 Peoria Historian Norm Kelley said it was in this first position that Woodruff learned how to effectively spar with his political adversaries.After serving as Alderman, he was elected mayor for the first time in 1903 and was subsequently reelected to two-year terms in 1909, 1911, 1913, 1915, 1917, 1919, 1923, 1929 and 1935.His last reelection victory in 1941 was for his only four-year term.