Jefferson City re-elects Tergin for second mayoral term

Mayoral candidates Carrie Tergin and Tiwan Lewis square off during a candidate forum Thursday at  Lincoln University's Scruggs Center. Citizens Accountability Partners, Jefferson City Faith Voices, Moms Demand Action, Mid-Missouri Black Nurses Association, Missouri National Organization of Women, and Empower Missouri hosted the forum.
Mayoral candidates Carrie Tergin and Tiwan Lewis square off during a candidate forum Thursday at Lincoln University's Scruggs Center. Citizens Accountability Partners, Jefferson City Faith Voices, Moms Demand Action, Mid-Missouri Black Nurses Association, Missouri National Organization of Women, and Empower Missouri hosted the forum.

Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin was re-elected for a second four-year term Tuesday.

Of the 4,919 votes cast, Tergin received 4,145 (84.27 percent), beating challenger Tiwan Lewis, according to unofficial Cole County results.

Lewis received 746 votes (15.17 percent), according to the unofficial results.

First elected in 2015, Tergin said she is looking forward to serving another four years as mayor.

"Jefferson City has experienced revitalization over the last four years, and I am proud to be part of a community with such a bright future," Tergin said. "(I) have been honored to lead the Capital City through projects including the redevelopment of (the Missouri State Penitentiary) moving forward, Capitol Avenue revitalization, and the Bicentennial Bridge to riverfront access coming soon."

Tergin, who owns Carrie's Hallmark Shop in downtown Jefferson City, previously said she also plans to continue emphasizing public safety.

Lewis said she was disappointed by Tuesday's election results, adding the Bicentennial Bridge and redevelopment are "not our culture" and is "not everybody's way of life here."

"They've got to really figure it out - the youth, the homeless and drug problems," she said. "This community will not thrive until those are tackled. Homelessness is key. Families that are up and moving and able to accomplish what they need to accomplish in life."

Lewis' main campaign goals were addressing affordable and adequate housing, increasing small-business opportunities, educating and providing more opportunities to the youth and forming community partnerships to help individuals living paycheck to paycheck.

Lewis said she was not sure if she would run for a city office again.

"Is it worth it? You got to have money. You've got to be a certain color and be a status quo. I don't know," Lewis said. "I ran on nothing. I ran (by) myself, no finances, nothing."

Lewis is owner of Mary Anne's, TJ Consulting, and Faith and Hope Real Estate LLC.

The mayor receives $10,800 annually, according to Jefferson City Human Resources Department Director Gail Strope.

Ward 1 Councilman David Kemna, Ward 2 Councilwoman Laura Ward, Ward 3 Councilman Ken Hussey, Ward 4 Councilman Carlos Graham and Ward 5 Councilman Mark Schreiber were also re-elected for four-year terms. They were unopposed in Tuesday's election.

City Council members each receive $5,400 annually, Strope said.