This article is about the Alabama mayor. For other people named James Perkins, see James Perkins.
James Perkins Jr. (born 1952 or 1953) is an American politician who is the incumbent mayor of Selma, Alabama. The first African American mayor of the city, he won a runoff election in 2000 and served two terms, lost his second bid for reelection in 2008, and won a third non-consecutive term in 2020.
Alabama A&M University, Auburn University at Montgomery
Occupation
Businessman, Pastor, Educator
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.
^ abGettleman, Jeffrey (October 22, 2000). "To Mayor, It's Selma's Statue of Limitations". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
^ abDeMonia, Robin (October 2, 2000). "Selma steps away from its troubled past". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
^"Perkins seeks another term as Selma mayor". Selma Times-Journal. August 17, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
^Benn, Alvin (January 24, 2016). "Selma minister pickets own church over presiding pastor". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
^ abBenn, Alvin (January 12, 2012). "Selma's former mayor wants his job back". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved January 15, 2012.[permanent dead link]
^"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.
^Johnson, Bob (September 13, 2000). "Selma Elects First Black Mayor". ABC news. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
^ abBenn, Alvin (October 4, 2016). "Melton becomes Selma's new mayor". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
^. Jet. July 21, 2008. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2017 – via Highbeam.
This article about a mayor in Alabama is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
james, perkins, this, article, about, alabama, mayor, other, people, named, james, perkins, james, perkins, born, 1952, 1953, american, politician, incumbent, mayor, selma, alabama, first, african, american, mayor, city, runoff, election, 2000, served, terms, . This article is about the Alabama mayor For other people named James Perkins see James Perkins James Perkins Jr born 1952 or 1953 is an American politician who is the incumbent mayor of Selma Alabama The first African American mayor of the city he won a runoff election in 2000 and served two terms lost his second bid for reelection in 2008 and won a third non consecutive term in 2020 James Perkins Jr Perkins in 2004Mayor of Selma AlabamaIn office 2000 2008Preceded byJoseph SmithermanIn office 2020 presentPersonal detailsBorn1952 or 1953EducationBachelor s degree in MathematicsAlma materAlabama A amp M University Auburn University at MontgomeryOccupationBusinessman Pastor Educator 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 amp 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 editList of first African American mayorsReferences edit a b Gettleman Jeffrey October 22 2000 To Mayor It s Selma s Statue of Limitations Los Angeles Times Retrieved May 12 2017 a b DeMonia Robin October 2 2000 Selma steps away from its troubled past The Christian Science Monitor Retrieved May 12 2017 Perkins seeks another term as Selma mayor Selma Times Journal August 17 2016 Retrieved May 12 2017 Benn Alvin January 24 2016 Selma minister pickets own church over presiding pastor Montgomery Advertiser Retrieved May 12 2017 a b Benn Alvin January 12 2012 Selma s former mayor wants his job back Montgomery Advertiser Retrieved January 15 2012 permanent dead link 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 Johnson Bob September 13 2000 Selma Elects First Black Mayor ABC news Retrieved May 12 2017 a b Benn Alvin October 4 2016 Melton becomes Selma s new mayor Montgomery Advertiser Retrieved May 12 2017 Black Mayors conference names new leader Jet July 21 2008 Archived from the original on January 27 2018 Retrieved May 12 2017 via Highbeam nbsp This article about a mayor in Alabama is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Perkins Jr amp oldid 1217638626, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
