Three new elected officials will take office on Monday, May 12 during the Rock Island City Council meeting at 6:45 p.m. Ashley Harris will be sworn in as mayor, Glen Evans as First Ward alderperson and Linda Barnes as Third Ward alderperson, a news release says.
Harris is a Rock Island native and graduate of Rock Island High School. He served in the U.S. Army for four years, fulfilling his tour of duty in Germany. He has been employed as a machinist at John Deere for 22 years and is a member of the UAW. He served on the board of Community Caring Conference before taking a position with CCC as an organizer for four years until 2024, while keeping his full-time job.
“I look forward to proving myself as a true public servant and tapping into the momentum begun by Mayor Mike Thoms,” Harris said. “I want to ensure a smooth transition and continue to work on projects and plans already in place and address our most pressing issues.”
Evans is an ordained minister with Wings of Faith Ministries and associate minister with Destiny Baptist Church. He also is a member of Laborer’s Local 309, serving as auditor from 2016 to 2018. He has served as second vice chairman and chairman of the Rock Island County Republican Party, as a volunteer with Community Caring Conference, managed religious affairs for the Rock Island County NAACP, was former chairman of the Quad Cities Youth Conference, and is a community activist.
Barnes is a longtime resident of Rock Island and has actively served the community as treasurer for the Rock Island County NAACP and as a member of Quad Cities Illinois Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. She has a bachelor’s degree in elected studies from St. Ambrose University and a master’s degree in public administration.
Barnes retired after 22 years in the city’s Finance Department. She began her career with the city in February 2001 as a fiscal technician and was named finance director in 2021.