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.

An Urbana City Council member running for mayor says she wants to strengthen ties between emergency personnel, saying it will make the community safer. Alderwoman Diane Marlin picked up the endorsement Monday of Urbana Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 70 and Urbana Firefighters Local 1147. “Anytime you have an organization - the more dialogue, communication, and collaboration you have among departments makes the city work better," she said.

Engineer and land surveyor Rex Bradfield is launching another campaign for the office of Urbana mayor. With three Democrats in the race, that means there will be a competitive general election for the office in April. Bradfield has twice lost to incumbent Laurel Prussing, in 2009 and 2013. He says Urbana city government needs to to more to lure business to the city, and says funds have been wasted on downtown projects like the Boneyard Creek beautification.