Mayor Veronica Smith-Creer’s historic turn as El Dorado’s first black and first female mayor is coming to a close.
Republican challenger Paul Choate, who serves on the El Dorado City Council, unseated Smith-Creer, a Democrat, Tuesday in a three-way race that included Tocarra Cato.
Choate snagged nearly 2,500 votes and Smith-Creer, nearly 1,800, according to unofficial results from the General Election.
Cato, a political novice who ran as an independent candidate, posted 184 votes.
A total of 4,477 votes were cast in the El Dorado mayoral race.
Choate led in each voting category, picking up 2,497 ballots — 832 on Election Day, 83 absentee ballots and 1,582 early votes.
The majority of the 1,796 votes that came in for Smith-Creer were cast by early voters, who compiled 1,117 votes for the incumbent mayor.
In a written statement, Choate spoke directly to El Dorado residents.
“I am forever grateful for the confidence you have placed in me,” he wrote.
Choate pledged to work with “everyone” to help improve the city.
“We have a wonderful opportunity in front of us and make no mistake, I understand that for El Dorado to grow, the entire city must prosper,” he continued.
During his campaign run, Choate laid out four points on which he plans to focus as mayor. They include:
• Professionally managing City Hall.
• Making El Dorado safe for all families.
• Securing public access to free Wi-Fi.
• Retaining and adding high-paying jobs.
Choate also thanked Smith-Creer for her public service in the mayor’s office and said he looks forward to working with her on an orderly transition.
Smith-Creer was elected in 2018. Her term ends Dec. 31.