Metro East Sun

Trustee Patrick McRae will return to the Wood River Township board, but he said his re-election victory wasn't about him.

“Tonight was a big win for taxpayers,” McRae told the Metro East Sun on Tuesday. “Four short years ago, I was truly humbled to be elected as township trustee. Today, I was not only elected, but earned more votes than each of the eight candidates in the race.”

McRae gained 1,963 votes, or 16 percent of all votes cast. Fellow incumbent Linda Hoffman came in second with 100 fewer votes than McRae. 
They were joined by another incumbent, Scott Dodson, and newcomer Greg Withers. A total of eight candidates vied for the four open seats.

“I think we’re going to get a lot accomplished,” McRae said.

McRae has been a strong opponent of tax increases. He was the only trustee to vote against an 8 percent pay raise for board members and voted against all tax hikes.

“Without me, taxpayers lose a lot of oversight," McRae said in a previous interview with the Metro East Sun. "Good government is about knowing how and being willing to take a hard-line stance on important issues."

The lifelong township resident has vowed to continue defending taxpayer dollars.

“This shows that residents of Wood River Township agree with my mission,” McRae said. “I'm proud to say that I've kept my promises to taxpayers. I've never voted for a tax increase, opposed pay raises for elected officials and have treated the township's checkbook as if it were my own.”

McRae thanked his family, friends and voters for their support and said he was excited to begin his next term.