Urbana’s Republican candidate for mayor says he made an honest mistake when he cast a ballot in this week’s Democratic Mayoral primary. Rex Bradfield says he thought signing the form provided by election judges on Tuesday only confirmed his identity, and not that he was affiliated with the Democratic Party. "It never occurred to me that I was putting myself in a position of perjuring myself," he said.

For the first time since 2005, Urbana will have a new mayor. Alderwoman Diane Marlin bested incumbent Mayor Laurel Prussing by more than 900 votes in Tuesday’s Democratic primary – and she’ll take on Republican Rex Bradfield in the April 4th election. Marlin maintained the early lead she held through early voting, finishing with an unofficial total of 2,427 votes. Prussing had 1,510, while Evelyn Burnette Underwood finished third with 316.

The polls are open from 6 AM until 7 PM in Urbana Tuesday, as voters choose a Democratic nominee for mayor in a primary election.

Urbana voters are choosing from incumbent Urbana Mayor Laurel Prussing, who seeking a fourth term, and two challengers: Alderwoman Diane Marlin and the Reverend Evelyn Burnett Underwood. The winner faces Republican Rex Bradfield in the April 4th election.

Evelyn Burnett Underwood has been attending Urbana City Council meetings for years. But now, she’d like to do so as the city’s mayor. Underwood is one of three candidates ---- along with Ald. Diane Marlin and incumbent Laurel Prussing --- seeking the Democratic nomination for mayor in Urbana.

After two terms as a member of the Urbana City Council, Diane Marlin is promising a new direction for city government, if voters choose her as their next mayor.