SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) — History is being made in the City of Springfield.
For the first time, three African-Americans and three women are serving on the City Council.
“We have the most diverse City Council that we’ve ever had in the City of Springfield,” Frank McNeil, former alderperson said.
This moment is long overdue according to McNeil who served as one of the first African-American aldermen in 1988.
Allan Woodson also served as the other African American alderman during that time.
McNeil played a huge role in the Voting Rights Act lawsuit against the city in 1985 which changed the way government operates.
“Under section two of the Voting Rights Act, we didn’t feel African-Americans were fairly represented in the City of Springfield,” McNeil said. “In 1985 we filed a lawsuit against the City of Springfield to change the form of government.”
It’s a change that has finally paved the way for others.
“The whole point of filing the lawsuit is to give minorities or women an opportunity to serve and represent constituents of their community,” McNeil explained.
The first woman of color to serve on Springfield City Council was alderwoman Gail Simpson from 2007 to 2015 and then again in 2019.
Thereafter was former alderwoman Doris Turner and now it’s Lakeisha Purchase, who currently represents Ward five.
It’s a point in history that is particularly hitting home for those in the Springfield chapter of the NAACP.
“To have people on the city council who look like me, who understand the impact it has on the community from an equity lens is important,” the president of NAACP Teresa Haley said. “When you have 9 to 10 aldermen and two of them are black that’s not enough, but when you look at three blacks and three women, that shows a little improvement in terms of diversity.”
It’s an improvement that McNeil hopes will give minorities and women an opportunity to serve and represent constituents of their community.
“You have to look forward and be hopeful that one day an African-American can lead the city as the mayor of the City of Springfield,” said McNeil.
“Under section two of the Voting Rights Act, we didn’t feel African-Americans were fairly represented in the City of Springfield,” McNeil said. “In 1985 we filed a lawsuit against the City of Springfield to change the form of government.”
It’s a change that has finally paved the way for others.
“The whole point of filing the lawsuit is to give minorities or women an opportunity to serve and represent constituents of their community,” McNeil explained.
The first woman of color to serve on Springfield City Council was alderwoman Gail Simpson from 2007 to 2015 and then again in 2019.
Thereafter was former alderwoman Doris Turner and now it’s Lakeisha Purchase, who currently represents Ward five.
It’s a point in history that is particularly hitting home for those in the Springfield chapter of the NAACP.
“To have people on the city council who look like me, who understand the impact it has on the community from an equity lens is important,” the president of NAACP Teresa Haley said. “When you have 9 to 10 aldermen and two of them are black that’s not enough, but when you look at three blacks and three women, that shows a little improvement in terms of diversity.”
It’s an improvement that McNeil hopes will give minorities and women an opportunity to serve and represent constituents of their community.
“You have to look forward and be hopeful that one day an African-American can lead the city as the mayor of the City of Springfield,” said McNeil.
Source: newschannel20.com