Jaylen Smith, 18, is set to become the youngest Black mayor in the U.S. after beating opponent Nemi Matthews in the Earle, Arkansas, election. Earle is a town of about 1,800 and roughly 30 miles from Memphis.
Smith graduated from Earle High School and is a lieutenant in the town police department. He is an advocate of better public safety.
“Citizens of Earle, Arkansas, it’s official!! I am your newly elected Mayor of Earle, Arkansas,” Smith wrote on Facebook following his victory.
Smith continued: “It’s time to build a better chapter of Earle, Arkansas.’ I would like to thank all my supporters for stepping up and getting people to the polls. I am truly grateful for you all.”
He still lives with his parents and once told reporters that he refuses to stop when the going gets tough.
“When somebody tells me ‘no,’ I don’t stop just because someone tells me ‘no.’ There’s always someone waiting to tell you ‘yes,’” Smith said.
Smith also stated that he sought advice from other more experienced politicians, including Frank Scott Jr., mayor of Little Rock. He said he didn’t run for mayor to “make a name for” himself.
“I ran because I wanted to help my community and move my community in the direction that it needed to be moved in,” Smith said.
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