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Mia Love kisses her husband Jason Love at the Avalon Academy

Saratoga Springs made history Tuesday night, becoming the first Utah city to elect a black woman as mayor.

Councilwoman Mia Love defeated challenger Jeff Francom in the contest to replace outgoing Mayor Timothy Parker.

“I am absolutely honored,” Love said. “I am so excited.”

And in Provo, John Curtis beat Rep. Stephen D. Clark to become its next mayor. The election was the culmination of a campaign that saw Clark accused of bribery and the Utah County Republican Party charged with meddling. Curtis said much of the acrimony came from each candidate’s supporters, while he tried to keep his campaign issue-oriented.

“One of my first agenda items is reuniting the divide created by this election,” Curtis said Tuesday night.

In Provo’s Municipal Council District 5, Councilwoman Cindy Richards lost to Sterling Beck, wrapping up a race that saw Richards under heavy attack from a committee formed by Utah County GOP Chairman Taylor Oldroyd.

Curtis, chief operating officer for Action Target, campaigned on a platform of economic development and job creation, as well as cracking down on the city’s gang problem.

Clark had promised to try to improve relations between the city administration and the council.

The council race in the state’s third largest city generated controversy, with Clark accused of bribing one of his rivals to drop the race in return for political power. Clark has denied the allegation.

During the campaign, Clark’s wife, Councilwoman Cynthia Clark accused Oldroyd of throwing the GOP’s support to Curtis. She cited a Utah County GOP booth set up in front of Curtis’ campaign headquarters during the America’s Freedom Festival Parade in Provo July 4.Oldroyd also faces a hearing before the GOP’s executive committee for organizing a political action committee targeting Richards.

Tags: Black Achievement, Black Politicians, Mia Love, Utah
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  • http://www.blackplanet.com/tone0469/ tone0469

    Ok, what does this story has to do with the first black mayor in Utah. This story speaks about the corruption of another polictian. This is something huge but once again we have to mix a great historical story with some other BS story.

    Great going News One!!!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Natty8/ Natty8

    The first black mayor for us Utahn’s and it’s a WOMAN….woo hoo!! Lovin it, but where’s the info on her? This story is just crap.

  • http://btx3.wordpress.com/2009/11/07/first-black-elected-mayor-in-utah/ First Black Elected Mayor in Utah « Btx3’s Blog

    [...] Hat Tip – NewsOne [...]

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/3iiiE/ 3iiiE

    re.writting them history bookz daily…

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/soveu34/ soveu34

    Congrats to the sista watch ur back though u can bet they’ll be gunning to get u out as fast as u got in. Newsone you did a kayne and stole her moment with that bs story added boooooooooooo u need to come correct and do a more detailed story on Mrs. Love

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/mrlosa/ mrlosa

    Aint that a pornal stars name???

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/davettalashley/ davettalashley

    Congratulations, Mia Love, and congratulations Utah!

    And congratulations to the fool below me who compared Ms Love to a pornstar. It’s a good thing that you let us all know the source of your knowledge.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/iamtruelove1111/ iamtruelove1111

    Ok

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/sylkiifeather/ sylkiifeather

    lol @ davettalashley…

  • http://newsone.com/nation/first-black-mayor-of-majority-white-newton-mass-prepares-to-take-office/ First Black Mayor Of Majority White Mass. Town Prepares To Take Office | News One

    [...] Meet Mia Love, Utah’s First African-American Mayor TAGS: Massachussetts, mayors, race relations Share with friends! [...]

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/zhere/ zhere

    this is great!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/40hours/ 40hours

    way to go!!! I lived in Layton Utah for a year and a half. It was the strangest place i have ever been in the states. Blacks are less than 2% of the population. Most places dont carry black hair care products. I had to go the Hill Air force base to get my hair cut. One time a little boy asked me for my autograph, He thought i played for the Jazz. I told my autograph was only good if it was on a personal check. But i will say one thing the blacks that where there formed a tight bond.

  • http://www.verysmartbrothas.com/four-super-and-somewhat-under-the-radar-sistas-you-should-definitely-know/ four super (and somewhat under the radar) sistas you should definitely know

    [...] being the state of utah’s first black mayor is definitely impressive, love also holds the distinction of being the first black female elected [...]

  • http://newsone.com/nation/news-one-staff/first-black-woman-n-j-attorney-general-to-be-sworn-in-today/ First Black Woman N.J. Attorney General To Be Sworn In Today | News One

    [...] Meet Mia Love, Utah’s First African-American Mayor [...]

  • http://newsone.com/nation/news-one-staff/why-are-there-so-few-black-female-politicians/ Why Are There So Few Black Female Politicians? | News One

    [...] Meet Mia Love, Utah’s First African-American Mayor [...]

  • http://newsone.com/nation/news-one-staff/why-are-there-so-few-black-female-politicians/ Why Are There So Few Black Female Politicians? | News One

    [...] Meet Mia Love, Utah’s First African-American Mayor [...]

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Azrael3/ Azrael3

    For those of you who would like to know more about Mia Love, I copied and pasted info on her from Wikipedia:

    “Ludmya “Mia” B. Love (born 1975) was the first female African-American to serve as a city mayor in Utah. She began her term as mayor of Saratoga Springs, Utah in January of 2009.

    Mia was born in New York City and raised there and in Connecticut. Mia’s parents were immigrants from Haiti and she had older sibblings who were born in that country. She graduated from the University of Hartford. After this she worked as an airline flight attendant. Around this time she joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

    Mia married Jason Love, a man of Euro-American descent who was also a Mormon. In 1997 they moved to Saratoga Springs, Utah. In 2003 she was elected to the city council of Saratoga Springs and in 2008 was elected mayor of that city. In her race for mayor Love campaigned on the preservation of quality of life and open space in Saratoga Springs.”

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ben-Linford/595923693 Ben Linford

    Great story! Just so you know, though, she’s the first FEMALE African American mayor in Utah. The first African American mayor in Utah was elected in 2001 in Ogden, it was George Garwood Jr. Follow the doc**entary film 2%, about the African American community in Utah, at facebook.com/2percentdoc**entary

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