The Mount Vernon 2027 election is closer than most people realize.
Here’s what’s on the ballot:
- Mayor (currently Shawyn Patterson-Howard)
- Two City Council seats (currently held by Derrick Thompson and Jaevon Boxhill)
- Three Board of Education seats (currently held by Wanda White, Chris McDonough, and Donna Marable)
- One Library Board seat (currently held by Loretta Thomas)
Seven seats, four bodies, one city’s budget, schools, and accountability on the line.
Why Now?
In Mount Vernon, traditionally, the primary decides the election. This city is Democratic enough that whoever wins in June almost always wins in November too. And every cycle, candidates wait until a few months before that primary to show up — skipping the budget fights, the public comment periods, the votes, and commentary that actually reveal who they are.
We’re not waiting for that this time. Neither should you.
Mount Vernon has no shortage of residents who care about the city. What it needs is more of those residents willing to translate that care into a candidacy — or into supporting someone else’s campaign.
Considering a Run?
You don’t need to have spent years in politics to be a good candidate. Some of the most effective local officials are the ones who came to public service because they saw a problem up close: a school board decision that didn’t add up, a council vote that ignored public input, a gorgeous library run into the ground by grift and greed. If you’ve found yourself paying closer attention to city government because something didn’t sit right, that instinct is exactly what these offices need more of.
Good candidates share a few things in common: they’re willing to do the homework on budgets and policy, they’re willing to be accountable to the public rather than to insiders, and they’re willing to show up consistently — not just during campaign season.
If Not You, Who?
Not everyone is positioned to run for office themselves, and that’s fine. One of the most useful things you can do right now is think about who in your network would make a strong candidate — and encourage them to consider it. A single conversation is often what turns “maybe someday” into an actual campaign.
How to get involved
If you’re weighing a run for any of the available seats — or if you know someone who should be, reach out to us at mvcip.org. We’re tracking interest across all four offices and want to feature new entrants.
2027 will be here before Mount Vernon is ready for it, unless residents start preparing now. Let’s make sure the ballot is full of candidates who will actually serve the public’s interest.