This weekend, voters elected Melinda Mitchell as mayor.
Mitchell’s election is a first for the city of St. Martinville.
"I’m willing to work with everybody because of diversity but we can agree to disagree," said the mayor-elect.
She is the city’s first elected female mayor. With 54% of the vote, she beat Thomas Nelson, who’s been in office for 12 years.
"I was very, very excited. I thought that I was dreaming at first, but yes it is the reality. But I got excited not only for me but also for the people of the community," said Mitchell.
She is no stranger to running for mayor as she ran once in 2010 and again in 2014. But this time something registered with voters.
"I think that a lot of people just wanted new ideas, new perspective, new energy into the office and they were motivated and wanted to take a chance and said we need a change and change is here. Which proved to me that three times is a charm," said Mitchell.
She’s had various positions in government and said when she takes office on July 1, she hopes to bring development to St. Martinville.
"I think I can bring a change of bringing businesses, attracting new businesses to the community. And bringing revenues that way we can have more in our community and attract families to live here," she said. "And the way I’m going to do that is, continue to talk to investors, attract them and give them a reason to want to build businesses here for the community."
The city will also have a new council member on July 1st. Juma Johnson was elected this weekend to represent District 4.
