Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – White and connected beats Black and qualified. That’s what citizen Breonna Roberts told the mayor at the last city council meeting.

Roberts says the new alderman for Ward One should be Frank McNeil instead of Jeff Cox. Roberts says Springfield is following the Trump administration.

“This is not about just one appointment,” Roberts said at the public comment microphone. “It’s about a larger, deliberate effort to erase diversity, equity, and includion from the government. It’s not going to be beneficial to Springfield local government if we don’t do what we can to enforce our own DEI practices.”

Mayor Misty Buscher defends her process. “I did interview all the applicants,” she told WTAX News after the meeting. “I asked them questions and based my decision on the same questions. I made my decision based on how those questions were answered.”

When reminded of Roberts’ accusations, the mayor snapped, “She wasn’t in the interview!”

Roberts said a Black person – in this case the former alderman McNeil – needs to be four times as qualified to get the same consideration as a white person such as Cox. The council is expected to take a final vote on the Cox appointment next week.

There is a vacancy because Chuck Redpath resigned from the council. Redpath is now city clerk.