Last night, a number of candidates of color around Wisconsin made history by being elected to posts in local government and school boards that have traditionally been occupied by white residents.
Isaak Mohamed, a Somalibornnative of Barron in Northwestern Wisconsin, was elected to the city council for the first time.
Mohamed told Wisconsin Public Radio, “This isn’t just a win for me.”
“This is a win for the entire Barron community.”
Mohamed was born in Somalia but had to flee the country due to civil strife in 2006.
He spent three years in a Ugandan refugee camp.
Mohamed was given refuge in the United States in 2013 and spent a few months in New Mexico before relocating to Barron.
Mohamed became a U.S. citizen. He now works as a liaison for the Barron Area School District. Mohamed said this was his third campaign for City Council. On Tuesday night, unofficial results showed him beating his challenger 179 votes to 51. “Barron has shown the diversity and the acceptance,” Mohamed said. “So, this is really good for Barron community and my community is so happy that they have a voice in the city council.
Margaret Arney, the first Black candidate elected to the Wauwatosa Common Council, also made history Tuesday night in Wauwatosa.
Arney claimed she ran for and lost a council seat 12 years ago.
Arney ran unopposed and was declared the winner of Wauwatosa’s second district seat after the individual who had held the seat since then chose not to compete for reelection.
Arney believes the city has been undergoing a demographic change for several years and is pleased that her election victory is part of that evolution.
it kind of gives a place for other individuals of color who are Wauwatosa locals to come for hard and get involved,” Arney said.
“There’s nothing like a possible example of evidence.” And I think that it’s really a big step forward.”
While she was the first Black resident elected to the Common Council, Arney said she hopes she’s not the only one. She said another council race featuring a Black candidate is currently tied in Wauwatosa. That election could be decided by a coin-flip Friday.