Misty Buscher
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Misty Buscher
|image = Misty Buscher with IL NG 183rd Wing 2023 Cropped.jpg
|office = 57th Mayor of Springfield
|term_start = May 5, 2023
|term_end =
|predecessor = Jim Langfelder
|successor =
|birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|52|2023|2|23}}
|birth_place = Carrollton, Illinois, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Democratic (before 2016)
Republican (2016–present)
|spouse = Mike Buscher
|children = 2
|education = Lincoln Land Community College
}}
Misty Buscher (born 1970/1971){{cite news |last1=Spearie |first1=Steven |title=Two-term Springfield city treasurer 'putting my money where my mouth is' in run for mayor |url=https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/politics/elections/local/2023/02/23/springfield-city-treasurer-misty-buscher-takes-on-incumbent-for-mayor/69926020007/ |access-date=June 12, 2023 |publisher=State Journal-Register |date=February 23, 2023}} is the mayor of Springfield, Illinois, the state capital and seat of Sangamon County. She is the second female mayor in the history of Springfield.{{cite news |last1=Spearie |first1=Steven |title=Buscher sworn in as mayor, saying she stands 'shoulder to shoulder' with new city council |url=https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/politics/elections/local/2023/05/05/misty-buscher-was-officially-sworn-in-as-springfield-il-mayor-friday/70182091007/ |access-date=June 12, 2023 |publisher=State Journal-Register |date=May 5, 2023}}
Early life
Buscher was born to Charles and Veronica Tozer in Carrolton, moved to Springfield in 7th grade, graduated from Rochester High School in 1988, and attended Lincoln Land Community College. She worked in the banking industry in Springfield for over 20 years,{{Cite web |title=Springfield city treasurer announces run for mayor for 2023, challenging Langfelder |url=https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/politics/elections/local/2022/07/16/springfield-official-misty-buscher-announces-run-mayor-2023/10077107002/ |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=The State Journal-Register |language=en-US}} starting as a bank teller in 1988, and becoming a vice president of Marine Bank.{{Cite web |title=BEYOND Influential Women {{!}} Meet Misty Buscher, A Woman running for Mayor in Springfield – The Observer |url=https://uisobserver.com/top-stories/2023/03/07/beyond-influential-women-meet-misty-buscher-a-woman-running-for-mayor-in-springfield/ |access-date=2023-06-18 |language=en-US}} Buscher is married to Mike Buscher, who unsuccessfully ran for Springfield city council in 2007,{{Cite news |last=Schoenburg |first=Bernard |date=September 13, 2006 |title=Springfield Ward 4 candidate seeks to help city continue to add jobs |pages=13 |work=The State Journal-Register}}{{Cite web |last=Nave |first=R. L. |title='Right' on |url=https://www.illinoistimes.com/springfield/right-on/Content?oid=11451873 |access-date=2023-06-27 |website=Illinois Times |language=en}} and is the sister in-law of former Springfield Deputy Chief of Police Cliff Buscher.{{Cite web |title=Report talk of fundraiser just 'secondhand' info |url=https://www.sj-r.com/story/opinion/columns/2015/03/01/report-talk-fundraiser-just-secondhand/35086313007/ |access-date=2023-06-27 |website=The State Journal-Register |language=en-US}}
Political career
Buscher served two terms as the city treasurer. In her initial run for city treasurer in 2015 Buscher was endorsed by the Sangamon County Democratic Party,{{Cite web |last=Olsen |first=Dean |title=Misty Buscher to run for mayor |url=https://www.illinoistimes.com/springfield/city-treasurer-misty-buscher-to-run-against-mayor-jim-langfelder/Content?oid=15434675 |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=Illinois Times |language=en}} though in 2016 she moved from independent to Republican and spoke favorably of Donald Trump's candidacy.{{Cite web |title=Buscher moves from independent to GOP, Trump |url=https://www.sj-r.com/story/opinion/columns/2016/07/24/buscher-moves-from-independent-to/27441823007/ |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=The State Journal-Register |language=en-US}} In the 2019 city treasurer race Buscher ran successfully against Jennifer Notariano.{{Cite web |last=Mary |first=Hansen |date=2019-03-25 |title=Springfield Elections: Treasurer's Race |url=https://www.nprillinois.org/politics/2019-03-25/springfield-elections-treasurers-race |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=NPR Illinois |language=en}} As treasurer, Buscher clashed with mayor Jim Langfelder over street parking meters.{{Cite web |title=City provides Buscher with smart meter information |url=https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/politics/county/2018/08/08/city-provides-buscher-with-smart/6529057007/ |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=The State Journal-Register |language=en-US}}
She defeated incumbent Langfelder in his bid for a third term as mayor in an upset.
Electoral history
| class="wikitable"
|+ Springfield mayoral election, 2023 {{cite web |title=Consolidated Election Official Results |url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/IL/Sangamon/117728/web.307039/#/summary?category=C_1&subcategory=C_1_3 |publisher=Sangamon County Clerk |access-date=4 July 2023}} | ||
| style="text-align:center;"
! colspan=2 | Candidate ! Votes ! Percentage | ||
| style="background:#ddd; width:3px;"|
| Misty Buscher | style="text-align:right;"| 13,614 | style="text-align:right;"| 51.46% | ||
|---|---|---|
| style="background:#ddd; width:3px;"|
| Jim Langfelder | style="text-align:right;"| 12,841 | style="text-align:right;"| 48.54% | ||
| style="background:#eee; text-align:right;"
| colspan="2"| Totals | 26,336 | 100.00% |
| class="wikitable"
|+ Springfield city treasurer election, 2019 {{cite web |title=Consolidated Election Official Results |url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/IL/Sangamon/94957/Web02.228981/#/ |publisher=Sangamon County Clerk |access-date=4 July 2023}} | ||
| style="text-align:center;"
! colspan=2 | Candidate ! Votes ! Percentage | ||
| style="background:#ddd; width:3px;"|
| Misty Buscher | style="text-align:right;"| 17,616 | style="text-align:right;"| 74.07% | ||
|---|---|---|
| style="background:#ddd; width:3px;"|
| Jennifer Notariano | style="text-align:right;"| 6,168 | style="text-align:right;"| 25.93% | ||
| style="background:#eee; text-align:right;"
| colspan="2"| Totals | 23,784 | 100.00% |
| class="wikitable"
|+ Springfield city treasurer election, 2015 {{cite web |title=Results |url=https://countyclerk.sangamonil.gov/results/April-7-2015-Consolidated/cumm.htm#spi |publisher=Sangamon County Clerk |access-date=4 July 2023}} | ||
| style="text-align:center;"
! colspan=2 | Candidate ! Votes ! Percentage | ||
| style="background:#ddd; width:3px;"|
| Misty Buscher | style="text-align:right;"| 14,811 | style="text-align:right;"| 56.50% | ||
|---|---|---|
| style="background:#ddd; width:3px;"|
| style="text-align:right;"| 11,403 | style="text-align:right;"| 43.50% | ||
| style="background:#eee; text-align:right;"
| colspan="2"| Totals | 26,214 | 100.00% |
References
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{{Mayors of US State Capitals}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Buscher, Misty}}
Category:21st-century mayors of places in Illinois
Category:Mayors of Springfield, Illinois
Category:Women mayors of places in Illinois
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