Frank Edwards (Illinois politician)
Encyclopedia
Frank Edwards is the former Mayor of Springfield, Illinois, having been appointed by the Springfield
City Council
on December 28, 2010, to the vacancy caused by the death of Mayor Tim Davlin. He was succeeded by J. Michael Houston
on April 29, 2011.
Edwards has served as Alderman
for the city's first ward since 2003, and is presently seeking re-election to that office. Before becoming an elected official, Edwards served as Springfield's Fire Chief
.
, while in college, and attained the rank of Sergeant
, before earning an honorable discharge in 1975.
After earning an Education degree, from Eastern Illinois University
, Edwards worked as a special education
math teacher. Through the local park district, he also taught physical education
and swimming, at Southeast High School
. On a dare from his mother, who had seen a local newspaper notice for the firefighters exam, Frank took, and passed, the test. He would become, 26 years later (on February 23, 2001), the Chief
of the Springfield, Illinois fire department
.
, with 53% of the vote, in Springfield's first ward. He was unopposed for re-election in 2007. In addition to municipal government, Edwards also briefly sought the Republican
nomination for Governor of Illinois
in 2009, but withdrew before the primary.
On December 28, 2010, during a special City-Council meeting, called following the unexpected death of Mayor Tim Davlin, Edwards was chosen as mayor, by a 6 to 4 vote of the council. He subsequently resigned his position as Alderman (to serve as Mayor), but was reelected to that Ward 1 position.
In the April 5, 2011 general election, Edwards was elected to the Ward 1 City Council seat, garnering over 60% of the vote. His tenure as Mayor ended on April 29, 2011, when new municipal officers are sworn in.
service. They have one son.
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
on December 28, 2010, to the vacancy caused by the death of Mayor Tim Davlin. He was succeeded by J. Michael Houston
J. Michael Houston
J. Michael "Mike" Houston , is the current Mayor of Springfield, Illinois. He previously served as Springfield's mayor from 1979 to 1987.-Background:...
on April 29, 2011.
Edwards has served as Alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
for the city's first ward since 2003, and is presently seeking re-election to that office. Before becoming an elected official, Edwards served as Springfield's Fire Chief
Fire chief
Fire Chief is a top executive rank or commanding officer in a fire department, either elected or appointed...
.
Background
Frank Edwards was born in 1950. His mother was a nurse, and his father was a letter carrier, who would serve in World War II. Edwards himself served in the Illinois Air National GuardIllinois Air National Guard
The Illinois Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Illinois. It is, along with the Illinois Army National Guard, an element of the Illinois National Guard...
, while in college, and attained the rank of Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
, before earning an honorable discharge in 1975.
After earning an Education degree, from Eastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University is a state university located in Charleston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1895 as the Eastern Illinois State Normal School, a teacher's college offering a two-year degree, Eastern Illinois University gradually expanded into a comprehensive university with a...
, Edwards worked as a special education
Special education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
math teacher. Through the local park district, he also taught physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
and swimming, at Southeast High School
Southeast High School (Springfield, Illinois)
Springfield Southeast High School is a public high school located in Springfield, Illinois. Southeast is the youngest high school serving Springfield Public Schools District 186, the oldest and second oldest being Springfield High School and Lanphier High School respectively...
. On a dare from his mother, who had seen a local newspaper notice for the firefighters exam, Frank took, and passed, the test. He would become, 26 years later (on February 23, 2001), the Chief
Fire chief
Fire Chief is a top executive rank or commanding officer in a fire department, either elected or appointed...
of the Springfield, Illinois fire department
Fire department
A fire department or fire brigade is a public or private organization that provides fire protection for a certain jurisdiction, which typically is a municipality, county, or fire protection district...
.
Political activities
In 2003, Edwards was elected to the City CouncilCity council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
, with 53% of the vote, in Springfield's first ward. He was unopposed for re-election in 2007. In addition to municipal government, Edwards also briefly sought the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nomination for Governor of Illinois
Governor of Illinois
The Governor of Illinois is the chief executive of the State of Illinois and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by popular suffrage of residents of the state....
in 2009, but withdrew before the primary.
On December 28, 2010, during a special City-Council meeting, called following the unexpected death of Mayor Tim Davlin, Edwards was chosen as mayor, by a 6 to 4 vote of the council. He subsequently resigned his position as Alderman (to serve as Mayor), but was reelected to that Ward 1 position.
In the April 5, 2011 general election, Edwards was elected to the Ward 1 City Council seat, garnering over 60% of the vote. His tenure as Mayor ended on April 29, 2011, when new municipal officers are sworn in.
Personal
Mayor Edwards' wife, Cinda, is also an elected official, serving as a Trustee of the Illinois Community College Board. The Edwards' are co-owners of an auto body and weldingWelding
Welding is a fabrication or sculptural process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by causing coalescence. This is often done by melting the workpieces and adding a filler material to form a pool of molten material that cools to become a strong joint, with pressure sometimes...
service. They have one son.
External links
- Office of the Mayor. Official Springfield, Illinois municipal government website. Access January 5, 2010
- OurCampaigns profile, from 2010 Illinois Gubernatorial run. Accessed January 5, 2010.
- Springfield Welding and Autobody. Accessed January 5, 2010.