Earle mayor attends DNC

Smith joins other young Democrats in support of Harris presidential bid

By DONALD WILBURN

donaldfwilburn@gmail.com

Mayor Jaylen Smith of Earle is making his mark at the Democratic National Convention this year. Taking to social media, the Mayor expressed his excitement about the various conversations taking place around important issues such as the climate crisis, as well as networking opportunities with other mayors to address pressing community concerns.

“A lot of great conversations are going on around the climate crisis, Black Caucus, Hispanic Caucus, AAPI Caucus, Native American Caucus, Ethnic Council, and a lot of networking with mayors to understand pressing issues in our communities.” said the young Mayor on Social Media earlier this week.

Mayor Smith is not the only young attendee at the

See DNC, page A3

The Mayor of Earle, Jaylen Smith, says he is making many useful connections while attending this year’s DNC.

Photo courtesy of Mayor Jaylen Smith DNC

From page A1

DNC this year. For the first time ever, over 200 digital content creators have been granted “creator credentials” to attend the convention in Chicago. These influencers, who make a living posting sponsored content online, will have special access to the event, with some even receiving press credentials.

This move to include digital content creators is a first for a Democratic nominating convention and reflects the party’s efforts to engage with younger voters. With a significant portion of adults under 30 getting their news from platforms like TikTok, these creators play a crucial role in reaching a key demographic for Democratic candidates.

The convention committee is providing the creators with exclusive access to events and guests, along with a dedicated platform on the convention floor for content creation. However, creators are not paid to attend or produce content at the convention, and they responsible for their own lodging and other expenses.

It is unclear whether Mayor Smith financed his trip though the city and local taxpayers or on his own.