A Year in Review: Monroe Mayoral Race

This year Monroe voters re-elected Jamie Mayo for another term in office.

However, it was not an easy path for the mayor, in a race that started with three opponents.

"There's much more to do, we're just getting started. The best is yet to come," says Mayo.

Jamie Mayo's resume touts more than a decade in the Mayor's Office, but three men hoped to end that run, Ray Armstrong, Johnny Riley, and Clint Thomas.

"I really wasn't planning on running for mayor until I understood the problem that we have in our city," said Armstrong.

Riley said "We're at a critical point in the City of Monroe and we have to make a difference and make a change in leadership."

And Clint Thomas said "We have a 55-million dollar budget and that's not counting everything. I think they could make our lives better."

The race quickly become controversial. Candidates claimed corruption was at the core of the other campaigns. YouTube videos spread through social media. There were even allegations of an altercation at one of the candidate forums closed to the media.

"It was very tense and I was angry of course," said Armstrong.
   
And the men vying for the job had plenty of chances to come face-to-face with their opponents.

"This election is about leadership, it's about energy, and it's also about experience," said Mayo at a debate.

While Armstrong argued "We talk about experience, what does experience mean?"

May said "I don't think he understands the difference between a fun balance and a surplus."

And Clint vowed "I can run this city and I will run this this city better than anyone else ever has."

A field of four made the fight for a win on election night difficult. Incumbent Mayo pulled about 43-percent of the votes.

And Ray Armstrong came in a strong second with 36-percent, forcing a runoff election on April 21st.
   
It's very important to me to realize that 57% of the public here said they want to make a change, that is very important to me so I need to be there for the 57% who say they want a change in city hall," said Mayo following the general election.

Armstrong said "We're going to hit the ground running we're going to go back and analyze and evaluate the votes and where they came from and where we're strong and how we can build on it. Also those precincts where we fell a little short and so we're going to analyze the entire city and continue to campaign throughout out the City of Monroe."
   
The endorsements poured in as the runoff approached. Riley stood behind Armstrong. Business leaders pegged mayo for the job. But after a energetic election day, Mayo came out on top. So he will be Mayor Mayo for four more years, but Armstrong wasn't ready to pull out of politicals.

"Being on the city council gives me a platform that I can better explore the ideas," Armstrong says.

He'll be serving side-by-side with Mayo as Monroe City Councilman for District 1.