Jaylen Smith: Arkansas elects youngest black mayor in US.

An 18-year-old college student in the state of Arkansas has reportedly become the youngest black mayor to be elected in the US.

Jaylen Smith just left high school in May. On Tuesday, he was voted in to lead the rural town of Earle, 30 miles (48km) west of Memphis, Tennessee. He's not the first 18-year-old mayor in US history, but that hasn't stopped his family celebrating the major win.

"My mom can't stop crying," Mr Smith told the Washington Post on Wednesday. A Democrat, he won in the town of 1,800 residents as most US political watchers were tuned in to a Senate contest over in Georgia. "It's Time to Build a Better Chapter of Earle, Arkansas," Mr Smith wrote on Facebook to celebrate his victory over the city's street and sanitation superintendent. "I would like to thank all my supporters for stepping up getting people to the polls. I am truly grateful for you all." The vote result was 235 to 185, according to a tally from the Crittenden County Clerk's office. The new mayor ran on a platform of improving the police force, repairing the city's drainage system, addressing abandoned houses and improving community involvement. As mayor, he also plans to bring a major grocery store to the community - the only one in town closed years ago. While in high school, he served as president of the school's student government association, and had leadership roles in school clubs. "You have to start somewhere - you really do," he told the Post. "I didn't want to be 30 or 40 and become a mayor when I could be one right now." He received advice during his campaign from the mayor of the city of Little Rock, Arkansas, which has a population of over 200,000. Little Rock's city leader Frank Scott Jr, who also serves as president of the African American Mayors Association, praised the victory. "I'm excited for Jaylen and the entire community in Earle as he becomes the youngest-ever African American mayor elected in the country," he told CNN. "I'm proud of his willingness to enter into public service at such a young age and his aspirational goals for the City." Mr Smith plans to continue his studies at Arkansas State University Mid-South as he juggles his mayoral duties, and hopes someday to become a prosecutor. In 2005, 18-year-old Michael Sessions won a race to be mayor of the town of Hillsdale, Michigan - before he had even completed high school. At the time, his school principal was quoted saying: "I told him that if he wins, he'll still need to finish his homework. I'd hate to have to suspend a city official." Join the conversation. Make your opinions and comments on the link provided below this post. Do you like Gist, Movies, Television Programs, Musical Videos, Sports, Political News, Relationship & Celebrity Gossips? Do you want to be the first to know? For Advertisements, Biographies, Company Profiles, Political Party News, Birthday Party News, Movie Productions, Musical Videos Shoots, Television Programs, Documentaries, Video and News Coverages, TV Commercials, Exhibitions, Printing, Publishing, Acting, Modeling, Artists Management, Promotions on Genesis Nollywood Blog and Genesis Nollywood TV contact Theophilus Afe on +2348035655009 (WhatsApp). Emails: genesisnollywood@gmail.com genesisnollywood@yahoo.com Price List are available via the emails and WhatsApp number stated above. Genesis Nollywood Blog hold leadership accountable and we will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of peanut. Support Genesis Nollywood Blog. Genesis Nollywood Blog is powered by Theophilus Afe and driven by data at huge financial costs. If you like Genesis Nollywood Blog powered by Theophilus Afe and you are ready to uphold solutions blogging, kindly donate money and IT Materials like Laptops, TV Sets, Office Equipments, Generator Sets to Genesis Nollywood Blog via the account number below and calling our only telephone number below. Zenith Bank account number: 2120077553. Account Name: THEOPHILUS AFE. Tel: +2348035655009. Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development. Click or copy this link https://youtube.com/channel/UCPkwjjYMVZX3PDk_SD5sV_A to Subscribe, Watch and Like Genesis Nollywood TV 1th YouTube Handle https://www.youtube.com/@genesisnollywoodtv 2nd YouTube Handle https://www.youtube.com/@theophilusafetv Subscribe, Read, Share and Like Theophilus Afe posts on Genesis Nollywood Blog at http://www.genesisnollywood.blogspot.com Like Genesis Nollywood on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/genesisnollywood Like Genesis Nollywood Page: Afe Theoz Ben Entertainment Network. Send your stories and gist to genesisnollywood@gmail.com or genesisnollywood@yahoo.com. Tweeter@theophilusafe Instagram@genesisnollywood