The Galveston County Daily News

LA MARQUE — Saturday, for the first time in the history of Galveston County, an African-American woman was elected mayor.

Geraldine Sam, 57, a lifelong resident of La Marque and an educator, edged two challengers to take her place in history by the narrowest of margins.

“I cannot even describe how I feel,” Sam said, while celebrating with family and friends at a restaurant. “I was trying to eat earlier, and I can’t even eat. It’s amazing. Just awesome.”

Sam received 355 votes, outlasting challengers James Osteen, 316 votes, and Bill Charbonneau, 289 votes, according to complete, unofficial results.

Sam, who will serve a three-year term, didn’t receive a majority of votes in the three-way race, but in La Marque there will be no run off. By the city’s charter, the candidate with the most votes is elected.

Osteen congratulated Sam on her historic victory.

“I appreciate the fact that everybody ran a clean race, not like some other cities,” Osteen said.

“I wish her the best. She cares about this city like the rest of us. I think she’ll do a good job.”

A message left for Charbonneau wasn’t returned.

Sam, who has taught school for 24 years and instructs first-grade students at Sims Elementary School, said she wouldn’t be retiring and has the blessing of school Superintendent Ecomet Burley.

“He congratulated me, and the school board congratulated me,” Sam said.

“I have the blessing of the superintendent that if there are any meetings, I’ll be able to attend. And then I’m off during summertime. That’s not going to be a problem at all.”

Beverly Mitchell, one of Sam’s campaign managers, spent Saturday evening savoring the moment.

“We had (President Barack) Obama, and now we have Sam,” Mitchell said. “Geraldine is a visionary. She has been a fighter for our community for many years.”

Sam said her first order of business would be seeking community input about crime reduction, affordable housing and economic development.

“First I’ll have to take a nap, then at Monday’s city council meeting, we’re going to start there, working with the citizens, listening to them more,” Sam said. “They know more what the city needs.”

Leon Evans Sr. became the county’s first African-American mayor in Hitchcock in the late 1990s.