the Ward 2 seat in an uncontested race. Tom Kramer also won in Ward 4 in an uncontested race.
Patrick Dignam, also running unopposed, won the municipal judge seat.
Mr. Completely ROARING ‘COWARDLY LION’–your non-responsive comment means you are off your ‘yellow brick road’. Also, until you sign your name, ‘Mr. Completely ROARING COWARDLY LION’ will be my new name for you.
Maureen, instead of the word ‘supposed’, you should use the word, ‘should.’ The Clinton administration did a lot for this country. He took us out of debt. His ‘affair’ cost he and Hillary millions and millions of dollars and put them very deeply into debt. Of course that statement of Hillary’s was true, but it didn’t last long.
And about Mr, Completely: He is just stating his point of view. No reason to get upset.
Hello Jerry. I have no grief with you presenting your POV. Next miscellaneous semantics are a preference — not a rule. Then, there is no telling what the Clintons did in the WH. If I wanted to make a good point about the elected mayor, I don’t think Clinton would have been the template.
As Gov, Bill had the state patrol bring him an enamored woman for his pleasure. When she came forward, the company line was “drag a dollar bill through a trailer court and see who follows.” Dismissive and disrespectful to the woman, and a foresight of things to come. And they came, and came…no?
Finally, “Mr Completely Roaring Cowardly Lion” has too much attitude to be taken seriously. Additionally, he repeatedly brought my name into 40 South posts that I had nothing to do with–out of nowhere. If you backtrack to his posts, you will see a pattern of incivility for no reason.
I am please the election is over. I am please that the mayor and aldermen have 2 year limit to prove (or not) their efficacy in representing the people. I found it odd that the first congratulatory post had to do with whether motorcycle riders should wear helmets as a State Law. The disconnect to the broader issue of closed head injury (ie: NFL CHI legal suits) seemed like a sample of who voted for whom. So I give credit to the elected mayor, and in two years I expect to see substance over style finally surface. Way past my sleep time—but other issues took precedence. Thanks for the post, Jerry. maureen
Latent comment: One of the MANY reasons I voted for Mark Wilson was his clarity in the balanced and limited role of Mayor of Brentwood.
Among the things Mark said was that the people set the agenda, move to the aldermen with their concerns/desires (requests), and from there the Mayor sets out to serve the peoples’ agenda. Mark said that it is not up to the Mayor to tell the people, but to listen to the people.
When agenda clarity and full public transparency is reached, the CITY ADMINISTRATOR is tasked with implementing that agenda, and to report back regarding what does or does not work.
This methodology of understanding how the City is SUPPOSED to work will be scrutinized by sharper eyes, now that it has been so clearly stated by Mark Wilson. The role of Aldermen has just been elevated from “yes” (wo)man of a citizenry detached agenda and notification process, to a direct line from the citizen to the Administration. The residential expectation of City Hall to be responsive has exponentially risen. Thank you.
PS to “Jerry”–I loved your comment re Clinton, as it is a true example of how perceptions can divisively cut in different directions! Do we remember “our first Black president”? Or do we remember our impeached, ‘stained little blue dress’ president?!
Maureen I thought your early endorsement of Wilson was going to be enough to drag his ass across the finish line, apparently your money was on the wrong horse, eh? Oh well it doesn’t really matter, why don’t polish up that list of grievances and get ready to present it to the new Anti-Kelly and see where that gets ya. Ha, Good Luck! My work here is done.
If Thornton does as good as Clinton, we will do fine.
Looks like the ’92 Presidential race: Toohey = Perot, Wilson = GHWB, Thornton = Clinton. Clinton got 40-something percent of the popular vote, as did Thornton.
Good use of a parallel election. I believe it was called ‘the spoiler effect’. This percentage was not a “peoples’ mandate” by any means; way too close.
I am grateful that the BOA has shifted to a more professional level, that will not allow for mayoral abuses. I want to see the new mayor ‘be’ all he claimed–or perhaps more reasonably, a little less.
I also hope that people USE their new aldermanic members to enforce and maintain clarity and transparency. In two years we will know how this new administration and BOA relates to the needs of the people versus commerce.
Again, compliments for the parallel. Funny, but Ross Perot was also the first name that came to mind when I read the election outcome this morning.