Summary
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]
Wanda Williams | |
|---|---|
 Williams in 2023 | |
| 39th Mayor of Harrisburg | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Eric Papenfuse |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 4, 1953 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Jerome Williams |
| Education | Harrisburg Area Community College |
| Website | Campaign website |
Early life edit
Williams grew up in Harrisburg and attended William Penn High and Harrisburg Area Community College.[2]
Politics edit
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 edit
Williams lost a granddaughter to gun violence in 2013 as a bystander at a shooting.[3]
References edit
- ^ 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.