Jaylen Smith: Proud Moment as 18-Year-Old Becomes Youngest Elected Black Mayor in US
- Jaylen Smith becomes the youngest Black mayor in the US after winning the elections to head the city of Earle in Arkansas State
- Smith is a democrat and has hinged his campaign rebuilding the city by removing abandoned homes and making the police department operate 24 hours
- The young mayor only graduated from high school in May this year where he served in the student government association
The city of Earle in Arkansas, US, has just elected an 18-year-old black man as their mayor, a first in the state.
Source: UGC
Jaylen is the new mayor of Earle
Jaylen Smith, the rural town's next mayor, graduated high school in May and was elected by a 1,832 population on Tuesday, December 6.
CNN reports A Democrat, Smith defeated his opponent, Nemi Matthews, who is Earle's street and sanitation superintendent, by 235 votes to 185.
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“I didn’t run to make a name for myself,” Smith said.
“I ran because I wanted to help my community and move my community in the direction that it needed to be moved in," he added.
According to the mayor of Little Rock Frank Scott Jr., Smith will be the youngest Black mayor elected in the United States.
Mayor Frank Scott excited for Jaylen
Scott is excited because Jaylen is now the youngest-ever African American mayor elected in the country.
The president of the African American Mayors Association was also proud of Smith for his willingness to join public service while still a youth.
He also lades his aspirations for the city.
Smith disclosed that his tenure in the student government association in school made him more passionate and determined about serving his community.
Despite his youth, Smith has a clear vision of what he wants to see in the town Earle and is alive to the fact that it won't be done overnight.
Smith to rebuild homes
He has plans to rebuild the city by removing abandoned homes, making the police department operate 24 hours, and creating jobs for the youth.
He also wants to implement public transportation to the grocery stores.
Smith has consulted with several mayors to prepare for the Herculean task ahead. He will be sworn in during the first week of January and his ultimate goal is to show the people of Earle results.
Youngest MP in Kenya
Back at home, twenty-four-year-old Linet Toto shocked many when she defeated veterans to clinch the Bomet parliamentary seat with a landslide.
Toto, who came to the limelight after trouncing seasoned politicians such as the incumbent Joyce Korir, is now the youngest politician in the National Assembly.
She came to the limelight a few months ago after she won the UDA ticket to run for the seat.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
Nathaniel Crabbe (Human-Interest editor) Nathaniel Crabbe is a journalist and editor with a degree in Journalism from the Ghana Institute of Journalism, where he graduated in 2015. He earned his master's from UPSA in December 2023. Before becoming an editor/writer of political/entertainment and human interest stories at Asaase Radio, Crabbe was a news reporter at TV3 Ghana. With experience spanning over ten years, he now works at YEN.com.gh as a human interest editor. You can reach him via nathaniel.crabbe@yen.com.gh.
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