James Perkins Jr.
Perkins in 2004
Mayor of Selma, Alabama
In office
2000–2008
In office
2020–present
Personal details
Born1952 or 1953
EducationBachelor's degree in Mathematics
Alma materAlabama A&M University, Auburn University at Montgomery
OccupationBusinessman, Pastor, Educator

James Perkins Jr. (born 1952 or '53) was the first African American mayor and is the incumbent mayor of Selma, Alabama. He won a runoff in 2000 and served two terms, lost his second bid for reelection in 2008, and won a third non-consecutive term in 2020.

Perkins grew up in Selma, where his parents were an elementary school principal and a nurse, and graduated in 1971 in the first racially integrated class at Selma High School; he organized an unsuccessful effort to use the former black high school as the integrated school, rather than the former white school.[1][2] He has a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Alabama A&M University and took business courses at Auburn University at Montgomery. He is a businessman and pastor and has also taught mathematics and computer science at Selma University.[3] In December 2015 he was elected presiding pastor of Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in Selma, succeeding F. D. Reese.[4]

After working as a computer consultant out of state, Perkins returned to Selma as manager of Reese's unsuccessful 1980 campaign against the long-term mayor of Selma, Joe Smitherman, a former segregationist. He returned again in 1991 and ran against Smitherman himself in 1992 and 1996[1] before succeeding in a run-off in September 2000 in defeating Smitherman's bid for his tenth consecutive term. He was Selma's first African American mayor.[2][5][6][7][8] In 2008 he was elected president of the National Conference of Black Mayors.[9]

Perkins served two terms in office; in 2008, George Evans, who was Selma's first African American City Council president, defeated his bid for reelection.[5] He ran again in 2016 after Evans's second term but was defeated by State Representative Darrio Melton.[8] Perkins was elected in a run-off over Miah Jackson to secure a third non-consecutive term in 2020.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Gettleman, Jeffrey (October 22, 2000). "To Mayor, It's Selma's Statue of Limitations". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  2. 1 2 DeMonia, Robin (October 2, 2000). "Selma steps away from its troubled past". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Perkins seeks another term as Selma mayor". Selma Times-Journal. August 17, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  4. ↑ Benn, Alvin (January 24, 2016). "Selma minister pickets own church over presiding pastor". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  5. 1 2 Benn, Alvin (January 12, 2012). "Selma's former mayor wants his job back". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  6. ↑ "After 36 years in office, Selma mayor voted out". CNN. September 12, 2000. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  7. ↑ Johnson, Bob (September 13, 2000). "Selma Elects First Black Mayor". ABC news. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  8. 1 2 Benn, Alvin (October 4, 2016). "Melton becomes Selma's new mayor". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Black Mayors conference names new leader". Jet. July 21, 2008. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2017 – via Highbeam.


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