Jaylen Smith (politician) explained

Jaylen Smith
Office:Mayor of Earle
Term Start:January 3, 2023
Predecessor:Carolyn Jones
Birth Name:Jaylen Smith
Birth Place:Earle, Arkansas, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Education:Earle High School

Jaylen Smith is an American politician who is the mayor of Earle, Arkansas. At age 18, he became one of the youngest mayors ever elected in the United States.[1] [2]

Early life and education

Smith graduated from Earle High School in May 2022.[3] [4] [5]

Career

In 2022, running as a Democratic Party candidate, Smith won the election to be the mayor of Earle, Arkansas. He won 235 votes, beating his rival candidate Nemi Matthews, who received 185 votes. He was sworn into office on January 3, 2023.[6] His victory made him the youngest black mayor in US history.[7] This also made him one of the youngest mayors of any race in the United States.[8]

Smith's mayoral priorities include improving public safety and transportation, beautification and renewal of underused housing, emergency preparedness, and addressing the food desert in Earle.[9] [10] In preparation for his time in public office, Smith was given guidance by Frank Scott Jr., the mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas.

Smith joined President Clinton on stage and was a featured speaker at the 2023 Clinton Global Initiative University Meeting at Vanderbilt University.[11] [12]

In April 2023, Smith met with Vice President Kamala Harris.[13]

Awards and honors

Smith received the President’s Award of the Arkansas Democratic Black Caucus at the organization's 2023 King Kennedy Awards.[14]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: 18-Year-Old College Student Elected Mayor of Arkansas City . . . December 12, 2022 . January 12, 2023.
  2. News: Rojas . Rick . An Ailing Arkansas City Elected an 18-Year-Old Mayor to Turn Things Around. subscription . . January 10, 2023 . February 7, 2024.
  3. News: Mizelle . Shawna . December 7, 2022 . Arkansas city elects 18-year-old to be next mayor . 2022-12-07 . CNN . en.
  4. News: Matza . Max . 2022-12-08 . Jaylen Smith: Arkansas elects youngest black mayor in US . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-12-08.
  5. News: 'A better chapter': 18-year-old man elected mayor of Arkansas town . Reuters . December 7, 2022 . February 7, 2024.
  6. News: Jaylen Smith, country’s youngest black mayor, sworn in. Marcus. Hunterg. WREG. 1 January 2022. 6 January 2022.
  7. News: Hills. Sophie . Why one Arkansas town has pinned its hopes on a teen mayor. Christian Science Monitor. February 14, 2023.
  8. News: Daniels . Cheyanne M. . Arkansas town elects youngest Black mayor in US . February 7, 2024 . . December 7, 2022.
  9. News: Meet the 18-year-old running for mayor . February 7, 2024 . . December 3, 2022.
  10. News: Hale-Shelton . Debra . 18-year-old elected mayor of Earle . February 7, 2024 . . December 7, 2022.
  11. Web site: President Clinton, Secretary Clinton, and Chelsea Clinton to Convene Student Leaders to Drive Action at the 2023 CGI University Meeting at Vanderbilt University March 3-5 . . February 7, 2024 . February 27, 2023.
  12. https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2023/02/27/cgiu-2023-participants-programming/ President Clinton, Secretary Clinton, Chelsea Clinton convene student leaders to drive action at 2023 CGI University meeting at Vanderbilt March 3–5
  13. Last week, I had a chance to speak with Jaylen Smith, the youngest Black mayor in our nation’s history at 18 years old. I am inspired every day by young leaders like Mayor Smith. They are our future – and they will shape our nation with their hope and determination.. Kamala Harris . Kamala Harris . VP . 1652712613032198145.
  14. https://arkdemocraticblackcaucus.org/king-kennedy-awards 2023 King Kennedy Awards

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