A Nigerian, Yemi Mobolade, has been elected as the first black mayor of Colorado Springs, a municipality in the United States, making him the first Black man elected to pilot the affairs of the city politically.Â
He is to succeed Mayor John Suthers, a former federal prosecutor and Colorado Attorney-General whose tenure is over, to become the city’s 42nd mayor.
The Nigerian immigrant and businessman won after he defeated Wayne Williams with about 15% on Tuesday night, 16th May, 2023.
Aside from being the first black mayor, he is also the first Colorado Springs mayor who is not a registered Republican since the city began electing mayors directly in 1979.
Yemi Mobolade’s victory represents a political change in Colorado Springs, strongly known for being conservative.
Yemi Mobolade, co-founded two popular restaurants, ‘The Wild Goose Meeting House’ and ‘Good Neighbors Meeting House‘, in Colorado and had served as the city’s small business development administrator.
He was also the vice president of business retention and expansion for the Colorado Springs Chamber and Economic Development Corporation.
JUSTINA EGYE
MEDIA: yemiformayor/Instagram