WATCH: Sharon Tucker sworn in as Fort Wayne’s 37th mayor
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) - History was made in Fort Wayne on Tuesday as Sharon Tucker was sworn in as the first Black woman to serve as the city’s mayor.
Sharon Tucker, who has worked in local government for a decade, was elected to fill the mayoral vacancy during a caucus held on Saturday by the Allen County Democratic Party (ACDP).
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Tucker was formally sworn in as mayor at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the Clyde Theatre, 1808 Bluffton Rd. 21Alive News livestreamed the full event for those unable to attend. You can watch it below.
Following two rounds of voting by 92 ACDP precinct chairs during Saturday’s caucus, Tucker was named as the late mayor Tom Henry’s successor out of seven candidates. Tucker will finish the remainder of Henry’s term, through January 2028.
Tom Henry’s family sent the following statement in support of Tucker:
The longtime councilwoman first confirmed her intentions to run for the seat with 21Alive News on April 2.
Tucker was elected as the county’s 1st District Councilwoman in 2014 and was re-elected to a second term in 2018. At the time, she was the only woman, African American, and Democrat serving on the council, according to the City’s website. She also served as the Allen County Democratic Party’s treasurer for five years and was named Vice Chair in 2016. She was then elected to the 6th District City Council seat in 2019, the first Black woman to hold the seat.
The Democrat has a long record of community involvement, most recently serving as the executive director of Vincent Village, Inc., a transitional shelter designed to help unhoused families find permanent homes. She has also worked with Advancing Voices of Women, a nonpartisan group that encourages women to be more involved with public service, and the NAACP. She also serves on many community boards, including the board of directors for the Allen County Public Library, Alliance Health Clinic, and Summit City Entrepreneur and Enterprise District.
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