Syracuse, N.Y. — Sharon Owens — whose career in public service launched more than 40 years ago with a college internship at a neighborhood community center — has now made Syracuse history.

Voters elected Owens the first Black mayor of Syracuse on Tuesday. She will be the 55th mayor in the city’s 177-year history. Owens is also the second woman to win the job.

“To the elders of this community, you who for decades looked to the future of a time when there would be a mayor that looks like you, that comes from your experience, that understands the struggle, that gets the hopes and the aspiration of generations of Syracusans ... I’m going to work hard to make you proud,” Owens told more than 300 supporters at her campaign’s election night party.

Owens , a Democrat, led with more than 73% of

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