William McCarty Enters Springfield Mayoral Race

The former city official filed his candidate petitions on the final day of the municipal filing period.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in City Hall

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a municipal building facade, symbolizing the institutional weight of local political government. — William McCarty, former village official and current state education CFO, officially filed candidacy papers for the 2027 Springfield mayoral election. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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William McCarty, the current chief financial officer for the Illinois Board of Higher Education, has officially joined the race for mayor of Springfield. He submitted his candidate petitions on October 19, 2026, marking his entry into the contest for the April 6, 2027, election.

Why it matters

McCarty is running due to stated concerns regarding the current direction of the city. He joins a field that includes incumbent Mayor Misty Buscher and former alderperson Gail Simpson.

McCarty previously served as the director of the Office of Budget and Management for Springfield. He joins a race where fiscal management remains a central topic, following the announcement of a $24 million structural budget deficit.

The players

William McCarty

He is the current chief financial officer for the Illinois Board of Higher Education and a former Springfield budget official.

Misty Buscher

She is the incumbent mayor of Springfield who will face challengers in the upcoming April 2027 election.

Gail Simpson

She is a former alderperson who is running against the incumbent mayor in the 2027 election.

Joe Aiello

He is a local political figure who defeated McCarty in the 2018 Sangamon County Treasurer Republican primary.

The details

McCarty, 51, previously served as a village trustee and village president of Williamsville from 2005 to 2009. His political background also includes a 2018 bid for Sangamon County Treasurer, where he lost the Republican primary to Joe Aiello, who secured 57% of the vote.

2005-2009: McCarty served as Williamsville village trustee and president.
2011: McCarty previously ran for Springfield mayor.
2018: McCarty lost the Sangamon County Treasurer primary.
2023: McCarty ran for city treasurer.
October 19, 2026: McCarty filed petitions for the mayoral race.

Political Context

Opponents of McCarty's candidacy may point to his performance in the 2023 Springfield city treasurer election to argue against his electability. Dissenting officials or those aligned with the incumbent may also highlight his primary loss in the 2018 Sangamon County Treasurer race as a sign of his standing with the local electorate.

This election will directly impact the administration of the city's $24 million structural budget deficit and future municipal fiscal policy. Residents should prepare for upcoming candidate forums and policy debates leading up to the April 6, 2027, vote.

The takeaway

Voters should evaluate how McCarty's past experience as a budget director compares to the current administration's fiscal handling of the city. Implementing a review of individual candidate platforms will be crucial for residents assessing the city's $24 million budget shortfall.