Jaylen Smith, an 18-year-old college freshman, became the youngest Black mayor in U.S. history after being elected mayor in Earle, Arkansas.
According to CNN, Smith has been elected mayor of Earle, a small town in Arkansas with a population of 1,831. He reportedly received 235 votes, while his opponent, Nemi Matthews, got 185. He will be officially elected mayor during the first week of January.
Smith, who just recently graduated from Earle High School, said he decided to run for mayor at the start of his senior year in high school. Having held various leadership positions in the school, including being president of the student government association, he has always been passionate about serving his community.
“I didn’t run to make a name for myself,” Smith said. “I ran because I wanted to help my community and move it in the direction it needed to move in.”
Frank Scott Jr., the mayor of Little Rock, whom Smith sought advice from as he prepared for the mayoralty, said Smith will be the youngest Black mayor elected in the United States.
“I’m excited for Jaylen and the entire community in Earle as he becomes the youngest-ever African American mayor elected in the country. I’m proud of his willingness to enter public service at such a young age and his aspirational goals for the city,” said Scott, who also serves as president of the African American Mayors Association.
As mayor, Smith says he plans to focus on public safety, transportation, and jobs for the youth. He also wanted to rebuild the city by removing abandoned houses and building a grocery store.
