Pledging “integrity, transparency, and honesty,” Jamie Goodwin recently amped up her campaign as an independent candidate for East Alton mayor in a direct challenge to incumbent Joe Silkwood, sparing no time in comparing herself favorably.
Emphasizing that she works in a full-time job that precludes her ability to go door-to-door soliciting votes, Goodwin said that while she “would love to be amongst the good people of East Alton,” her only spare time falls on weekends.
“However, unlike Joe, I work a full-time job not ... paid for by taxpayers,” she said.
She said Silkwood ought to be working at the village hall during work hours rather than “campaigning off of our tax dollars.”
"If I am elected mayor, I plan to establish open dialogue with the citizens, as well as opening up the books for the citizens to see exactly how their tax dollars are being spent,” she said.
Goodwin, who has a bachelor’s degree in political science from SIU-Edwardsville and an MBA from Webster University in Webster Groves, Missouri, was raised in a police family and has spent 15 years working in higher education.
“I also spent time as a staff senator at SIU-Edwardsville and even worked as a U.S. congressional Intern,” she said.
Goodwin has proven responsive to recent constituent comments via social media. Within an hour of reading one resident's concerns, she promised that as mayor she would see to improved street lighting and traffic enforcement
“Remember, this is your money that's being spent, and I take that very seriously," she said, referring to tax dollars.
Promising to address East Alton’s top priorities in the coming weeks, Goodwin encouraged residents to contact her via Facebook.
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