In Urbana mayoral primary, DeShawn Williams sees ‘window of opportunity’

DeShawn Williams sits in front of a brick wall.
DeShawn Williams says he would bring "proven leadership" to the position of mayor of Urbana.

URBANA — DeShawn Williams announced his campaign for mayor of Urbana in 2022. Williams is Champaign County’s Chief Deputy Treasurer as well as a former county board member and Assistant Vice President at Busey Bank.

Several elected officials have endorsed Williams, including Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen and multiple Urbana City Council members.

Williams says he will bring “proven leadership” to city governance and if voters elect him, he would be prepared to foster economic development, reinforce public safety and capitalize on the city’s diverse population. 

Ahead of the primary election on Feb. 25, IPM’s Arjun Thakkar spoke with Williams about his reasons for running and his vision for Urbana.

This interview has been edited for clarity and conciseness. IPM also interviewed Williams’ opponent in the Democratic primary, Annie Adams.

THAKKAR: Do you want to first just take a moment to tell us a little bit about yourself and your background? 

WILLIAMS: Sure. Yeah. So, Deshawn Williams, a candidate for mayor for the city of Urbana. I am a husband. My wife, Tracy, and I have been married now for 11 years, which has been an amazing journey here thus far. I’m a father of two beautiful children. I have a nine-year-old son, Austin and a five-year-old daughter, Skylar. My current role, I am actually the Chief Deputy Treasurer for Champaign County. And, you know, just, obviously, just a community member, you know. And you know, I am business owner, family member, friend Uncle, you know, friend, cousin, all of the above. So excited to be here.   

THAKKAR: Back in 2022, I believe it was, you announced you were running for mayor of Urbana. Can you kind of just, you know, tell us why you decided, then, to begin running for mayor, and what’s driving you?  

WILLIAMS: Sure. That’s a great question. Yeah, I announced December 15, 2022 and, you know, looking back, it’s amazing to think that, you know, here we are, you know, with a few weeks left,  for the primary. But I remember when I announced, you know, folks thought I was crazy for announcing, you know, two years out, you know, but I said that there was, there was a reason behind that, right? I wanted to take the time, you know, to really build the foundation, you know, of my support base, you know, I didn’t want people to support me based off of them, you know, having thought that I was aligned with a party, necessarily, or, you know, even, you know, a group of people, right? I wanted people to have an opportunity to get to know the man, to get to know me as a as a husband, a father, a community leader, you know. And I just, I said that I wanted to take the time to meet with as many people, you know, in the city of Urbana as possible, so that I could earn their support. And I think that’s, you know, it’s proven to have been, you know, probably one of the best decisions, you know, I’ve made up to this point. 

THAKKAR: What do you think are the greatest challenges that Urbana faces in the city’s future? 

WILLIAMS: You know, we have a unique opportunity ahead of us, right? I will, you know, give credit to, you know, to the previous administration, you know, for the things that they’ve, you know, accomplished and whatnot over the last eight years here. But you know, I think that there’s a window of opportunity for, you know, for for growth, you know, you know, as far as just economic development standpoint, we’ve seen a significant, you know, decrease in businesses and whatnot over the last couple of years. On Philo Road in particular, I know that the the business district, you know, downtown Urbana, they are, they are yearning, you know, for for a boost, you know. And I think that you know my history and my you know previous work. You know history and career. You know, throughout within the banking world, I know what it takes to not only help get a business up and running, but to ensure that they grow and sustain, throughout their journey, you know. So I think that’s those are two really strong, you know, issues that we have, you know, ahead of us and I feel as though I’m the right person you know to tackle those, you know they want, right? So, you know, that’s the thing. And there’s also, you know, been some issues just in regards to people’s you know, thoughts around public safety, right? And that’s something that I absolutely, you know, I’m excited to get into, right? You know, I’ve made a conscious effort to build a relationship with our new police chief over the last year and some odd months that he’s, you know, he’s been here, and we’ve had, you know, some very in-depth conversations, right? And understanding that we all want the same thing. We may just differ on how we get there, you know, but I am encouraged that, you know, he’s been open to my ideas and I’ve been open to his ideas, right? And I, I think that he and I walking side by side into some of our most vulnerable communities is going to be one of the winning solutions, you know, to the things that we do moving forward.  

THAKKAR: I wanted to return a little bit you mentioned your background, you know, as Chief Deputy Treasurer for Champaign County, and also a background in banking, a former county board member. Just wanted to ask, what would you bring from your experience in those and other roles to the position of mayor? 

WILLIAMS: Sure, you know, proven leadership, right? Proven leadership in having been successful in those spaces. You know, I tell folks all the time that I have been responsible for, for helping fund and bring some of our most favorite restaurants And, you know, businesses within the community, both Urbana, Champaign and Savoy, right? So again, I have the proven, you know, work to attest that, okay, DeShawn knows how to grow business. He knows how to, you know, help develop in the economic development, you know, space, you know. And along with that, you know, as far as just my time within the banking world, you know, I, most recently, I was vice president of one of the largest institutions in the state, and that allowed for me to, you know, hone in on my leadership skills, right? I oversaw multiple branches with large staff, right? So, you know, I understand what it means to not only encourage, you know folks who are working with you and under you and things of that nature, but to help hone in on their strengths, right, to ensure that they have an opportunity to grow and develop. Right? I am of the belief that you know, if you take care of what’s happening internally, that that’s going to automatically spiral out an outward appearance of folks being excited and encouraged to be at work and to grow and develop, and they’ll be willing to follow you to the end of the road. 

THAKKAR: Let’s talk about individual issues. We can first start with talking about housing, reading directly from Imagine Urbana, which is the draft comprehensive plan for the city. It states that the city “needs more housing of all types and at all price points.” What would you do to expand housing options? 

WILLIAMS: Sure. So here’s the thing you know, housing has definitely been a strong subject, right? You know, affordable housing is the thing that you know. Everyone loves to mention you know, around that you know, and I’ve said, you know, continuously, we need to get to a space where we’re understanding what affordable housing affordable housing even means. You know, in the city of Urbana specifically, right? Typically, it’s, it’s referenced as, you know, being no more than 30% of a household’s income, right? But, you know, we have to then turn around and say, and ask, what does that mean for the folks who are, you know, without jobs and things of that nature, right? So it’s a broad scale, right? And I’ve said this time and time again, it’s not a one size fits all. So, you know, understanding that I want to, you know, put a lot of emphasis on understanding that two thirds of the housing in the city is rental, right? So I want to get to a space where we are also understanding for as far as affordable housing and things of that nature is concerned, we need to focus in as well as rentals. We need to focus in on home ownership, right and ensuring that that’s affordable, you know, for folks as well. You know, in regards to the development of new housing, I am absolutely for it. You know, as long as we are ensuring that it’s being done in the proper zones, spaces, right? That, you know, we have a lot of open and vacant lots that you know, that we can build on. Right? For me, I would want to ensure that we are not compromising the integrity of our historical neighborhoods and things of that nature, right? And in the process of all of this, as we are developing and growing housing and things of that nature, we need to make sure that we are involving the community members. That is going to be my top priority, is ensuring that we are involving community members, because again, at the end of the day, they are the experts of these neighborhoods.  

THAKKAR: In terms of public safety, the Urbana Police Department, as you know, has spoken about staffing and retention challenges. In the past, the department has asked for funding to hire more office officers, but I know that’s at times drawn pushback from some residents. How do you think the city should navigate that difference of opinions on, you know, policing and public safety?  

WILLIAMS: Sure, that’s a great question. Listen, I’ve had multiple conversations, again, with our chief, one of the things that you know, that I recommended to him, you know, was, hey, let’s hire the minimum amount that’s needed to ensure that we protect our community, right? That’s the that’s the core that we need to do. We need to ensure that we are protecting our community right? And then we can assess the results of the alternative response models, right? The alternative Task Force, which I know is, you know, you probably are aware of, right? We can assess the results of the, you know, alternative Task Force, and then come back to evaluate the results of those. And then we can incrementally increase, you know, our staff. You know, if that’s what’s necessary. We can do what’s needed to, you know, to continue to grow both our staffing, as well as the needs of the community. You know, I think that, you know, one of the things that I’ve heard from, you know, from a lot of people, as I have had these discussions in the past, is folks just want to be made aware of what’s going on, right? And, you know, for me, I think that, you know, while we are focused on the staffing model, you know, as mayor, it’s very important that I ensure that all of our departments are properly staffed. But in regards to the the police department in particular, I want to also just stress that we’re not unique in the fact that we’re understaffed. That’s a nationwide issue, right? So I think for me, I would like to see us work alongside them. You know, the work alongside the police department to get into these neighborhoods, to ensure that we are changing the hearts and the minds of folks so that they’re not in a space where they have to commit a crime. I think once we really, truly get to the root cause, everything else will take care of itself. But I am absolutely going to ensure that we’re not handicapped in that sense of being completely understaffed. 

THAKKAR: As you know, Urbana conducted a partial special census to correct issues from the 2020 population count, and that comes as the city appears to be growing more diverse. How do you think the city should respond to the results of that updated census, to respond and serve its increasingly diverse population? 

WILLIAMS: Sure, you know, it’s, it’s going to go back to, you know, kind of, one of the things that we were talking about right as far as the housing and things of that nature is concerned. Yes, there will absolutely need to be, you know, a, you know, an outlook on how we can go about growing, you know, as our housing spaces are concerned, but again, that goes back to ensuring that we are properly zoned so that we can do these things, without again, compromising the current neighborhoods and whatnot. You know, as far as the the, you know, the growth is concerned with the census in particular, I’m excited about the new numbers coming in. You know, I’m excited about the growth because that opens the door for us to be able to ensure that we are receiving more federal funding, considering what has taken place over the last few weeks, couple weeks. But, you know, that opens the door for us to ensure that we are receiving, you know, more funding opportunities and more opportunities to continue to grow and expand, as we need to be.   

THAKKAR: We spoke about this a little bit earlier, but just wanted to return to your thoughts on Urbana’s current officials, from Mayor [Diane] Marlin, to [City Adminstrator Carol] Mitten, [Urbana Police Chief Larry] Boone, and the city council members. How would you rate their performance? And is there anything that you think the city and its officials could be doing better? 

WILLIAMS: Sure, that’s a great question. It’s almost, it’s almost a trick question, I feel like, but No, I’m joking. You know, listen, I feel as though that they’ve done, they’ve done a great job, in the sense that they’ve done what they needed to do with the hands that they’ve been dealt, right? Do I feel as though that there are opportunities that have been missed, absolutely. Do I feel that they’re, you know, they’ve, you know, missed some opportunities with, you know, with community and engagement and whatnot, yes, you know. But I also feel, you know, I know that you know Mayor Marlin in particular, you know she, she was dealt a hand with COVID, you know, and the pandemic, right? So I can only imagine, you know, some of the stresses that she, you know, had dealt with, you know, in that time, you know, again, there’s just, there’s opportunities, there’s always room for growth. You know, in that space. In regards to our police chief, you know, I’ve, I feel as though he hasn’t had enough time to really, you know, impact and do the things that he’s wanting to do. So I’m looking forward to, you know, to working alongside him, to, you know, to see some of those you know, visions come to life, you know. And you know, I’m looking forward to collaborating with him. But you know, in regards to the to the administration as a whole, I feel as though, you know, they did what they can. You know, they did their very best at you know, their job at hand. For me, we are running because we feel that we can bring something, something new. We feel as though we can bring a new perspective. We feel as though we have a strong vision, you know, ahead of us, and it’s, it’s going to be exciting, you know, as we, as we continue to move forward. 

THAKKAR: You spoke a little bit about, you know, fostering development. And not just Urbana, but some of the neighboring communities. I just wanted to ask about, if you have any ideas for how Urbana, as well as, you know, Champaign, Savoy Rantoul, other neighboring communities, how they can work together for the purpose of economic development? 

WILLIAMS: Absolutely. Listen, we sit right in the middle of, you know, one of the biggest universities in the state, right? I feel as though there’s a tremendous opportunity, you know, for us to collaborate and, you know, and grow, our twin cities, you know, in particular, right? I’ve been blessed to have built a really strong relationship with our Champaign mayor, and honestly, I’m looking forward to working alongside, you know, her in particular. I think that they’ve, you know, they’ve done some really amazing things, you know, as they continue to grow and prosper. And I’m looking forward to, you know, to us joining forces and ensuring that we bring some of that to, you know, to the city of Urbana. You know, just and then that ranges from, you know, just the the street festivals to, you know, some of the the outdoor events and things of that nature that we see, bringing a lot of traffic, you know, to. Forward to downtown, Champaign, downtown, even Savoy is developing like crazy, you know. And for me, I’m going to ensure that the city of Urbana isn’t left behind in that regard. So I’m looking forward to collaborations. I’m looking forward to working alongside folks, other city governments, other city officials, to ensure that we are. We’re right there at the table. 

THAKKAR: Taking a step back and looking at the statewide level, as you like me, know, Illinois is facing a $3 billion deficit. What do you think Urbana is looking for in terms of support from the state and state lawmakers in Springfield while the state is confronting that major challenge? 

WILLIAMS: Sure, sure. Listen, I have a tremendous amount of respect, and I believe in our governor. I am encouraged by, you know, his leadership, and I know that you know between him and our state legislators that they will continue to fight for our state. So you know, for me, I have full confidence that, you know, they will continue to fight, and that we will, you know, that we will see success in that space. I’ve been blessed to have, you know, built relationships with, our state legislators, our Congress men and women, you know, and you know, I think that that’s going to be very important as far as the city is concerned, you know, me having those relationships and having, you know, built that, that that that work, you know, collaboration, that work relationship, having built that, me going into the office day one, having those relationships is going to be extremely important, for our city as we move forward, and understanding what you know, the funding and things of that nature will look like from the state level. 

THAKKAR: And I think our last question for today, if you were in New York or Los Angeles or any other coastal city, district community, and someone asked you, what Urbana has to offer, what would you tell them? 

 WILLIAMS: I would tell them, Urbana has diversity. Urbana has a genuine love. Urbana has an opportunity to grow, prosper, succeed. You know, one thing that has been very clear to me, you know, is that folks within this community, they want to see their city at its very best. You know, they want to have that opportunity to collaborate with not just a said group, but an entire, you know, a bigger, a global, you know, kind array of folks. And for me, that has been one of the biggest successes you know, of this, this campaign, is seeing folks and their love for this city, you know. And I think that it’s going to be extremely important that we continue to express that, you know, and that we, as far as my administration is concerned, when I take office, we will be an administration for the city, right? We are absolutely going to ensure that we involve everyone in our community, right? No matter your background, no matter your upbringing, you will have a voice in our community, in our city, in our government. So for me, that’s what I would tell them, you know, it’s, it’s one of the, honestly, one of the greatest cities in this country, and I am honored to be here and raising my family here. 

THAKKAR: Is there anything else you wanted to share about your campaign or your priorities? 

WILLIAMS: Listen, I will say this, you know, understanding that you know if you if you support me, if you vote for me, you know that I still believe in the purity of public service, right? No matter what takes place, you know February 25 you’re still going to see me out in the community. I’m still going to be doing this, this, this work. We’re still going to be serving our community, right? This isn’t something that I just started. I started doing when I announced my candidacy, right? This is something that we have been doing for a very long time, and, God willing, we will continue to do that work. So I appreciate the opportunity. I appreciate all of the folks who have supported me up to this point. And yeah, we got a few weeks left. Let’s finish strong.

The Urbana Democratic primary election is on Feb. 25. Early voting information is available on the Champaign County Clerk’s website.

Arjun Thakkar