Jaylen Smith (politician)
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January 22, 2004
Jaylen Smith | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Smith in 2023 | |
| Mayor of Earle, Arkansas | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Carolyn Jones |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jaylen Smith January 22, 2004 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]
Smith graduated from Earle High School in May 2022.[3][4][5][2]
Career
In 2022, running as a Democratic Party candidate, Smith won the election to be the mayor of Earle, Arkansas.[4] He won 235 votes, beating his rival candidate Nemi Matthews, who received 185 votes.[3] He was sworn into office on January 3, 2023.[6] His victory made him the youngest black mayor in US history.[4][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,[5] 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.[3]
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] he has met her two other times hand spoke with President Biden.[14]
Awards and honors
Smith received the President's Award of the Arkansas Democratic Black Caucus at the organization's 2023 King Kennedy Awards.[15]