For The First Time In U.S: Liberian Refugee Sworn In As Montana Mayor

By GNNLiberia 169
Helana’s new Mayor Wilmot Collins, left, is sworn into office by Judge Mike Menahan on Tuesday morning, Jan. 2, 2018, in the Capitol Rotunda in Helena, Mont. Collins is a Liberian refugee who was elected mayor of Helena in November. (Thom Bridge / Associated Press)

(Associated Press) HELENA – Liberian refugee Wilmot Collins has been sworn in as the mayor of Helena – the first black mayor of any city in the history of the United States.

About 100 people, including Gov. Steve Bullock and Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney, attended Tuesday’s ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda.

The Independent Record reports two city commissioners also were sworn in by District Judge Mike Menahan.

Collins has said his priorities include finding a way to hire more firefighters and police officers while addressing teen and veteran homelessness and improving tourism.

Collins and his wife Maddie relocated to Montana because she had been an exchange student in Helena while she was in high school and remained close with her host family.

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Joel Cholo Brooks is a Liberian journalist who previously worked for several international news outlets including the BBC African Service. He is the CEO of the Global News Network which publishes two local weeklies, The Star and The GNN-Liberia Newspapers. He is a member of the Press Union Of Liberia (PUL) since 1986, and several other international organizations of journalists, and is currently contributing to the South Africa Broadcasting Corporation as Liberia Correspondent.

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