EAST ST. LOUIS  — City Councilman Charles Powell III was elected mayor Tuesday, ousting one-term Mayor Robert Eastern III.
Final unofficial returns showed Powell with 2,097 votes, or about 45%, and Eastern with 1,734, or 37%.
Finishing in third place was Marie Franklin, a community organizer, who got 841 votes, or about 18%.
Progressive Democrats won three of four battleground races for alderman Tuesday, clearing the way for more policy aimed at fighting crime with social services, tackling racial inequities and lifting up the poor.
Mayors in Bellefontaine Neighbors and Jennings lost their re-election bids.
Mehlville voters approved a tax hike to boost teacher salaries. In Jefferson County, voters approved bond measures for projects in four school districts.