Jaylen Smith, the youngest elected Black mayor in the whole US, is going to put his knowledge into action...
Digital Desk: Jaylen Smith, an 18-year-old college student, is the youngest mayor in US history after defeating his opponent for the office in a small town in Arkansas state.
On Tuesday, Smith was elected mayor of the little town of Earle. According to local media, he defeated his opponent, Nemi Matthews, the city's street and sanitation supervisor, by a vote of 235 to 185.
Jaylen Smith finished high school earlier this year. According to the 2020 census, Earle town has a population of 1,831 people and is located in eastern Arkansas, about 30 miles west of the Mississippi River and Memphis, Tennessee.
On his Facebook page, he praised his supporters and stated, "It's time to establish a better chapter of Earle, Arkansas."
Smith told the media on Wednesday, "My mom can't stop crying."
Smith, who graduated from Earle High School in May, advocated for increased public safety, the restoration or removal of abandoned homes and buildings, and the implementation of new emergency preparedness strategies during the campaign.
"Why should I have to be great somewhere else when I can be great right here in Earle, Arkansas?" he said.
Jaylen Smith will continue to study at Arkansas State University Mid-South while serving as mayor. He aspires to be a prosecutor one day.
Smith told Reporters that he planned to savour and celebrate the occasion with his friends and family throughout the weekend.
