John Browne gave his final address as mayor of McAlester on Nov. 12th at the City Council meeting, expressing appreciation for the community’s support throughout his tenure. Having served as mayor since 2015, Browne reflected on his time in office and concluded his speech with a snippet from the Irish song “The Parting Glass,” saying “gently rise and softly call good night and joy to you all.”
Justin Few, who had won the mayoral election in August 2024, was sworn in as Browne’s successor. Few, a local business owner and former Ward 2 councilor, thanked his family and voters and outlined his vision for McAlester’s future. He emphasized the importance of supporting local businesses and fostering partnerships to create opportunities for families and young people.
Few’s first actions included nominating Kevin Beaty as vice mayor, declaring Nov. 30th as Small Business Saturday, and scheduling a special election for the vacant Ward 2 seat. The council also approved Few’s nomination of Robin Woodley to fill the Ward 2 position, and Woodley was promptly sworn in.