Mayor

The Mayor's Role

The Mayor is the Chief Elected Official of the City whose primary function is to foster good community relations through active leadership. The Mayor presides at all Council meetings and casts her vote in the event of a tie. The Mayor, along with the City Council, is involved in setting municipal policy, taking legislative action and reviewing the annual budget. The Mayor's position is part-time with an annual salary of $20,000 in addition to a vehicle allowance.

An important role of the Mayor is to provide continuing liaison with the various agencies of the City and with other governmental bodies both within and outside the City. The Mayor directly serves on a variety of local, state and regional organizations, and ensures responsible community involvement in City projects through the appointment of qualified board and commission members. The Mayor also serves as the Local Liquor Control Commissioner, and administers the Code of Ordinances governing liquor and tobacco licensees within the City of Moline with assistance from the Deputy Liquor Commissioner/City Clerk.

There are numerous City Boards and Commissions established to provide advice to the Council on City matters. Anyone interested in serving on a Board or Commission, please submit a letter stating your interest and qualifications to the Mayor’s Office, 619 16th Street, Moline, IL 61265. You may also email your letter.

About the Mayor

Sangeetha Rayapati has deep family ties to the Midwest and has lived in Moline for nearly two decades. Before serving as Mayor she served in elected office as President and Vice-President of the Moline-Coal Valley School Board.  She is a 5th ward resident and proudly sends her children to Moline Public Schools. 

Supports

Mayor Rayapati believes in championing our people, places and spaces through visionary leadership, strength in economic development, and consistent support of amenities for our residents.  Responsible governance of our processes and resources are also her top priorities so that our community can prosper.

Involvement

Mayor Rayapati has volunteered time in musical and community organizations around education and leadership.  She has served on the Board of Arrowhead Ranch and has been a girl scout troop leader as well as volunteered in her children’s classrooms.  She is a 2020 recipient of the YWCA’s Race against Racism Award and is a 2020 graduate of the Illinois Women’s Institute for Leadership Training Academy. 

Education & Employment

Mayor Rayapati’s professional career began as a registered nurse (RN) on a specialty unit at a nursing home in Minneapolis after graduating from Valparaiso University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Bachelor of Music.  She continued to pursue her teaching and musical interests in graduate degrees in music from the University of Minnesota, and began her college teaching career in 2001 at Augustana College, Rock Island, IL, where she continues to teach.  Her scholarly interests revolve around aging and singing, and music health and wellness and she advises and teaches course in a Pre-Music Therapy program and an Aging Studies Experiential Minor.

Family & Free Time

With her husband of 23 years, Mayor Rayapati is raising her three daughters and enjoys watching them explore the worlds of athletics and music.  Her mother and father moved to Moline over ten years ago and now all members of her extended family call Illinois home.  In her free time she enjoys travel, her husband’s cooking, entertaining, and the arts.

State of the City

Annually, the Mayor addresses the accomplishments and challenges of the City over the past year as well as goals and visions for the coming year.