Urbana Mayor Laurel Prussing defeated in primary

Alderman Diane Marlin unseated incumbent Laurel Prussing in the Democratic primary for Urbana mayor.

The+mayoral+debate+for+Urbana+that+took+place+at+the+Urbana+City+Council+Chambers+on+Jan.+30.+Marlin+will+be+the+next+mayor+of+Urbana%2C+defeating+Rex+Bradfield+with+86.25+percent+of+the+vote.+

Jessica Jutzi

The mayoral debate for Urbana that took place at the Urbana City Council Chambers on Jan. 30. Marlin will be the next mayor of Urbana, defeating Rex Bradfield with 86.25 percent of the vote.

By Angelica LaVito, Staff Writer

Diane Marlin defeated incumbent Laurel Prussing in the Democratic primary election for Urbana mayor.

Marlin, who has served as an alderman since 2009, won 57 percent of the vote.

Prussing, who has served as mayor since 2005, won 36 percent of the vote. Evelyn Burnett Underwood, associate pastor of New Free Will Baptist Church, won 7 percent of the vote.

Of 26,862 eligible voters, 4,254, or 16 percent, cast their ballots Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the Champaign County Clerk Office.

Prussing conceded to Marlin last night and thanked her supporters on Facebook once the results were in.

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“I want to thank all of my supporters and congratulate Diane Marlin on her victory in the primary tonight,” Prussing wrote. “I enjoyed my time as mayor and look forward to continuing to work as a private citizen for sustainable 9-1-1 funding and to keep the Police Training Institute at the University of Illinois.”

Marlin will now face Republican candidate Rex Bradfield in the April 4 general election.

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