As her eight years as Jefferson City's mayor draws to a close, Carrie Tergin is ending her time the way she spent it: with friends, family and selfies.
Tergin held a reception Thursday evening at the new event venue at 325 E. Capitol Ave., taking the opportunity to thank the friends and family who have supported her over her two terms. Flanked by homemade treats, mementos from her tenure and a slideshow of her trademark selfies with the mayor, she said being able to celebrate at a new spot along that street, which the city has been working to revitalize throughout her tenure, was a perfect way to commemorate her time in office.
"It's nice to see everybody and kind of reminisce about the last eight years and how great it's been. And it's so fitting that we're here on Capitol Avenue," she said. "Being able to walk out and just see something that we've worked really hard on, and being able to see this cool new venue space, it highlights what Capitol Avenue is about; it's the heart of our city. I'm thinking about how far we've come with this and with so many other things over the last eight years, and this is just a fun way to wrap it up by thanking everybody."
Guests reminisced with Tergin about the achievements of her tenure, including the construction of the Bicentennial Bridge and Deborah Cooper Park, which connected the Capitol grounds to the Missouri riverfront after decades of planning and discussion. Others, like Second Ward Councilman Mike Lester, pointed to progress made toward the redevelopment of the Missouri State Penitentiary, which was decommissioned in 2004 and is set to become an economic development hub for the city.
"From the very beginning, Carrie has been great to work with. She's brought a lot of passion to the role and has helped me become a better councilperson myself," Lester said. "We've gotten the Bicentennial Bridge up, and we're finally getting the Missouri State Penitentiary project going, and while it's too bad she won't be in office to see it all the way through, the progress she's made with it has been incredible."
Before she became mayor, Tergin served on the City Council for six years. She grew up in the Capital City and was involved in the community for years through her family's business, and her parents -- Jim and Irene Tergin -- were on hand to support her Thursday as they have been throughout her political career.
"It's not something we expected her to take on, but now it's bittersweet. We're so proud of her and all that she's done for the city," Irene Tergin said. "We're so happy to see everyone here tonight to support her as well. She has a real passion for this city, and everyone can see that."
Added Jim Tergin: "She's really made us and Jefferson City proud. It's truly a blessing."
Tergin will hand over the role of mayor to Ron Fitzwater, a current councilman who ran unopposed for the position. That change will officially take place Monday, when Tergin and the current council will gavel in one final time before the new mayor and council members are sworn in.
After that, Tergin said she didn't know what was next, but she did know she would look back on her time as mayor fondly.
"I'm really gonna miss it. Jefferson City is in my heart," Tergin said Thursday between conversations and selfies with loved ones. "I'm very thankful to have served such a great community. It is a true passion, and it's been an honor to see what all we've accomplished."
