Troup to announce if he will run for second term as Quincy mayor at Monday news conference

QUINCY — Quincy Mayor Mike Troup is expected to announce whether he will run for a second term Monday morning.

While being interviewed by Muddy River News on Thursday about the State of the City speech he is scheduled to deliver to the Quincy Service Club at noon Friday, Troup was told he had one question left to answer.

“Monday at 8 (a.m.),” he replied before the question was asked.

When asked what that meant, Troup replied, “I’ll give you an answer.” 

Asked if that was an answer to a question about his future political plans, Troup nodded his head and said, “We’re going to have a news conference Monday at 8 (a.m.).”

Asked if he was willing to preview what to expect at the news conference, Troup said, “Well, there’s only two ways that it could go.”

A press release from the mayor’s office late Friday afternoon said “an announcement regarding his future political plans” will be held at 8 a.m. Monday at the American Legion Post 37, 116 N. Eighth.

The next consolidated election is scheduled for April 1, 2025, with the primary scheduled for Feb. 25, 2025. 

The only person to throw his hat into the mayoral race thus far is former Republican Alderman Dan Brink. He said, “This city needs leadership,” when he announced the organization of his political committee with the Illinois State Board of Elections office in Springfield on Sept. 9.

The Citizens to Elect Mike Troup Mayor committee, formed in 2020 for Troup’s first campaign, now has $41,356.18 in its account, according to a quarterly report filed on Jan. 16 with the Illinois State Board of Elections. The committee has not raised any money since Troup was elected.

By comparison, the Citizens to Elect Dan Brink for Mayor committee has $12,731.25 in its account, according to a quarterly report filed on Jan. 15 with the Illinois State Board of Elections. The committee officially was created on Oct. 6.

Troup said in July he planned to announce his decision about running for a second term “sometime in August.” He made that comment during an appearance on “Spilling the Tea with Steve Kennedy,” a Quincy Tea Party-sponsored show on Rumble, an online video network. He later confirmed that statement in an interview with Muddy River News, saying he wanted to consult with his wife, Sharon, before deciding.

Troup then said on Sept. 1 he wasn’t ready to announce his decision.

“I think this has taught me to tell people I’m not going to set a deadline for myself on a decision like this,” he said.

Troup edged Paul Havermale in the Republican primary for mayor in March 2021, winning with 1,708 votes to 1,682 to Havermale. Then, on April 6, 2021, nearly 61 percent of the barely more than 6,000 people who voted chose Troup to be Quincy’s next mayor over Nora Baldner. 

Democrats held the position of mayor in Quincy from 1985 until 2013, when Republican Kyle Moore defeated the incumbent, Democrat John Spring. Moore eventually spent two terms in office before Troup replaced him.

Before becoming mayor, Troup was a small business owner for 22 years and spent 15 years as chief financial officer for several international companies.