Frank Scott Jr. Becomes 1st Black Mayor Elected By Popular Vote In Little Rock, Ark.

Frank Scott Jr. beat out opponent Baker Kurrus after securing some 58 percent of the popular vote in Tuesday's runoff election.

Breanna Edwards Dec, 05, 2018

Little Rock, Ark., just elected Frank Scott Jr., who will be the first Black mayor elected by popular vote in the city’s history.

According to KATV, Baker Kurrus, Scott’s opponent in the nonpartisan runoff election, conceded at around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday after early voting and absentee ballots counted showed Scott way ahead of the game.

Unofficial results showed Scott leading with 58 percent of the vote, while Kurrus secured only 42 percent.

Little Rock has had two other Black mayors, but they were city directors who were selected for the job by board members, rather than officials chosen by the people.

Scott, a Little Rock native, who is a banker and associate pastor, has also serve his community in the past as a deputy police director and a director of intergovernmental affairs under former Gov. Mike Beebe. He was also on the state highway commission and on the board of directors of the Little Rock Port Authority and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central Arkansas.

Scott’s big push as mayor will be job growth and economical development in the city.

“When companies contemplate relocating to Arkansas, Springdale, Rogers and Jonesboro have become favored destinations – not Little Rock,” he said. “We have got to get back into the conversation, and on the top of mind for companies.”