Upset in Crestwood with Schlink Over Robinson for Mayor

With all the St. Louis County ballots counted by 10:30pm Tuesday, Crestwood Alderman Jeff Schlink beat incumbent Roy Robinson in the race for Crestwood mayor. Robinson, 68, was looking for a third, 3-year term.

Schlink, a first term alderman, won 65.08  percent of the vote to Robinson's 34.7 percent. That's 1,838 votes for Schlink and 980 for Robinson, according to county officials.

Schlink, 41, said he was buoyed by voter turnout, which tallied up to 30 percent, painting it as a "landslide." He beat Robinson nearly 2 to 1.

"We felt pretty good going into this," Schlink said afterward, "because it was local support. I think it's going to be very, very positive for Crestwood."

Much of Robinson's support came from outside the city in the way of funding—firefighter unions, insurance companies and others. Schlink said he spent about a third of the amount his opponent reported spending on the campaign.

Looking ahead, Schlink said he will still enter the Board of Aldermen meeting by the front door, where he can pause to talk to residents or others who attend the meeting, even though there is the back door private entrance. He said he's also giving up the reserved parking spot for mayor by taking the sign down. 

Schlink's mother came down from Peoria, IL for Election Day, he said, and when he won, she presented him with a gavel her father used as president of the Chamber of Commerce there.

"It was very special," Schlink said. He is just finishing his second year on the board. He said he would recommend to the board a candidate to fill his seat as he moves over to mayor.

"I don't know who that will be yet," Schlink said Tuesday night. Overall, he's taking it one step at a time.

"I'm thrilled. It's exciting. Hopefully residents will be happy with what I do," Schlink said.

Seven of seven precincts were counted by 9:50pm Tuesday.