.png)
“Her drive for the betterment of Elgin is relentless.”
— Chuck Swain, councilman
Councilwoman Sue Brashar will continue serving as Elgin’s mayor pro tem following a June 3 nomination process that emphasized experience and leadership development.
The city’s charter requires the council to select a mayor pro tem after each election to assist and act in place of the mayor when needed. This year’s vote came after two new members—Liston Crim and Tiffany St. Pierre—joined the eight-member council last month.
Councilwoman Joy Casnovsky first nominated Ya-Lecia Love for the position, citing her commitment to training and interest in stepping into leadership.
“She has put a lot of work into training, she wants to be involved,” she said. “I’m not saying it’s an easy job, but I think there’s opportunity for her to learn and to come into the shoes of mayor pro tem.”
Councilman Chuck Swain followed with Brashar’s nomination, who has held the role with 11 years of experience on the council.
“She knows the city and its population, she is an Elginite,” Swain said. “Her drive for the betterment of Elgin is relentless. She is the right person for this job.”
Brashar received votes from Swain, Crim, Al Rodriguez, Arthur
Gibson and Mayor Theresa McShan. Love received votes from Casnovsky and St. Pierre. Both nominees voted for themselves.
After the nomination votes, the council unanimously approved Brashar’s appointment to make it official.
McShan also said she hopes to revisit the idea of creating a deputy mayor pro tem position, which the city has not had for several years.
“Going forward we will have a conversation about succession, how we’re going to go forth,” McShan added. “Back in ’06 or ’07 when I was on the council, I was the deputy mayor pro tem, and that worked out real well—I got a chance to learn and do.”
