Earlier this year, Jaylen Smith, who counted her high school graduation among her greatest achievements, can now add one more: her election as 18-year-old mayor of the small town of Earle in Arkansas, USA.
According to local media, Smith defeated Earle’s Sanitation and Streets chief Nemi Matthews on Tuesday by 183 votes to 235.
Located in eastern Arkansas about 50 kilometers west of the Mississippi River and in Memphis, Tennessee, the city has a population of 1,831 as of the 2020 Census.
“It’s time to build a better chapter in Earle, Arkansas,” Smith said on his Facebook page after he won election night, echoing his campaign slogan and thanking his supporters.
“My mom can’t stop crying,” Smith told The Washington Post on Wednesday.
During the campaign, Smith, who graduated from Earle High in May, promised improvements in public safety, restoration or removal of abandoned homes and buildings, and implementation of new emergency preparedness plans.
The new mayor told the Post, “Why would I be great anywhere else when I can be great in Earle, Arkansas?” said.
source: Noticias
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.