McMurray wins mayoral race

April 04--Bill McMurray defeated Beau Walker in a tight race Tuesday for mayor of St. Joseph.

McMurray won with 51.60 percent of the vote, according to results from the Buchanan County Clerk's Office.

McMurray said he is very thankful for his supporters and is ready to serve the entire city.

"I feel very honored and I feel very humbled and I feel very thankful," McMurry said. "I will certainly represent all of the people who voted for me, I'll represent all the people who didn't vote for me and I'll represent all the people who didn't even vote at all."

He said he talked to his opponent and plans on meeting with him to find a way to keep him involved with local government.

"Beau ran a real good campaign and I've talked to Beau tonight, and I certainly want to get him involved in city government in other ways," McMurray said.

Walker said he has full confidence in McMurray as mayor.

"I want to congratulate Bill on a well-run race," Walker said. "I appreciate that and I think our community is going to be in good hands and I hope we can all start moving forward. I know that's what everybody wants for our community at this time."

McMurray said the first thing he wants to do is to get the blue-ribbon committee together to start finding a way to reduce crime as soon as possible.

He also said he wants to take a look at the sewer budget immediately to try and find quick ways to reduce rates.

McMurray also said he still plans on having a "citizens hotline" that will allow residents in the city to call him anytime. When he receives his city cellphone later this month, he will publicize the number for citizens to call.

McMurray will serve on the City Council with five new members and three incumbents.

The new council will be inaugurated on Monday, April 16, at noon in the Third Floor Council Chamber at City Hall.

McMurray and Walker emerged from a five-person primary and ran this spring with different messages about what their backgrounds would bring to the mayor's office.

McMurray ran as the candidate whose experience in business and politics would allow him to get things done. He worked for 25 years in the insurance business and had won elections in past years to the county post of public administrator.

Voter turnout was 24.81 percent for Buchanan County, with 12,232 voters casting ballots.

Brendan Welch can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPWelch.

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