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Yemi Mobolade

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Yemi Mobolade
Mobolade in 2023
42nd Mayor of Colorado Springs
Incumbent
Assumed office
June 6, 2023
Preceded byJohn Suthers
Personal details
Born (1979-02-12) February 12, 1979 (age 45)
Lagos, Nigeria
Citizenship
  • Nigeria
  • United States (since 2017)
Political partyIndependent
SpouseAbbey Mobolade
Children3
Education

Blessing Adeyemi Mobolade (born February 12, 1979)[1][2] is a Nigerian-American businessman and politician. He is the 42nd mayor of Colorado Springs, Colorado, being sworn in on June 6, 2023.

Early life and career

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Mobolade was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria.[3] Mobolade's father worked in finance for ExxonMobil while his mother was a high school teacher. He has an older brother and two younger sisters.[4] In August 1996, Mobolade immigrated to the United States. He graduated from Bethel University in 2001.[5] He earned a master's degree from Indiana Wesleyan University in management and leadership and a Master of Divinity from the A.W. Tozer Theological Seminary at Simpson University.[4][6]

In 2010, Mobolade settled in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He co-founded two restaurants, founded a church within the Christian and Missionary Alliance, and was a ministry leader at the First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs between 2015 and 2017.[4] Mobolade was the vice president of business retention for Colorado Springs' chamber of commerce from 2017 to 2019 and small business development manager for Colorado Springs from 2019 to 2022.[4][7]

Mayor of Colorado Springs

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Mobolade announced his candidacy for mayor of Colorado Springs in the 2023 election as an independent politician in April 2022.[8] In the nonpartisan blanket primary, held on April 4, Mobolade finished in first place in the 12 candidate field with 29 percent of the vote, advancing to a runoff election against Republican Wayne W. Williams, former secretary of state, who received 20 percent.[9] Mobolade defeated Williams in the runoff election on May 16, 57 percent to 43 percent, to become the first Black person elected mayor of Colorado Springs[a][11] and the first elected mayor to not be affiliated with the Republican Party.[10] He was sworn into office on June 6.[12]

Personal life

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Mobolade became a United States citizen in 2017. He met his wife, Abbey, in Indiana; they have three children.[4][13]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Leon Young, who was a black Democrat, served as interim mayor of Colorado Springs in 1997.[10]

References

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  1. ^ Finley, Bruce (May 17, 2023). "Colorado Springs residents for first time elect Black mayor". Denverpost.com. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  2. ^ "Colorado Springs mayoral candidate questionnaire: Blessing "Yemi" Mobolade". KRCC. March 17, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  3. ^ Keith, Tony (March 3, 2023). "In-depth interview with City of Colorado Springs mayoral candidate Yemi Mobolade". Kktv.com. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e Jent, Breeanna (May 10, 2023). "Colorado Springs mayor's race: Yemi Mobolade looking to blaze a new trail as 'an agent of good disruption'". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  5. ^ Diaz, Lissa (October 1, 2016). "Business Stories". Bethel University. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  6. ^ "Yemi Mobolade - SimpsonU". Simpsonu.edu. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  7. ^ Lewis, Helen (April 4, 2022). "Yemi Mobolade announces bid for Colorado Springs mayor". Colorado Springs Indy. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  8. ^ Shinn, Mary (April 4, 2022). "Yemi Mobolade, a Colorado Springs entrepreneur and former business development administrator, launches bid for mayor". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  9. ^ Zubeck, Pam (April 5, 2023). "Mobolade faces Williams in Springs mayoral runoff". Colorado Springs Indy. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  10. ^ a b Jent, Breeanna (May 17, 2023). "Yemi Mobolade makes Colorado Springs history, becoming city's first elected Black mayor". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  11. ^ Fish, Sandra (May 16, 2023). "Yemi Mobolade elected mayor of Colorado Springs". Coloradosun.com. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  12. ^ Harrison, Scott (June 6, 2023). "WATCH: Colorado Springs Mayoral Swearing-In Ceremony". KRDO News. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  13. ^ Rascoe, Ayesha (May 21, 2023). "Colorado Springs Mayor-elect Yemi Mobolade reflects on his historic victory". NPR. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
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Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Colorado Springs
2023–present 		Incumbent
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