BEAUMONT, Texas — Prominent businessman Roy West, Jr., who lost by a small margin to Beaumont mayor Robin Mouton in 2021, has announced he will again run for mayor in 2023.
West, Jr. announced his plans to run in the 2023 election Monday morning in a video posted on Facebook.
He first ran for mayor in 2021 and ended up in a runoff with Robin Mouton the same year.
Mouton beat West by a little more than 600 votes and made history as the first Black female mayor of Beaumont.
"It was my first time to run for mayor and I didn't know where to spend my time and i'm going to be across all the city. I'm going to do a better job being across all the city and being available for people to know who is am," West tells 12News.
In 2023, 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.
In his 2021 campaign the mortgage lender and radio host championed drainage issues, roadways, racial issues across the city and efforts to revitalize Beaumont and make it attractive for the next generation.
“I am obviously disappointed,” West said after conceding to Mouton in 2021. “However, I am still very grateful to all the residents of Beaumont for showing up and voting. It was a great turnout. When you are in an election, there is a winner and the loser. Tonight, I fell on the loser side.”
West said he plans on being an active member in the community and will continue to promote several of the things that he focused on in his campaign.
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.