Rock Hill Mayor-elect Edward Mahan said he's the right person to bring a "team mentality" to the Rock Hill Board of Aldermen.

"There's been dissension (on the board) for awhile and that's not what I think small government should be about," Mahan said. "If you have the right person leading the team, I think the team will get on board and try to work together.

"We'll not always agree; hopefully, we can agree more than we disagree," Mahan said. "We have to put our personal agendas aside and do what is best for Rock Hill."

Mahan, 49, ran unopposed in the April 8 election. On May 6, he will be sworn in as mayor, replacing Daniel DiPlacido who did not seek re-election. Mahan has been a Ward 2 alderman since 2008 when he ran at the urging of then-mayor Julie Morgan.

The youngest of five siblings, the lifelong resident hasn't wandered far from his childhood home in Crestvale Subdivision. Twelve years ago, he and one of his sisters moved in the house next door to his parents on Barcia Drive.

"I love the neighborhood," Mahan said. He also loves the city.

"Rock Hill is not too small and not too large. Granted, I don't have a family, but it is a great place to raise one. Everything is right here," he said.

The 1983 Webster Groves High School graduate has an associate degree in funeral services education from St. Louis Community College and a B.S. in business administration with an emphasis in management from Webster University. He has worked at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis for 29 years, starting his career there as a pathology assistant.

"I worked in the lab for 22 years and then decided to move into human resources. That's what I do now – a human resource manager," he said.

Since he was a child, Mahan wanted to be a mortician. He fulfills that dream by working part-time as needed at Yandell Mortuary in Webster Groves.

In addition to his work at Mercy and Yandell, Mahan is active in his community. For three years he served as president of the Crestvale Neighborhood Association. He's also been active in New Northside Missionary Baptist Church for more than 48 years and is a church trustee. He's been part of the church's choirs "basically all my life."

"I'm the type of person that if I can make a difference, then I try to get involved," he said. "Hopefully, it's a good difference."

Mahan said he had been thinking about making a run for the mayor's seat for several years.

"Seeing the way things have been going on the board, I thought this was the perfect time to throw my name in the ring for mayor," he said.

He had assumed he would be challenging Mayor DiPlacido in the April 8 mayoral race.

Mahan said he brings the knowledge and insight he's gained as aldermen for six years into the mayor's position. He also cited his leadership qualities.

"One of my strengths is the ability to bring people together, to encourage them to work together," Mahan said.

As mayor, Mahan promises to be transparent. "I have no need to try to hide anything," he said.

Goals

As mayor-elect, Mahan expressed one main goal.

"I would like to make sure we get a City Hall and fire station and get everybody back under one roof," Mahan said. He recalled the days when City Hall included the fire department, police station and library under one roof on Manchester Road.

"We made some mistakes and we need to fix things and make it right for the residents of Rock Hill," he said. Failed plans to build a new City Hall have resulted in temporary fixes.

"We need to do permanent fixes," Mahan said. "My hope is that with all the businesses coming into Rock Hill enough revenue will be generated so we won't have to go to the residents to support a huge bond issue (for a permanent City Hall)."

Mahan commended fire department personnel.

"We have got to get those guys out of that temporary structure," Mahan said. "They have been very patient and understanding."

As far as issues facing Rock Hill, Mahan said a year-and-a-half ago the priority would have been to attract new revenues to the city. Now with CVS Pharmacy opening soon, plans for Lucky's grocery store at Market at McKnight, construction of EZ Storage and the possibility of other businesses coming into the city, Mahan is optimistic.

"They will only increase the tax dollars we have coming in and we'll be in a better (financial) situation," Mahan said. "Not that we're strapped (for cash) right now, but we're trying to maintain and I think our city administrator and assistant city administrator are doing a fabulous job keeping us on track. We're in a much better place today than we were 10 years ago."

Mahan apologized to Mueck Terrace residents for the delays in completing the street work there. The holdup has been due to the weather, MSD and other utilities.

"My hope is that everything is in order and we will have it completed by the end of the month" he said.

Mahan expressed appreciation for the support of Ward 2 residents and residents at large for their trust in him as alderman and now as mayor.