East St. Louis is in for a fresh start, according to newly-elected Mayor Emeka Jackson-Hicks.

Like many other East St. Louis political candidates over the years, newly elected Mayor Emeka Jackson-Hicks promised a “fresh start” for the beleaguered city during her campaign for office.

“Its time to put aside the political posturing in East St. Louis and come together to focus on helping people rise again in East St. Louis,” said Jackson-Hicks in a campaign statement. “It is time to be proactive and to execute long-term solutions to the problems in East St. Louis. We need a new vision for East St. Louis that is accountable and transparent to the citizens of East St. Louis and who will implement a plan to create jobs, economic development, address public safety issues and improve the quality of life for you.”

While East St. Louisans may have heard much of that before, supporters believe Jackson-Hicks – a wife and mother with an accounting degree, substantial administrative experience, and a strong political background – may just be the person to pull it off.

Jackson-Hicks took office May 11 after defeating incumbent Alvin Parks Jr. and challenger Courtney Hoffman in the city’s April 7 elections.

Following the inauguration, she again pledged to make economic development, public safety and public engagement top priorities; announcing she would conduct a 100-day assessment of city operations with an eye toward greater performance and efficiency. She then plans to issue more detailed proposals for the city. Implied in her announcement was a commitment to take on entrenched powers within the city and across St. Clair County.

To do that, Mayor Jackson-Hicks would need substantial political support – which she apparently has. In a rare move to support a local candidate, Sen. Dick Durbin – who as Senate Minority Whip is the Senate’s second highest ranking Democrat — issued a high-profile personal endorsement.

The new mayor is the daughter of state Rep. Eddie Lee Jackson (D-East St. Louis). Supporters also include members of the East St. Louis Business Development Chamber of Commerce.

Jackson-Hicks received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Illinois-Champaign Urbana and holds an M.A. in professional counseling from Lindenwood University. She is a compliance tech with Illinois Capital Development Board, charged with overseeing projects across a nearly 50-county area of Southern Illinois. She has served five years on the East St. Louis City Council. Supporters also note show is an East St. Louis native, who receive all her pre-college education in the city.

“East St. Louis needs a pragmatic approach to governing that will give our residents confidence in knowing that their government will take care of basic needs such as public safety, affordable housing, clean neighborhoods and job creation,” Jaskson-Hicks declared in a campaign statement. “I will bring transparency, accountability and implementation to city government. My approach is practical, with citizens at the center.”

Mayor Jackson-Hicks says her comprehensive review of city departments will focus on the adequacy training and equipment provided to city employees – including law enforcement officers – as well as ensure the funding and staffing of agencies are appropriate to the city’s size.

Once the fourth largest city in Illinois, East St. Louis, as of the 2010 census, had a population 27,006, – down from a peak of 82,366 in 1950. Charges of cronyism, nepotism and bloated city payrolls have circulated for years.

“Examining the city’s budget will be paramount,” Jackson-Hicks emphasized in a campaign statement.

Police, fire and emergency services will draw particular attention, according to the new mayor’s campaign statements. East St. Louis, along with Alorton, Brooklin and Washington Park, is under the jurisdition of the Metro-East Police District, which was created in 2013 to oversee and provide resources of law enforcment in those cities. The district was established under state law following alligations of illegal activity and midhandling of evidence of officers. Until recently officers in the municipalities had received or procedure manuals and, often, little training, according to the district.

Assuance of reliable, professional public services will be key to attracting investors and new business to the city, Jackson-Hicks believes.

Over the decades, East St. Louis has seen a succession of high profile initiatives – including the Model Cities program, Concentrated Employment Program, Operation Breakthrough – designed to enhance job creation and ensure a supply of well-trained workers. However, businesses have continued to flee the city and the city’s employment rate stood at 10.6 percent in February 2015; among the highest in the state. The Casino Queen, three decades ago envisioned as the economic salvation of the city, has similalry not spurred the economic boon than supporters hoped for.

Jackson-Hicks has repeatedly called for a shift in emphasis from “jobs” to “careers,” suggesting the city’s pefforts have too often focused on creation of low-wage, entry-level positions.

To encourge greater citizen engagement, Jackson-Hicks plans to develop ties with existing community organizations, establish “block units” and meet regularly with both. To increase governmental transparency, she plans to begin television city council meetings.

“I will complete a ‘Social Contract’ indicating that the citizens and I will be responsible to each other,” she said in her campaign statement earlier this year.

Jackson-Hicks has already taken on some well-established political interests. She won election after challenging nominating petitions filed by Parks; forcing the incumbent to run as a write-in candidate. Although attorneys for Jackson-Hicks demonstrated Parks had failed to submit the required number of valid signatures on the petitions, the East St. Louis Board of Elections refused to strike Parks’ name from the ballot; saying he had made a “good faith effort” to gather the apppropriate signatures. The election board’s ruling was then upheld by a St. Clair County Circuit Court judge. Parks’ name was only removed from the ballot after Jackson-Hicks took the case to the Illinois Court of Appeals.

As a council woman, Jackson-Hicks introduced legislation to limit hours at the city nightclubs, after Parks proposed to expand them.

Recently Jackson-Hicks has indicated she intends to crack down on the absentee owners of derelict properties in the city – some whom are reportedly based as far away as Florida.

East St. Louis’ new mayor faces no shortage of challenges. Tax revenues from the Casino Queen, the city’ single biggest revenue source, continue to decline sharply as the result a downturn in business. The city’s largest supermarket this month closed. The town remains without a hospital.

Jackson-Hicks, meanwhile suffered a personal loss during the campaign, as one of her four children died from injuries sustained in a fall at a local bowling alley. She told supporters she would nevetheless continue her bid for office, noting that East St. Louisans are not stangers to adversity.