By Rev. Donald L. Perryman, Ph.D.
The Truth Contributor
The next generation doesn’t just want to vote —they want to see leaders who reflect their communities and their realities. – John Della Volpe
Brittany Jones’ finish as one of the top two vote-getters in Toledo City Council’s at-large election signals a shift —a generational, demographic, and political transformation underway not only in Lucas County but across the nation.
Jones’ rise is part of a broader national trend. In Detroit, Mary Sheffield, age 38, became the city’s first woman and first Black woman mayor, while Dorcey Applyrs and Sharon Owens made history as their cities’ first Black mayors in Albany and Syracuse, New York, respectively.
And in rural Alabama, 26-year-old Ciara Smith was sworn in as the youngest and first Black mayor of Anniston, showing that this next-generation leadership is not limited to major urban centers.
From metropolitan neighborhoods to smaller cities, young Black women are stepping into power, reflecting their communities and reshaping local governance, and voters are loving it.
It’s Not 2024 Anymore
Director of the Lucas County Board of Elections, Lavera Scott, offered insight into what this election revealed about voter behavior. “People are making more conscious decisions… After the last election, so many stayed home,” she said. “But this year, campaigns communicated clearly: if you want your voice heard, you have to show up.”
Our local results, which Scott discusses, are a microcosm of a national trend: an electorate that understands its voice matters and is determined to exercise it.
Amy Walter, columnist for the acclaimed Cook Political Report, noted that this voting cycle highlighted “snap-back” shifts not only in heavily minority communities but also in suburban areas and among voters Trump had targeted in 2024, including Hispanic populations and white women. The results indicate that these communities — motivated by both local concerns and dissatisfaction with the national political climate — were mobilizing decisively and making their voices heard.
A Top Vote-Getter With a Message
When I asked Jones what her first-place finish meant to her personally and to the African-American community, she didn’t speak of triumph. She spoke of responsibility:
“It is truly an honor… It shows that the Black vote is just as important and powerful. No demographic should be taken for granted — especially the Black vote, because we are vocal, influential, and capable of organizing. Personally, it means grit and faith will get you through.”
Jones also wants to “keep the vibe alive,” sees her win as a torch-passing moment for others:
“I hope this inspires young people, women, and people of color to get into politics — not just running but organizing and managing. We need to be at the table. I especially want to inspire mothers. Having children should not be a deterrent to a woman’s career.”
Policy Priorities That Reflect the Community
Yet, Jones’ victory signals more than just representation; it reflects a commitment to addressing the everyday struggles of her constituents. In our post-election conversation, Jones discussed the importance of strengthening Toledo’s food system infrastructure, describing access to healthy, affordable food as not only a public health priority but also a potential driver for economic development.
And she has made economic equity a central concern, ensuring that residents squeezed by rising costs and stagnant wages have a voice in city government. Thus, she is equally focused on homeownership, understanding the challenges of both affording and maintaining homes for working- and middle-class families.
These are the priorities that underscore her broader mission to make Toledo City government responsive to communities whose needs have too often been overlooked. In doing so, Jones embodies the spirit of the next generation of leaders — young, community-rooted, and determined to transform long-ignored needs into tangible, lasting policy change.
The Key Lesson
“Local elections are the most important — and EVERY vote counts,” says Jones.
As polling expert John Della Volpe puts it, [This generation is] “the most diverse… generation in American history,” one that brings more open-mindedness about race, gender, and sexuality into the political arena — not simply as an afterthought, but as a core part of its civic identity.
Indeed. November 2025 proved that every vote does count.
It also proved that a new generation of Black leadership — younger, female, intentional, and community-rooted — is ready to govern, both nationally and locally.
Contact Rev. Donald Perryman, PhD, at drdlperryman@centerofhopebaptist.org