Wanda Williams
Wanda Williams | |
---|---|
Williams in 2023 | |
39th Mayor of Harrisburg | |
Incumbent | |
Assumed office January 3, 2022 | |
Preceded by | Eric Papenfuse |
Personal details | |
Born | (1953-07-04) July 4, 1953 (age 71) Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Jerome Williams |
Education | Harrisburg Area Community College |
Website | Campaign website |
Wanda R. D. Williams (born 1953) is an American Democratic politician from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, currently serving as 39th Mayor of Harrisburg. Running as a Democrat and President of the Harrisburg City Council, she won the 2021 Harrisburg mayoral election becoming the city's second female and second African-American mayor.[1]
Early life
Williams grew up in Harrisburg and attended William Penn High and Harrisburg Area Community College.[2]
Politics
Williams started her political career in 1998 as a member of the Harrisburg school board.[3][2] She served on the Harrisburg City Council since 2006, with her last two terms serving as the council president.[2] During her time in the City Council, she worked to set term limits for Harrisburg mayors.[4] In 2016 she received criticism as she was accused of politicizing the Harrisburg Environmental Advisory Council.[5]
Although she had originally planned to run again for city council,[6] Williams announced her candidacy for mayor of Harrisburg in March 2021, running on a platform of infrastructure improvements, affordable housing, and revitalization.[2] She won the Democratic primary for the 2021 Harrisburg mayoral election in an upset[7] with 28.95% of the vote, leading incumbent mayor Eric Papenfuse's 27.93% by only 56 votes, to become the Democratic nominee.[8][9][10] She was seen as the heavy favorite to win in the general election, as the winner of the Harrisburg Democratic primary has gone on to win the mayorship since 1977.[11][3][7][12] She faced a single Republican candidate who is facing criminal charges of child abuse.[13] However, on September 15, Eric Papenfuse announced that he would run a write-in campaign in the November General Election.[14] Despite this, Williams won the general election by more than a 2–1 margin.[15][16] Williams became the city's second Black and second female mayor.[7][12][17] On July 31, 2022 Williams transferred mayoral powers to Police Commissioner Thomas Carter due to a medical procedure; Carter served as acting mayor until August 16, 2022.[18]
Personal life
Williams lost a granddaughter to gun violence in 2013 as a bystander at a shooting.[3]
References
- ^ Schad, Ben; Talley, Megan (November 3, 2021). "Wanda Williams secures Harrisburg Mayoral race". WHTM.
- ^ a b c d Conley Gittens, Maddie (4 March 2021). "Harrisburg Council President Wanda Williams announces run for mayor, joins crowded field". The Burg. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
- ^ a b c Thompson, Charles (4 March 2021). "Harrisburg Council President Wanda Williams joins crowded mayoral field". PennLive. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
- ^ McKelvey, Wallace (30 August 2017). "No more 'mayors for life'? Harrisburg mulls term limits in shadow of Stephen Reed". PennLive. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
- ^ Vendel, Christine (31 March 2016). "Harrisburg Environmental Advisory Council collapses under 'dysfunction'". PennLive. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
- ^ Benscoter, Jana (10 December 2020). "Harrisburg City Council president says she'll run again, defends her actions during budget process". PennLive. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
- ^ a b c Cann, Harrison (7 June 2021). "What happened in three mayoral primaries and what it means for cities". City and State PA. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
- ^ Schad, Ben (18 May 2021). "Wanda Williams wins Harrisburg Democratic Mayoral nomination". ABC 27. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
- ^ Binda, Lawrance (19 May 2021). "Wanda Williams narrowly captures Democratic nod for Harrisburg mayor; city council, school board nominees also chosen". The Burg. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ Pikora, Jillian (19 May 2021). "The Votes Are In, Harrisburg Wants New Mayor". Daily Voice. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ Thompson, Charles (19 May 2021). "Tired but happy, an exultant Wanda Williams basks in Harrisburg mayoral primary win". MSN. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ a b Thompson, Charles (19 May 2021). "Wanda Williams wins Democratic primary in Harrisburg mayor's race, Papenfuse concedes". WITF. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
- ^ Thompson, Charles (27 April 2021). "GOP candidate for Harrisburg mayor denounces gays on social media, awaits trial in child abuse case". PennLive. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ "Papenfuse seeking third term as Harrisburg mayor via write-in campaign". WPMT-TV. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
- ^ Binda, Lawrance; Conley, Maddie (November 2, 2021). "Wanda Williams elected Harrisburg mayor, beats back write-in challenge". The Burg. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
- ^ "2021 Municipal Election Results UNOFFICIAL RESULTS". Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Elections. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
- ^ Barcaro, Matt (19 May 2021). "It looks like Harrisburg will have a new mayor". WGAL. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ Metrick, Becky (August 1, 2022). "Harrisburg mayor temporarily transfers power to police chief after medical procedure". PennLive Patriot-News. Advance Local Media LLC. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
Political offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Eric Papenfuse | Mayor of Harrisburg 2022–present | Incumbent |
- v
- t
- e
- Steven Reed (D)
Montgomery, AL - Beth Weldon (I/R)
Juneau, AK - Kate Gallego (D)
Phoenix, AZ - Frank Scott Jr. (D)
Little Rock, AR - Darrell Steinberg (D)
Sacramento, CA - Mike Johnston (D)
Denver, CO - Arunan Arulampalam (D)
Hartford, CT - Robin Christiansen (D)
Dover, DE - John E. Dailey (D)
Tallahassee, FL - Andre Dickens (D)
Atlanta, GA - Rick Blangiardi (I)
Honolulu, HI - Lauren McLean (D)
Boise, ID - Misty Buscher (R)
Springfield, IL - Joe Hogsett (D)
Indianapolis, IN - Connie Boesen (D)
Des Moines, IA - Mike Padilla (D)
Topeka, KS - Layne Wilkerson (I)
Frankfort, KY - Sharon Weston Broome (D)
Baton Rouge, LA - Mark O'Brien (?)
Augusta, ME - Gavin Buckley (D)
Annapolis, MD - Michelle Wu (D)
Boston, MA - Andy Schor (D)
Lansing, MI - Melvin Carter (D)
Saint Paul, MN - Chokwe Antar Lumumba (D)
Jackson, MS - Ron Fitzwater (R)
Jefferson City, MO - Wilmot Collins (D)
Helena, MT - Leirion Gaylor Baird (D)
Lincoln, NE - Lori Bagwell (R)
Carson City, NV - Byron Champlin (D)
Concord, NH - Reed Gusciora (D)
Trenton, NJ - Alan Webber (D)
Santa Fe, NM - Kathy Sheehan (D)
Albany, NY - Mary-Ann Baldwin (D)
Raleigh, NC - Mike Schmitz (D)
Bismarck, ND - Andrew Ginther (D)
Columbus, OH - David Holt (R)
Oklahoma City, OK - Chris Hoy (D)
Salem, OR - Wanda Williams (D)
Harrisburg, PA - Brett Smiley (D)
Providence, RI - Daniel Rickenmann (R)
Columbia, SC - Steve Harding (R)
Pierre, SD - Freddie O'Connell (D)
Nashville, TN - Kirk Watson (D)
Austin, TX - Erin Mendenhall (D)
Salt Lake City, UT - Jack McCullough (D)
Montpelier, VT - Levar Stoney (D)
Richmond, VA - Dontae Payne (D)
Olympia, WA - Amy Shuler Goodwin (D)
Charleston, WV - Satya Rhodes-Conway (D)
Madison, WI - Patrick Collins (R)
Cheyenne, WY
- Faleupolu Faavi (R)
Pago Pago, AS - John A. Cruz (R)
Hagåtña, GU - Ramon Camacho (I)
Saipan, MP - Miguel Romero (NPP/D)
San Juan, PR - Avery Lewis (D)
Charlotte Amalie, VI
- Federal capital
- Muriel Bowser (D), Washington, DC