Building Cairo Together
A Stronger Cairo Starts With Us
Artie McBride has spent a lifetime serving Cairo — from the classroom to the courthouse to the community. Now she's ready to bring that same dedication to the Mayor's office.
Why I'm Running
"Cairo deserves leadership that shows up — every day, not just on election day. I'm running for Mayor because I believe our best days are still ahead of us, and I need you, our community, to help build them."
— Artie McBride
33
Years of Public Service
Meet Artie
A Life Lived in Service to Cairo
A lifelong Cairo resident and 1984 graduate of Cairo High School, Artie McBride built a 33-year career with the State of Illinois, rising from Clerk Typist to Local Office Administrator before retiring in 2018. She's since led as Cairo School District Board President, Chair of the Head Start Policy Council, first African American Board President of Arrowleaf, and Chair of the Economic & Development Committee for the Alexander/Pulaski County NAACP.
A mother of two, grandmother of 10, and great-grandmother of 2, Artie leads with faith, family, and an unshakable belief in Cairo's potential.
Read Artie's Full StoryThe Issues
What We're Fighting For
Cairo has faced real challenges — population loss, business closures, and a lack of transparency. Here's how we turn that around, together.
Clean & Revitalize Our City
Improve cleanup efforts, beautify neighborhoods, strengthen code enforcement, and restore pride block by block.
See the planTransparent Government
Open communication, responsible spending, clear decision-making, and accountability at City Hall.
See the planRiverfront Tourism
Promote Cairo's riverfront, history, and location to attract visitors, support small businesses, and create new opportunities.
See the planInvesting in Our Youth
Support programs, partnerships, safe spaces, and opportunities that help young people learn, lead, and succeed.
See the planEconomic Development & Growth
Reversing decades of decline by making Cairo a welcoming city for developers and entrepreneurs.
See the planPublic Safety & Emergency Readiness
A real City Emergency Plan and the equipment and technology Cairo deserves.
See the plan
Cairo deserves leadership that listens, brings people together, and gets results. As mayor, Artie McBride will work every day to rebuild trust, strengthen neighborhoods, support local businesses, and make City Hall responsive to the people it serves.
— Artie
Community Needs Assessment
Tell Us What Cairo Needs
Your voice shapes this campaign. Take two minutes to share your priorities for our city — Artie plans to run this as an annual citizens' assessment survey once in office, and it starts now.
Connect With Us — Developers & Stakeholders
Investing in Cairo
Artie is committed to making Cairo a welcoming city for developers, entrepreneurs, and community partners. If you're interested in doing business in Cairo or partnering on economic development, let's talk.
- A dedicated stakeholder & developer point of contact
- Partnerships to advance economic development
- A welcoming city for new and existing businesses
Campaign Updates
What's New
Testimonials — Artie's Impact
In Their Own Words
Over 33+ years of public service and community leadership, Artie has touched countless lives across Cairo. Share your story below.
“Artie has been a steady hand at every table she's sat at — school board, Head Start, NAACP. She shows up, she listens, and she does the work. That's exactly what Cairo needs in a mayor.”
Carla M.
Cairo resident
“As a former coworker, I watched Artie rise through 33 years of public service with the same honesty and care on day one as on her last. She never lost sight of the people she was serving.”
James W.
Former coworker, State of Illinois
“Artie gives our kids a reason to believe in themselves. Her heart for this community is real, and her door has always been open to parents and families.”
Latoya B.
Head Start parent
Share Your Story
Tell us how Artie McBride has made a difference in your life or in our community. Full name required — anonymous submissions are not accepted.
Community in Action
Cairo's People Showing Up
Community in Action