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Nicole Brown becomes first Black woman elected mayor of Ypsilanti

Nicole Brown
Nicole Brown
Nicole Brown

The City of Ypsilanti has elected a black woman Mayor for the first time in city history. Nicole Brown received 76% of the vote in defeating non-partisan challenger Amber Fellows and Libertarian Mark Alan King.

Brown is a social worker by trade but is not new to city politics. She has represented Ypsilanti’s 1st Ward on city council for two terms and is currently the Mayor Pro-Tem.

The Democrat will soon replace sitting mayor Lois Allen-Richardson. Allen Richardson made history of her own when she was the first Black woman to be appointed to the mayoral role back in 2020.

Brown says the historic nature of the election win is not lost on her.

“We’ve come a long way. Like, I am my ancestors’ wildest dreams, and so, whether elected or appointed, the fact that we have both have had this ability to now say that we were the first, I mean, that’s amazing. It really doesn’t matter how we got there.”

Brown will serve a four-year term as mayor.

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Josh Hakala is the general assignment reporter for the WEMU news department.
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