Josh Linville is in a contemplating mood. The young mayor of Dearborn is trying to decide whether he’ll seek another term in office.
Linville, 26, has served as mayor the past one and a half years. He was appointed in July of 2004 after the resignation of Delba McAuley. Then last April, Linville was elected to fill the remaining year of that unexpired term. Now, this coming city election will feature a full two-year term of mayor up for grabs, so it’s decision time for Linville.
He says he isn’t yet ready to make an announcement.
“I want to get through the Christmas season, talk to Angela (his wife) a little bit and go from there,” Linville told The Landmark this week.
The mayor did seem to tip his hand later in the conversation.
“The more I talk to Angela, the more I lean toward running. It has taken this long just to get used to everything (in the role of being mayor). I do feel a sense of obligation,” he remarked.
Linville has presided over some active alderman meetings in his time in the big chair. The city recently underwent a state audit, which found no criminal wrongdoing but did result in recommendations on how service and finances could be better managed. Also, longtime city clerk Susan Crowley resigned earlier this year and the city is already on its second clerk since that time, having just hired Cynthia Adkison to fill the position.
Linville has been an attendee at many Platte County Republican events over the past couple of years and is viewed as a possible candidate for county office in the future by many political observers.
In addition to the mayor’s post, Dearborn aldermen seats currently held by Donald Swanstone, Jr. and Bill Edwards are up for grabs in April.