Yemi Mobolade, a Nigerian-born American businessman, has become the new mayor of Colorado Springs in Colorado State, United States of America (USA).
Mobolade, who had no prior political experience, became the first elected black mayor of Colorado Springs after he defeated Wayne Williams on Tuesday night in the city’s runoff contest.
According to the Colorado Sun, Mobolade’s decisive victory represents a political earthquake in Colorado Springs, long known as a conservative stronghold. Williams is a Republican, while Mobolade is unaffiliated.
Mobolade received 57 percent of the vote against Williams’ 43 percent as of 7:15 pm on Tuesday. Williams conceded at about 7:30 pm. When the second batch of results was released shortly before 9 pm, the percentages hadn’t shifted.
Mobolade will be the city’s 42nd mayor, succeeding Mayor John Suthers, a former federal prosecutor and Colorado Attorney General who was term-limited.
“This is our win. We are Colorado Springs. It’s a new day in our beloved city. Do you believe that? Colorado Springs will become an inclusive, culturally rich, economically prosperous, safe, and vibrant city,” the Colorado Sun quoted him as saying.
A married father of three who relocated to Colorado Springs in 2010, Mobolade soon rose to the position of leadership in the local business community.
He served as the city’s small business development administrator while co-founding two well-known eateries, The Wild Goose Meeting House and Good Neighbors Meeting House, in Colorado’s second largest city.
