Tom Fagan believes that having the support of four members of the Board of Aldermen was instrumental in his election last week as Crestwood mayor.

Acting Mayor Richard Breeding of Ward 1, Ward 2 Alderman Tim Trueblood, Ward 2 Alderman Jim Kelleher and Ward 4 Alderman Pat Duwe supported Fagan in his bid for the mayoral seat in the Aug. 3 election.

“Without their help, there’s certainly no way I would have been able to win the election. Their support was instrumental I think in what we were able to accomplish in terms of campaigning, and I’m looking forward to working with all of the board members, not just the ones that supported me, but all of the people on the board to try to resolve some of our problems,” Fagan told the Call.

The Aug. 3 election pitted Fagan against Ward 2 Alderman Richard LaBore, who has been on the board since 1983; former Ward 3 Alderman Roy Robinson, who served on the board from 1988 to 1992; and political newcomer Peter John Mead.

Fagan received 2,202 votes — 47.08 percent, according to unofficial election results.

Robinson received 1,810 votes — 38.7 percent — LaBore garnered 590 votes — 12.61 percent — and Mead received 75 votes — 1.6 percent. Of the city’s 8,993 registered voters, 5,364 cast ballots — 59.65 percent.

This was Fagan’s first campaign for mayor.

Robinson twice ran unsuccessfully for mayor against the late Pat Killoren, while LaBore was defeated in his bid for the mayoral post in 2002 by former Ward 3 Alderman Jim Robertson, who announced his resignation as mayor Jan. 27.

Last week’s special election was conducted to fill the remainder of Robertson’s term, which expires in April.

An election for mayor now will take place in April and whoever is elected will serve a three-year term.

Fagan, 37, 8715 Red Oak, is an attorney with Wuestling & James. He and his wife, Kathy, have two children, ages 1½ and 10 weeks. Fagan has served as a Ward 4 alderman since 1993 and will appoint someone to serve in the Ward 4 aldermanic seat until the April election.

Fagan, who tentatively is scheduled to take the oath of office at the Tuesday, Aug. 24, Board of Aldermen meeting, said Saturday that he was pleased with the outcome of the election, and praised the hard work of his supporters.

Of the margin of victory, he said, “I was extremely pleased with the margin. I figured it would be a very close race with Mr. Robinson and Dr. LaBore. I figured it would be extremely close because it was well publicized, a lot of people were out working for all of the candidates, including Mr. Mead.

“Obviously, there were quite a few signs for Mr. Robinson and obviously quite a few signs for Dr. LaBore, so I am extremely happy with the margin and I attribute that to all of the people who helped me, their hard work. The people going door to door. The people who put up signs. The people who made phone calls. The people who donated money and especially Alderman Kelleher, he really did a lot of work.

“A lot of people who are pillars of the community were kind enough to tell their friends and family members, which made a big difference,” Fagan added.

During his campaign, Fagan emphasized that restoring the city’s financial health will have to be done incrementally and he reiterated that belief on Saturday.

“If people are looking for a quick fix and/or expecting major accomplishments in eight months, they are probably going to be disappointed because that’s unlikely,” he said. “Would I like it to happen? Certainly, but I don’t know that that’s realistic, especially on the revenue side.

“Now, let’s say for instance, a big-box retailer says they want to come to Crestwood and they’re willing to put up a store. We’re still not going to realize the revenues in that eight-month period of time. And we saw how long it took for Kohl’s and I’m hoping that no development ever takes that long again.” Fagan said.

“But it’s not something on the revenue side that can occur that quickly. What you have to do, I think, is put the policies in place and work hard. Even by working hard, there’s no guarantee of results, but you do put yourself in the position where you can succeed hopefully and I think that’s what I’m trying to accomplish in the next eight months,” he continued.

“I’m looking forward to working with the board and I think the board, at least a majority of them, share the same vision that I do and hopefully we can get some things done in eight months, but it is a long-term process,” Fagan said.

“I’m really looking forward to working with the department heads, the city administrator, the Board of Aldermen and the residents and the businesses, too,” he said, adding that he hopes to meet with business owners in the very near future “because it seems to me, not only do we want to attract new businesses, we want to make sure the business owners and business people who are here stay here … One of the things with the business owners is: ‘Hey, tell us what we’re doing correctly, but please also tell us what we’re not doing correctly.’ And if we can make some changes, we’d be happy to do those hopefully. We’re not going to be able to accommodate everybody … but if there are things we can do to help them succeed in business, I think the city administrator and I think the board and I know I will be receptive to those ideas.”

Fagan said he is committed to running for mayor in the April election.

“… Barring some unforeseen circumstance or circumstances, I committed to people who supported me that I would not just run this time and I will run in April,” he said. “… I’m hopeful the good people of Crestwood will re-elect me in April and I will be running again. I have every intention of doing that and if somebody else does decide to run against me, that’s obviously their prerogative and we’ll have a campaign on the issues and our side will be ready to work hard again.

Of his election victory, he said, “… I was fortunate enough to have a great organization behind me between the other aldermen, between people in the the community who know a lot of people, between my family and friends who helped me go door to door and some other people who are well versed in politics and operating a political campaign. It really was a well-organized effort. I wish I could take credit for it, (but) it’s because of other people’s efforts.”