Quincy beginning its girl power era, with its new mayor leading the charge

QUINCY — Quincy officially entered its girl power era on Sunday.

Adorned in a hot pink blouse and immediately surrounded by more than a dozen young girls in Washington Park on Sunday afternoon, Mayor Linda Moore made history as the first woman to be sworn in for the position.

Roughly 200 community members gathered for the ceremony, which also featured several food vendors and was followed by live music from Noah McNally.

“It only took us 200 years to elect a woman (as mayor) in Adams County, but in 2025, we finally did it,” she said in a speech following her swearing in. 

Several incumbents on the Quincy City Council — Greg Fletcher (R-1), Dave Bauer (D-2), Tony Sassen (R-4), Richie Reis (D-6) and Jack Holtschlag (D-7) — were sworn in for their new terms. Michael Adkins (R-3) and Laura McReynolds (R-5), also sporting pink attire, were sworn in for their first terms.

The parade of oaths came nearly a month after another woman, Karol Ehmen, was appointed by former Mayor Mike Troup and sworn in on April 7 as 4th Ward Alderwoman to replace Mike Farha, the 26-year council veteran who resigned his position in March. She will serve the remainder of his term through 2027.

McReynolds will join Ehmen and Alderwoman Kelly Mays (R-3) on the council, marking the second time at least three women have served on the 14-member City Council at one time — despite women making up more than half of Quincy’s population. This time, however, the three women will be joined by a female mayor.

The only other women elected to serve on the City Council were Glenda “LeXze” Mann (1st Ward, 2011-15), Jennifer Lepper (5th Ward, 2007-19), Terri Heinecke (7th Ward, 2011-19), Sharon Mackenzie (6th Ward, 1993-2005). Karen Sandercock was the first woman appointed to the City Council in March 1980. Mayor David Nuessen had her fill a vacancy in the 4th Ward when the City Council redrew ward boundaries in September 1979. Sandercock didn’t run for re-election in April 1981.

Moore was only the third female to run for mayor in a general election. Ursula Flinspach ran as an independent in 1993, when Chuck Scholz successfully won his first of three terms as mayor, also defeating Republican Bill Hoffman. Nora Baldner ran as a Democrat and lost to Troup in 2021.

The Quincy Children’s Museum provided games and crafts for children throughout the event, including “Future Mayor” coloring pages, which many proudly gifted to Moore following her speech. 

“I also hope that as you (the children in the audience) grow up, you’ll be a part of your city government, and you’ll take part in the activities that your city offers — whether it’s from the city itself or from the county or the Park District or the library or one of the other great organizations in the community,” Moore said during her speech. “Quincy has a lot to offer, and we have a lot to be proud of today.”

Political diversity was on full display at Sunday’s celebration. Moore became the city’s first independent mayor. Going back more than 100 years, independent candidates George Schmitt (1919), Frank Wells (1985), Flinspach and Jeff Van Camp (2017) failed to win the mayoral race. 

“It’s all about hope, unity, pride in our community and doing things together,” Moore said in an interview with Muddy River News after the ceremony. “First woman, first independent — that says a lot for our community, and it says our community is ready for change, ready for something new.”

The beginning of Moore’s administration marks the end of Troup’s, who she beat in 39 of the city’s 42 precincts in the April 1 municipal election. It was the first time since 1933 that a mayoral incumbent lost re-election after serving only one term.

Moore honored Troup with flowers during the ceremony, along with former mayors Nuessen (1977-85) and Chuck Scholz (1993-2005). Family members of the late John Spring, who served as mayor from 2005 to 2013 and died in December 2024, accepted flowers in his honor. Verne Hagstrom (1985-93) resides at the Illinois Veterans Home and was not present.

Kyle Moore, who served as Quincy’s mayor from 2013 to 2021 and was sworn into the Illinois State House of Representatives in January, also was not present. He celebrated his wedding on Saturday.

The latest product from Quincy Candle Co., a champagne-scented Madam Mayor candle, was premiered during Moore’s speech.

A neon yellow “Quincy, IL Pothole Patrol” volunteer T-shirt also was showcased — a nod to Moore’s campaign promise of filling every single pothole currently plaguing city-managed streets within her first 100 days in office.

Before attending the several meetings already scheduled for her first day in office, Moore plans to visit Central Services bright and early — around 5:30 a.m. — to say hello and thank them for the work they’ve done and will be continuing to do in pursuit of her pothole promise. She said the details of how the potholes will be filled will be revealed within the first few days of her administration.

“I can’t let people down. I have a lot to live up to, but I’m OK with that,” Moore said. “I think it’s good to set high expectations, because if we set high expectations and we meet them, it sets the example for everybody else.”