A city in Arkansas chose an 18-year-old guy as mayor: the newly minted politician just finished school

An 18-year-old college student in Arkansas has become the youngest black mayor to be elected in the United States. Writes about it with the BBC.

Photo: IStock

Jalen Smith graduated from high school in May and was elected head of Earl Township on December 6th.

He's not the first 18-year-old mayor in US history, but that hasn't stopped his family from celebrating a major victory.

"My mom can't stop crying," Smith said.

He won in a city of 1800 people.

"It's time to build a better city," Smith wrote on Facebook to celebrate his victory. — I thank all my supporters for intensifying the involvement of people in the elections. I sincerely thank you all."

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The result of the vote was 235 to 185.

The new mayor is pushing for improved police, repairing the city's drainage system, tackling the problem of abandoned homes, and improving community participation in the city.

As mayor, he plans to open a large grocery store - the only one in the city. The store closed many years ago.

While in high school, Smith was president of the school's student government association and held leadership positions in school clubs.

“Everyone has to start somewhere,” he said. “I don’t want to be mayor at 30 or 40 if I can do it right now.”

During his campaign, he received advice from the mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas, a city of over 200 people.

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Little Rock city leader Frank Scott Jr., who is also president of the African American Mayors Association, praised Smith's victory.

“I am very happy for Jaylen and the entire community in Earl. He became the youngest African-American mayor ever elected in the country, he noted. “I am proud of his willingness to enter public service at such a young age and his ambitious goals for the city.”

Smith plans to continue his studies at the University of Arkansas while also serving as mayor. He hopes to become a prosecutor someday.

In 2005, 18-year-old Michael Sessions won the race for mayor of Hillsdale, Michigan before he even graduated from high school.

At the time, his school principal remarked, “I told him that if he won, he would still have to do his homework. I would not like to remove a city official from the lessons.

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