Meet Mary Allen, At-Large Member of Evansville City Council
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Age: 49
Family: Husband Greg; children Gabrielle, Christina, and Gabriella
Education: Occupational Therapy Training Program certification, former Academy of Health Sciences, San Antonio, Texas; currently pursuing a Bachelor of Professional Studies in political and earth sciences, University of Southern Indiana
City Council Member Salary: $21,588
Former longtime poll worker Willie Allen – mother-in-law of current city councilwoman Mary Allen – couldn’t have been more excited when she was handed a sign that read, in part, “Mary Allen for City Council.” Despite being in hospice, she was determined to lend her support, and even if the support was only symbolic, it meant the world to Allen.
Willie didn’t live to see her daughter-in-law win her at-large race in November 2023, but Allen hasn’t forgotten her servant’s heart.
“She was a motivator throughout the whole campaign,” Allen says. “I know she would’ve been so proud.”
Support didn’t stop there for Allen, a five-year U.S. Army veteran and owner of the sustainable products business Sixth and Zero. She received overwhelming encouragement to pursue her new dream after speaking with her husband, Greg, and her company’s staff.
Along the campaign trail, Allen found that some would instantly turn her away when she told them her party affiliation. She offers that if you give someone a chance, you’d discover you have more in common than you might think.
“I always wanted to steer clear of politics because I thought it’s just a bunch of vitriol, and I don’t want to be about that,” Allen says. “If everybody feels that way and no one actually gets involved, then it’s always going to be that way. I never thought I would be in politics, but I’ve fallen in love with it.”
About Mary Allen & The City Council
As a city councilwoman, Mary Allen aims to be a positive force that represents all people, particularly those who may feel “they don’t have a seat at the table.”
Through her sustainability-based business, Allen has cultivated a passion for environmentalism and enjoys collaborating closely with Climate Action Director Lauren Norvell.
