Victoria Jackson-Stanley Explained

Victoria Jackson-Stanley
Order:19th Mayor of the City of Cambridge
Term Start:July 21, 2008
Term End:January 4, 2021
Predecessor:Cleveland Rippons
Successor:Andrew Bradshaw
Birth Date:20 August 1953
Birth Place:USA
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Jerome Tollifer Stanley
Children:Ericca Louise Stanley
Profession:Social worker

Victoria Jackson-Stanley (born August 20, 1953) is an American politician who previously served as mayor of the city of Cambridge, Maryland. She was the first African-American and the first female mayor[1] of Cambridge, Maryland.[2]

Background

Jackson-Stanley was born in and grew up in Cambridge, where blacks attended segregated schools. The town had a history of racial unrest, with race riots making headlines in the 1960s.[3] By the 1970s, the town integrated and she was among the first black students to attend the previously all-white Cambridge High School.[4]
Jackson-Stanley was previously the deputy director of the Dorchester County Department of Social Services.[5] She and her husband, Jerome, live in Cambridge; they have a daughter and a grandson.

Election

On June 10, 2008, in a non-partisan primary election Jackson-Stanley and incumbent Mayor Cleveland Rippons won the right to face each other in the July general election. Rippons received 696 votes, Jackson-Stanley 674 votes and Octavene Saunders finished third with 128 votes.[6] Under Cambridge local election laws, only the top two vote-getters qualify for a run-off general election. Rippons, an eight-year incumbent, was criticized during the campaign for his support of the expansion of development in and around Cambridge.[5] On July 8, 2008 voters chose Jackson-Stanley over Rippons by a 1,383 to 1,231 margin.[7] Although Cambridge is composed equally of black and white residents, neither candidate felt that the other brought up race as an issue.[4] Residents agreed that economic growth and other concerns were more important than gender or race.[8] Jackson-Stanley was sworn in on July 21, 2008.[9] She won a second term in July 2012.[10] Jackson-Stanley served a third term from 2016 to 2020. She was defeated in a runoff election by a 57% to 43% margin in 2020 by local businessman and volunteer firefighter Andrew Bradshaw.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jackson-Stanley defeats Rippons. Maddox. Pamela. The Star Democrat. 2008-07-11.
  2. Web site: City Elects First Black Mayor. Associated Press. 2008-07-11.
  3. Web site: Maryland History: 1960's. Maryland State Archives . 2008-07-11.
  4. Web site: Md. city with edgy racial past elects black mayor. Wyatt. Kristen. 2008-07-11. DelawareOnline/AP. 2008-07-11.
  5. Web site: Cambridge makes history. Guy. Chris. 2008-07-10. Baltimore Sun. 2008-07-11.
  6. Web site: Rippons, Jackson-Stanley, survive Cambridge primary. 2008-06-11. WBOC16. 2013-12-22.
  7. Web site: Cambridge makes history. 2008-07-10. Baltimore Examiner. 2013-12-22.
  8. Web site: History In The Making . Watson. Amber. 2008-07-10. Delmarva 47 News. 2008-07-12.
  9. Web site: Victoria Jackson-Stanley: Cambridge Mayor Acceptance Speech. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/ALua7U8ukQc . 2021-12-21 . live. .
  10. Web site: Cambridge mayor wins second term. Star-Democrat .