x
Breaking News
More () »

'I am truly excited' : Beaumont Mayor Robin Mouton outlines plans for the city if elected to serve second term

Mouton says under her leadership, three restaurants on Crockett Street got new permits. Plus, the AT&T building on Main Street is about to get a new lease.

BEAUMONT, Texas — Beaumont Mayor Robin Mouton will seek re-election in 2023 after serving her first term as the city's first Black female mayor.

Her campaign announced, Thursday, February 16, 2023, that she will be holding a formal campaign kickoff event on March 2, 2023.

The kickoff event will be from from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. at The Tevis Room overlooking the Beaumont Event Center  lake at 150 Magnolia St.

Mouton tells 12News she plans to complete the mission she started when she first took office in 2021. 

This mission includes uniting city council, building a strong economy and revitalizing downtown Beaumont.

And of course, being a voice for the citizens of Beaumont. 

"It's customer service on a different level, but your citizens are your customers," Mouton said. "And so you want to make sure that you're catering to the needs of the citizens."

Before becoming mayor, Mouton served six years on city council and before that, she was an AT&T sales executive. 

RELATED: May's Beaumont municipal election to decide mayor, three council seats

She says her work as mayor is just getting started. 

"I went in with a mission, as I say, to unify our council. I also wanted to make sure that economically that we were revitalizing downtown and bringing jobs to this area. All of that is happening," Mouton said. 

Mouton says under her leadership, three restaurants on Crockett Street in downtown got new permits.

Plus, the AT&T building on Main Street, which has been empty for nearly 15 years, is about to get a new lease on life.

"From day one, that AT&T has been a priority of the city. Right now, we're positively totally looking at a conference hotel," Mouton said. 

A conference hotel would bring in visitors, and their wallets, to downtown Beaumont.

"Once we get riverfront started, the conference hotel, I could see a whole new downtown, opening up for Beaumont," Mouton said.  

Other issues Mayor Mouton says she wants to tackle, are water and sewage concerns.

"We're in the Gulf Coast. We have flooding. We've had issues with water," she said. "We are putting in a new lift station. There's $55 million through the drainage district for water improvements." 

All of this is work she's just started and says, she wants to continue for the next two years.

"While trying to maintain the city, move the city forward and rebuild. I think we've done an excellent job. I am truly truly excited. I'm excited to serve the people of Beaumont once again," Mouton said. 

Mouton replaced former mayor Becky Ames who held the office for 14 years.

She became the city's first new mayor to be elected since 2007.

Roy West, who ran in the last mayoral election, and James Daryl Eller Jr. will be running against Mouton.  

The mayor beat businessman Roy West, Jr. with 52% of the vote and a margin of a little more than 600 votes in a runoff election in 2021.

The municipal election will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2023, from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Early voting will be from April 24, 2023 through May 2, 2023, according to the city.

RELATED: 'I love Beaumont and I want it to thrive' : Roy West announces run for mayor of Beaumont in 2023

West announced in a video posted on Facebook, that he will run again for the office in the next election.

Throughout his campaign, West plans to share with voters his views on downtown development, drainage issues and an issue near and dear to his heart, Beaumont youth, 

"There are too many young people in our community that are growing up without direction and they need love," West said. 

West is Beaumont native who went to West Brook High School and graduated from Lamar University. 

"Beaumont is my home. I love Beaumont and I want it to thrive. I want my grandchildren to want to live here in 20 years," he said. 

West says he believes that the city is doing a good job, but there is always room for improvement..

He says he would like to continue work on drainage, bring families back to downtown and provide the youth with after school programs, summer programs and life skills programs.

"Who's going to lead that if it's not the mayor. I think the mayor's role can be very important and can help bring this community together because it's not an us against them we should be here for everybody," he said. 

GET NEWS & WEATHER ALERTS | Download the 12News App to your mobile device 

This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.

Send us a news tip | Download the 12News app

Also on 12NewsNow.com...

Before You Leave, Check This Out