Alex Morse '11 was elected the youngest mayor of Holyoke, Mass., last night, defeating incumbent Elaine Pluta.
"It feels great," Morse told The Herald. "This is a victory for the campaign and a victory for Holyoke."
An urban studies concentrator at Brown, Morse will also be the city's first openly gay mayor. He began his grassroots campaign during his senior year, focusing on the issues of education, economic development, public safety and community pride.
"We're going to hit the ground running from day one," he said. "We've been working our butts off and the momentum has been building."
The 22-year-old candidate defeated Pluta, 67, by one vote in the primary elections in September. Morse also founded the city's first LGBTQ organization and was mentored during his time at Brown by U.S. Rep David Cicilline '83, D-R.I., former mayor of Providence.
