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News > U.S.

Chicago Elects 1st African-American Woman Mayor To Join Only 7 Others Nationwide

  • Lightfoot initially emerged as the leader, from a group of 14 candidates, in the first round of voting in February.

    Lightfoot initially emerged as the leader, from a group of 14 candidates, in the first round of voting in February. | Photo: Reuters

Published 3 April 2019
Opinion

During the victory speech, the former prosecutor highlighted that the people of Chicago are experiencing "a city reborn,” a place where race and "who you love" is secondary.

Chicago elected political newcomer and ex-federal prosecutor Lori Lightfoot, who defeated fellow African-American and 19-year city council veteran Toni Preckwinkle, as the city’s first African-American woman mayor Tuesday.

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"Together we  can and will make Chicago a place where your zip code doesn't determine your destiny," Lightfoot said to the crowd at her victory party. "We can and we will break this city's endless cycle of corruption and never again — never ever — allow politicians to profit from elected positions."

Lightfoot has vowed to rid City Hall of corruption as well as help low-income and working-class people, who had been "left behind and ignored" by the upper class.

"A new mayor with a plan for police reform and better police-community relations will enhance the quality of life in the city and encourage people — especially young people who wish to start a family -- to move to the city," Arthur Lurigio, a professor of psychology and criminal justice at Loyola University Chicago, commented.

"The perceptions that a new mayor creates about safety and policing could make the city a more attractive place to live and stop the outflow of residents."

In 2016, Chicago reported its highest number of homicides in two decades: 762.

During the victory speech, the former prosecutor highlighted that the people of Chicago are experiencing "a city reborn,” a place where race and "who you love" is secondary.

"We may be strangers but in this room, in this city we are all neighbors," Lightfoot said after winning the historic race. "Now that it's over I know that we will work together for the city that we both love," Lightfoot said at her campaign celebration. "Today you did more than make history, you created a movement for change."

Lightfoot emerged as the leader from a group of 14 candidates - in the first round of voting in February - who were biding to succeed Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who decided against running for a third term.

Chicago will become the largest U.S. city to elect a black woman as mayor when Lightfoot is sworn in on May 20.

"Now we're going to take the next steps together," the mayor-elect said during her victory address. "Together we can and will finally put the interests of our people, all of our people, against the interests of a powerful few."

Lightfoot, the first openly gay person to lead the United States' third-largest city, will join the seven other black women mayors serving in major U.S. cities.

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