Arkansas Voters Elect Several African American Mayors Including in Little Rock

There is a new wave of African American leadership in red state Arkansas, and it extends to the state’s capital city, Little Rock. Earlier this week Little Rock voters elected an African American mayor, Frank Scott, Jr., in a runoff election. Scott came in first in a five-way race for mayor during the November 6th midterm election, but he fell short of the 40-percent vote total needed to avoid a runoff with second-place finisher Baker Kurrus.

“Time has been a gift to all of us,” Scott said after approaching the podium Tuesday evening. “On Nov. 6 [there was] a spirit of joy, a spirit of gratefulness and yes, a spirit of frustration! But we won, [just] not outright.”

Going the Distance

But, Scott, a banking executive, won outright in the runoff, capturing 58 percent of the vote while Kurrus, former Superintendent of the Little School District, received 42 percent.

Scott’s campaign focused on unity and brought CNN political analyst Bakari Sellers to Little Rock for a rally at Philander Smith, a HBCU, just days before the runoff. Sellers, an attorney, represented South Carolina’s 90^th District in the state legislature until his unsuccessful 2014 bid for lieutenant governor.

“It is our turn to shine light on good things and good people,” Sellers said before telling the crowd that he and Scott shared some key values. “We still believe in hope, love, truth, justice and peace.”

Scott gave his victory speech Tuesday night at a standing-room-only watch party held at a local restaurant. “It’s good to see every race (represented) here,” he said. Returning to the platform on which he ran, Scott emphasized that “it’s about unifying our city.”

First Elected, Third to Lead

Scott is Little Rock’s first elected African American mayor.  Charles Bussey  and Lottie Shackelford, both African Americans, served as mayor, but they were appointed to the office by their peers on the city Board of Directors. Shackelford celebrated Scott’s achievement.

“I’m so happy about Frank Scott’s mayoral election,” she said. “I think the overwhelming support he received is a testament to Frank’s vision and offer of bold and new leadership. He wants to unify this city, and I think he wants every citizen to feel that their neighborhood is important.”

Wave of New Leadership

As news of Scott’s victory flooded social media feeds and made national news, Joe Brazil, host of a popular online talk show, invited his listeners to join him for a conversation about the African American mayors elected in Camden , El Dorado , West Memphis, and Fort Smith.

Brazil said listeners wished the new leaders “good luck” and called for them to reduce “gun violence and violent crimes” especially in Little Rock. He said a voter in Fort Smith, where George McGill was elected, spoke up for homeless residents.

Joe said, “She wrote me personally….and wanted to ‘see them turn a few of the empty buildings that have been sitting up since forever into more shelters for the homeless people here.’”

The new mayors will be sworn in within the next few weeks. Little Rock’s mayoral-elect, Frank Scott, will be sworn in on New Year’s Day.