Brownsville, Tennessee Elects First African-American Mayor
By WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News Staff
Story Updated: Jun 18, 2014 at 10:59 AM CDT
BROWNSVILLE, Tenn.- The city of Brownsville has a new mayor-elect.
Bill Rawls Junior won the election over incumbent Mayor Jo Matherne 65 percent to 35 percent on Tuesday.
This win is a historic one as Rawls becomes the first African-American mayor for the city of Brownsville. The mayor-elect said he is ready to get to work.
"We have a lot of hard work ahead of us. We have run a hard lean, mean and clean campaign. I plan to work, and now we have the opportunity to win the victory," Bill Rawls Jr. said, Brownsville Mayor Elect.
Current Brownsville Mayor Jo Matherne was the first ever female mayor for the city. She said she was proud to have made history and proud that history was made again with Rawls' win Tuesday night.
"I would just like to say that four years ago Brownsville made history by electing the first female mayor and tonight Brownsville made history again by electing the first African-American mayor in the city's history, so I congratulate Mister Rawls," Matherne said.
More than 2,400 votes were cast in Tuesday's election.
Tennessee Town Elects First African-American Mayor
Jun 18, 2014 By D.L. Chandler
William “Bill” Rawls, Jr. became the first African-American mayor in the city of Brownsville in Tennessee. The historic mark is additionally noteworthy as Rawls defeated outgoing mayor Jo Matherne, who was the city’s first female mayor.
Rawls won the election by capturing 65 percent of the vote compared to Matherne’s 35, according to unofficial numbers from the Haywood County Election Commission. Rawls, who co-owns the Rawls Funeral Home in the town, has never held elected office prior to the win. Rawls will be sworn in officially on July 8, and serve a four-year term in the post. Both candidates ran as independents in the race as mandated by the city’s charter for mayoral elections.
“It started with a conversation with my campaign manager, and we thought there was a need for change in our community and a lack of a sense of urgency, so we decided it would be in the best interest of everybody to just get it done,” Rawls said after he gave a victory speech to supporters.
In 2010 Matherne won her first term as mayor by 236 votes, but she couldn’t combat Rawls and his supporters Tuesday.
“I congratulate Mr. Rawls on a successful campaign, and assure him a smooth transition between administrations,” she said by phone after the results were announced.
According to the Election Commission, Rawls’ entry into the mayoral race attracted more voters in the predominately African-American town. There were 914 more votes cast this year than 2010’s total of 1,540, based on reports.
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| Bill Rawls elected as Brownsville, Tenn. first African American mayor. |
Story Updated: Jun 18, 2014 at 10:59 AM CDT
BROWNSVILLE, Tenn.- The city of Brownsville has a new mayor-elect.
Bill Rawls Junior won the election over incumbent Mayor Jo Matherne 65 percent to 35 percent on Tuesday.
This win is a historic one as Rawls becomes the first African-American mayor for the city of Brownsville. The mayor-elect said he is ready to get to work.
"We have a lot of hard work ahead of us. We have run a hard lean, mean and clean campaign. I plan to work, and now we have the opportunity to win the victory," Bill Rawls Jr. said, Brownsville Mayor Elect.
Current Brownsville Mayor Jo Matherne was the first ever female mayor for the city. She said she was proud to have made history and proud that history was made again with Rawls' win Tuesday night.
"I would just like to say that four years ago Brownsville made history by electing the first female mayor and tonight Brownsville made history again by electing the first African-American mayor in the city's history, so I congratulate Mister Rawls," Matherne said.
More than 2,400 votes were cast in Tuesday's election.
Tennessee Town Elects First African-American Mayor
Jun 18, 2014 By D.L. Chandler
William “Bill” Rawls, Jr. became the first African-American mayor in the city of Brownsville in Tennessee. The historic mark is additionally noteworthy as Rawls defeated outgoing mayor Jo Matherne, who was the city’s first female mayor.
Rawls won the election by capturing 65 percent of the vote compared to Matherne’s 35, according to unofficial numbers from the Haywood County Election Commission. Rawls, who co-owns the Rawls Funeral Home in the town, has never held elected office prior to the win. Rawls will be sworn in officially on July 8, and serve a four-year term in the post. Both candidates ran as independents in the race as mandated by the city’s charter for mayoral elections.
“It started with a conversation with my campaign manager, and we thought there was a need for change in our community and a lack of a sense of urgency, so we decided it would be in the best interest of everybody to just get it done,” Rawls said after he gave a victory speech to supporters.
In 2010 Matherne won her first term as mayor by 236 votes, but she couldn’t combat Rawls and his supporters Tuesday.
“I congratulate Mr. Rawls on a successful campaign, and assure him a smooth transition between administrations,” she said by phone after the results were announced.
According to the Election Commission, Rawls’ entry into the mayoral race attracted more voters in the predominately African-American town. There were 914 more votes cast this year than 2010’s total of 1,540, based on reports.
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