Councilwoman chosen as new Fort Wayne mayor, its 1st Black leader, in caucus to replace late mayor

A Fort Wayne metropolis councilwoman has been chosen arsenic the caller politician of Indiana’s 2nd astir populous city, and its archetypal Black leader, during a caucus to regenerate its precocious mayor, who died successful March

FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- A Fort Wayne metropolis councilwoman was chosen Saturday arsenic the caller politician of Indiana’s 2nd astir populous city, and its archetypal Black leader, during a caucus to regenerate its precocious mayor, who died successful March.

Councilwoman Sharon Tucker, a Democrat, volition besides go the 2nd pistillate to service arsenic politician of the northeastern Indiana city. She was elected successful the 2nd circular of voting during a Democratic caucus erstwhile she met the request of 50% of the votes positive one, The Journal Gazette reported.

Derek Camp, president of the Allen County Democratic Party, said Tucker would beryllium sworn successful arsenic politician aboriginal adjacent week. He said helium would not uncover however galore votes Tucker received successful the caucus truthful that the enactment tin unite down Fort Wayne's caller mayor.

The section Democratic enactment said successful a connection that it was excited to person “Mayor Tucker astatine the helm starring Fort Wayne into the future.”

“Today, Mayor Tucker proved that she has the vigor and enactment of our party, and we can’t hold to enactment her arsenic she works to proceed moving our assemblage guardant together,” the connection adds.

Seven candidates, including Indiana Democratic House person authorities Rep. Phil GiaQuinta, ran successful Saturday's enactment caucus, wherever 92 precinct committee members formed votes.

The mayor's bureau became vacant erstwhile Mayor Tom Henry died March 28 aft experiencing a aesculapian exigency related to his tummy cancer. He was 72.

Henry, a Democrat, was elected successful November to his 5th word arsenic politician of the metropolis with astir 270,000 residents. He announced his diagnosis of late-stage tummy crab during a quality league Feb. 26 and had started chemotherapy astatine the opening of March.

Tucker volition service the remainder of Henry's mayoral term, which runs done Dec. 31, 2027, Camp said.

He said that successful summation to becoming the archetypal Black idiosyncratic to service arsenic Fort Wayne mayor, Tucker volition besides go its 2nd pistillate mayor. The archetypal was Cosette Simon, who served 11 days arsenic politician successful 1985 aft chap Democrat Winfield Moses resigned arsenic portion of a plea statement involving alleged run concern violations.

Her word ended erstwhile Moses won a enactment mayoral caucus to regenerate himself, The Journal Gazette reported.