Strength in Numbers

Mary Allen to push for local progress

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 โ€“ mother-in-law of current city councilwoman Mary Allen โ€“ couldnโ€™t have been more excited when she was handed a sign that read, in part, โ€œMary Allen for City Council.โ€ 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 didnโ€™t live to see her daughter-in-law win her at-large race in November 2023, but Allen hasnโ€™t forgotten her servantโ€™s heart.

โ€œShe was a motivator throughout the whole campaign,โ€ Allen says. โ€œI know she wouldโ€™ve been so proud.โ€

Support didnโ€™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 companyโ€™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, youโ€™d discover you have more in common than you might think.

โ€œI always wanted to steer clear of politics because I thought itโ€™s just a bunch of vitriol, and I donโ€™t want to be about that,โ€ Allen says. โ€œIf everybody feels that way and no one actually gets involved, then itโ€™s always going to be that way. I never thought I would be in politics, but Iโ€™ve fallen in love with it.โ€


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 โ€œthey donโ€™t have a seat at the table.โ€

Through her sustainability-based business,ย  Allen has cultivated a passion for environmentalism and enjoys collaborating closely with Climate Action Director Lauren Norvell.

Jodi Keen
Jodi Keen
Jodi Keen is the managing editor of Evansville Living and Evansville Business magazines.

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