Yemi Mobolade was sworn in as the 42nd mayor of Colorado Springs on Tuesday, June 6.
“It’s with great humility and gratitude that I stand before you and accept this responsibility as your elected mayor,” said Mayor Yemi during his speech. “As the city’s first elected black and immigrant mayor, I am a living promise to the American Dream, and I am deeply honored to have been entrusted with the responsibility to serve your families and help lead this remarkable city. I stand on the shoulders of many giants before me. We are all heirs to the vision of our city’s founder, General Palmer, who set out to build a city that is worthy of the breathtaking beauty that surrounds us.”
An estimated crowd of more than 1,000 people gathered on the south side of the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum. The crowd included officials from the City of Colorado Springs, El Paso County, the U.S. military, the Pikes Peak Region, neighboring cities, and the State of Colorado, including Governor Jared Polis.
“Yemi Mobolade has dedicated his life to making Colorado Springs and America a better place,” Polis said during the ceremony. “The people of Colorado Springs have chosen to move forward. The state of Colorado will always be a partner in moving Colorado Springs forward. I look forward to a close partnership with the City of Colorado Springs and with Mayor Mobolade.”
Mayor Yemi is experienced at bringing communities together and unifying people around a common purpose. He has successfully elevated residents, small businesses, and entrepreneurs to economic security, and identified innovative ways to make our city work for everyone. Read his full bio.
Mayor Yemi succeeds John Suthers, who served two terms as Mayor of Colorado Springs from 2015-2023. Mayor Yemi is the third person to hold the office under the “strong-mayor” system of government, approved in 2010. Local businessman Steve Bach was the first office holder under the new system from 2011-2015.
View Tuesday’s ceremony, access a copy of Mayor Yemi’s inauguration speech and learn more about him at ColoradoSprings.gov/mayor2023.