Wanda Williams Explained

Wanda Williams
Office:39th Mayor of Harrisburg
Term Start:January 3, 2022
Predecessor:Eric Papenfuse
Birth Date:4 July 1953
Birth Place:Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Jerome Williams
Education:Harrisburg Area Community College

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.

Politics

Williams started her political career in 1998 as a member of the Harrisburg school board.[2] [3] She served on the Harrisburg City Council since 2006, with her last two terms serving as the council president. 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. 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] [2] [7] She faced a single Republican candidate who is facing criminal charges of child abuse.[12] However, on September 15, Eric Papenfuse announced that he would run a write-in campaign in the November General Election.[13] Despite this, Williams won the general election by more than a 2–1 margin.[14] [15] Williams became the city's second Black and second female mayor.[7] [16] [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.[2]

Notes and References

  1. News: Ben . Schad. Megan . Talley. Wanda Williams secures Harrisburg Mayoral race . WHTM. November 3, 2021 .
  2. News: Thompson . Charles . Harrisburg Council President Wanda Williams joins crowded mayoral field . 7 August 2021 . PennLive . 4 March 2021.
  3. News: Conley Gittens . Maddie . Harrisburg Council President Wanda Williams announces run for mayor, joins crowded field . 7 August 2021 . The Burg . 4 March 2021.
  4. News: McKelvey . Wallace . No more 'mayors for life'? Harrisburg mulls term limits in shadow of Stephen Reed . 7 August 2021 . PennLive . 30 August 2017.
  5. News: Vendel . Christine . Harrisburg Environmental Advisory Council collapses under 'dysfunction' . 7 August 2021 . PennLive . 31 March 2016.
  6. News: Benscoter . Jana . Harrisburg City Council president says she’ll run again, defends her actions during budget process . 7 August 2021 . PennLive . 10 December 2020.
  7. News: Cann . Harrison . What happened in three mayoral primaries and what it means for cities . 7 August 2021 . City and State PA . 7 June 2021.
  8. News: Schad . Ben . Wanda Williams wins Harrisburg Democratic Mayoral nomination . 7 August 2021 . ABC 27 . 18 May 2021.
  9. News: Binda . Lawrance . Wanda Williams narrowly captures Democratic nod for Harrisburg mayor; city council, school board nominees also chosen . 8 August 2021 . The Burg . 19 May 2021.
  10. News: Pikora . Jillian . The Votes Are In, Harrisburg Wants New Mayor . 8 August 2021 . Daily Voice . 19 May 2021.
  11. News: Thompson . Charles . Tired but happy, an exultant Wanda Williams basks in Harrisburg mayoral primary win . 8 August 2021 . MSN . 19 May 2021.
  12. News: Thompson . Charles . GOP candidate for Harrisburg mayor denounces gays on social media, awaits trial in child abuse case . 8 August 2021 . PennLive . 27 April 2021.
  13. Web site: Papenfuse seeking third term as Harrisburg mayor via write-in campaign. 2021-09-15. WPMT-TV.
  14. News: Wanda Williams elected Harrisburg mayor, beats back write-in challenge . November 2, 2021 . The Burg . Lawrance . Binda . Maddie . Conley . November 3, 2021 .
  15. Web site: 2021 Municipal Election Results UNOFFICIAL RESULTS . Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Elections . 3 November 2021.
  16. News: Thompson . Charles . Wanda Williams wins Democratic primary in Harrisburg mayor’s race, Papenfuse concedes . 7 August 2021 . WITF . 19 May 2021.
  17. News: Barcaro . Matt . It looks like Harrisburg will have a new mayor . 8 August 2021 . WGAL . 19 May 2021.
  18. News: Metrick . Becky . Harrisburg mayor temporarily transfers power to police chief after medical procedure . 1 August 2022 . . Advance Local Media LLC . August 1, 2022.

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