Goshen, Arkansas Residents Elect State's First Openly Gay Mayor

By Jacqueline Froelich

Published December 5, 2022 at 11:55 AM CST

Russell Stroud is a nurse practitioner who grew up in Goshen.

Russell Stroud, the newly-elected mayor of Goshen, Arkansas — a rural Ozarks municipality in northeastern Washington County — appears to be the first “out” LGBTQ+ mayor in the state. Stroud discusses his historic campaign, progressive political agenda and family life.

Correction: Goshen's outgoing mayor is Max Poye, who replaced Mayor Mary Oliver after she resigned in 2020.

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