Stephanie Terry becomes first Black person and first woman to be elected Evansville mayor
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EVANSVILLE – Stephanie Terry capped a historic campaign Tuesday night, becoming the first woman and first Black person to win the city's mayoral seat.
With 16 of 16 vote centers reporting, Terry, a Democrat, defeated Republican Natalie Rascher by more than 1,500 votes, winning 49% to 40%, preliminary results showed.
Libertarian Michael Daugherty came in third, with 11%.
She will take over for Republican Mayor Lloyd Winnecke, who is stepping down after 12 years on the job.
Terry addressed a cheering crowd of supporters Tuesday night, thanking them all for their support.
She called for unity and an end to the politicking.
"It means it's time for Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, Independents all to put aside their differences and come together because we've got work to do," she said. "We want to build a better Evansville."
This isn’t her first historic victory. In 2011, she became the first Black woman ever elected to the Vanderburgh County Council.
She largely stayed above the fray in what become a contentious race, as Rascher – Winnecke’s preferred choice – and Daugherty spent the last few weeks battling over conservative bona fides, their respective financial histories, and claims that Daugherty wasn’t even a city resident.
None of that matters now, however, as Terry assumes an office that’s been populated solely by white men for the last 176 years.
The 47-year-old is a mother of three – two sons and a stepson – with her husband, Marques. The family lives on the city’s Southeast Side.
Terry confirmed she had spoken with Rascher after the results were official. She did say she'd spoken to Daugherty.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Who won the Evansville mayor election?
