Incumbent Laurel Prussing defeated candidate Les Stratton in the Urbana Democratic mayoral primary on Tuesday with 65 percent of the vote. Prussing will move on to the mayoral election April 9 to face Republican Rex Bradfield in her third race as the Democratic candidate. 

“I am very happy, and I appreciate the people that actually turned out to vote,” she said.

Champaign County Clerk Gordy Hulten said voter turnout was significantly lower than expected, possibly because of the rain and snow throughout the day. By the end of the day, only 9.7 percent of registered voters, or 1,994 people, voted. 

“I’m not sure why,” he said. “It may have been the weather. It may have been a number of different things.” 

Les Stratton said he was disappointed with the low voter turnout as he had gone door-to-door the day before to encourage residents to vote. 

“I was thinking it would have been a lot closer,” he said. “I ran a good campaign, a clean campaign. It was strictly (focused) on the issues, and it was up to voters to come out, and essentially, it was a referendum for voters to decide how we spend money.”

While he does not plan to run again for public office, Stratton said he would continue to address the public safety needs in the Lierman neighborhood, known for being a high-crime area, in any way the community needs him. 

“I’m 62, and I am not interested in making a career out of politics,” he said. “I made my attempt to help the Urbana community, and I was defeated. I can live with that.” 

Although Prussing said she was happy with her win, she said she is now shifting her focus to these next six weeks of campaigning.

“I feel very tired,” she said. “You wonder how people do it for president. I started collecting signatures in November. … It’s pretty intense.” 

Redevelopment of the Urbana Landmark Hotel swayed Urbana resident Carrie May-Borich to support Prussing. 

“My mom worked on that hotel a long time ago when it was a beautiful hotel,” she said. “I’d really like to see it come back to life.” 

In the race for city clerk, incumbent Phyllis Clark defeated Robert Michael Gatsche with 77 percent of the vote. 

Urbana resident Brenda Lynge said she voted for Clark because of her experience as city clerk. 

“I watched a debate with her and her opponent, and she was much more knowledgeable,” she said.

Corinne can be reached at [email protected].