MONTANA: Former Liberian Refugee Elected Mayor Of State Capital, First Black Mayor In State History

The Helena Independent Record reports:

Wilmot Collins will be Helena’s new mayor, unseating incumbent Jim Smith in a close race Tuesday. Collins, 54, will be the city’s first new mayor in 16 years after running a long campaign based in progressive principles.

“The people of Helena have spoken, and I am honored to be able to serve them,” Collins said as the night drew to a close. “I intend to work with commissioners, work for the people of Helena and find what is best for this city.”

Montana’s capital elects the state’s first black mayor, a progressive who came to the US decades ago as a refugee from Liberia. Beating an incumbent who was slow to remove a confederate statue. https://t.co/80G2GamNAP

— Kathleen McLaughlin (@kemc) November 8, 2017