TYLER - The City of Tyler made history this weekend - electing its first female mayor.

Barbara Bass beat three-term councilwoman Laura Corbett by a 2-1 margin. She received 60 percent of votes and next Wednesday, May 21, Tyler will welcome her into office.

"It's very exciting," said Bass, who is the eldest of five children. "Tyler is probably one of the last cities in East Texas to have a woman as mayor, so I was glad that we got there."

When she officially takes office, Mrs. Bass says her first order of business is to boost the Tyler economy.

She says when the Goodyear Plant left, the city lost out. She wants to make sure that never happens again.

"The first thing you want to do from an economic standpoint is to keep jobs in your community and help those here...stay and grow."

Despite the fact that five of six city councilman public pledged support for her opponent, Bass says she has no harsh feelings.

"I had emails before the election saying 'I took this stance, however, if you are elected, I'll be happy to work with you.' I wrote back 'you mean, when I'm elected you'll be happy to work with me?"

Mayor pro tem and city council member Chris Simon supported Corbett, but says he looks forward to working with Bass.

"That's water under the bridge," said Simon, who is ready to accept Bass as the city's leader. "It's time to put the election behind us and gather as one whole city council."

Bass grew up in East Texas and worked the last three decades as a CPA and partner with Gollob, Morgan, Peddy & Co.

She says she loves Tyler - from the "trees and natural resources" to "the people."

Bass looks forward, she says, to the future as the Mayor of Tyler.

"The vision that we have, from a leadership perspective, is amazing. To know that you get to be a part of that - is special."