Nigerian-American Yemi Mobolade has made history by becoming the first elected black mayor of El Paso County, Texas, United States Clorado Springs in the US.
His feat is even more commanding having ran as an independent candidate, being neither a Republican nor a Democrat.
The election outcome which shocked Colorado Springs residents, known for conservative leanings, marks a seismic political shift, as he becomes the first mayor in 45 years not affiliated with the Republican Party. He is an independent who does not identify with the Democratic or Republican Party.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis issued a statement congratulating Mobolade, who is registered as unaffiliated and who has cast himself as a bridge-builder committed to prioritizing the quality of life and “loving your neighbor” over political party interests.
“Today is a new day in Colorado Springs — where our families are put first, where access to the mayor’s office is for the many and not for the few, and where we can be an inclusive, culturally rich, economically prosperous, safe, and vibrant City on a Hill that shines brightly,” Mobolade said in a victory statement Wednesday morning. Gov Jared said.
Mobolade prevailed with a message prioritizing public safety, infrastructure improvement, and overall economic vitality. He supported a Trails and Open Space initiative voters in April approved by an 80% to 20% margin – extending a tax that raises funds for ensuring open space, consistent with city founders’ emphasis on natural beauty. He has pledged to restore parks and recreation funding that city leaders cut following the 2008 economic recession.
Mobolade who has never held elected office before, came to the United States in 1996 seeking opportunity as an immigrant born in Nigeria, where his mother was a teacher and his father an employee of the global oil company ExxonMobil. He attended Bethel University in Indiana, graduating with a degree in business administration and computer systems, before earning a master’s degree in management and leadership at Indiana Wesleyan University and a seminary degree at the A.W. Tozer Theological Seminary in California.
A married father of three, he helped create and co-owns two cafe-style restaurants in Colorado Springs — the Good Neighbors Meeting House and the Wild Goose Meeting House. He founded a Christian and Missionary Alliance church. He served as a small business development administrator for the city and as vice president of the Colorado Springs Chamber and Economic Development Corporation for business retention and expansion.
He received the most votes in Colorado Springs’ April 4 general election, propelling him into Tuesday’s runoff against Williams, a heavily favored city councilman and political veteran who had served as Colorado’s Secretary of State and as an El Paso County commissioner, with about 37% of the city’s registered voters casting ballots in the runoff. The city’s current Mayor John Suthers, a former state attorney general who has led the city since 2015 and was term-limited, endorsed Williams, as did a majority of Colorado Springs City Council members, El Paso County Sheriff Joe Roybal, the Colorado Springs Police Protective Association, Colorado Springs Professional Firefighters, and former mayor Lionel Rivera. Williams had raised far more campaign money.
Mobolade relied on a grassroots fundraising effort that drew 1,951 contributions from 1,265 donors, with an average amount of around $395 – compared with Williams’ average donation of $2,784 after receiving $1,066,203 in funds from 331 donors, including special interest groups representing the house-building and real estate industries.
Mobolade said at a recent forum that he intended to be “an agent of good disruption.”
Polis issued a statement late Tuesday congratulating Mobolade. “I look forward to working with the mayor-elect.”
His victory marks the first time Colorado Springs has elected a Black mayor. Colorado Springs’ first Black mayor was Leon Young, who became interim mayor in 1997 following the resignation of Mayor Bob Isaac but was not elected
Mobolade’s triumph adds to the plethora of Nigerians recording great feats in different sectors of the United States.
