Douglas Harold Palmer (born October 19, 1951) is a former politician who was the first African-American mayor of Trenton, New Jersey.
Douglas Palmer | |
---|---|
Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey | |
In office July 1, 1990 – June 30, 2010 | |
Preceded by | Carmen J. Armenti |
Succeeded by | Tony F. Mack |
65th President of the United States Conference of Mayors | |
In office 2006–2008 | |
Preceded by | Michael Guido |
Succeeded by | Manny Diaz |
Personal details | |
Born | Douglas Harold Palmer October 19, 1951 Trenton, New Jersey, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Christiana Foglio-Palmer |
Children | Laila Rose (born 2002) |
Residence(s) | Trenton, New Jersey, U.S. |
Alma mater | Hampton University |
Biography
editPalmer was born in Trenton and attended Trenton public schools. He then graduated from the Bordentown Military Institute in Bordentown, New Jersey. He is a graduate of Virginia's private historically black college Hampton University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management in 1973. Doug is also a member of Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship Incorporated. He took office as mayor of Trenton on July 1, 1990, having defeated former city council president and mayor Carmen Armenti.[1]
Palmer helped to initiate the Trenton Office of Policy Studies, now the John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy,[2] at Thomas Edison State University a unique think tank under the executive directorship of John P. Thurber, representing a partnership among the Mayor's Office, the University, and foundations to provide high quality focused research to the administration of a small city.
Palmer assembled a talented cabinet, including William Bill Watson as Chief of Staff, Alan Mallach as Director of Housing and Urban Development,[3] and Elizabeth Johnson as Director of Recreation, Natural Resources, and Culture.
Palmer was a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition,[4] a bipartisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Palmer announced at a press conference December 7, 2009, that he would not seek a sixth term as mayor of Trenton.
References
edit- ^ "Douglas Palmer". City Mayors. Retrieved 2010-03-22.
- ^ "John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy".
- ^ "Allan Mallach" (PDF).
- ^ "Mayors Against Illegal Guns: Coalition Members". Archived from the original on 2007-03-06.
External links
edit- www.groovephigroove.org
- Official page on Trenton city website
- CityMayors profile
- John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy
- Appearances on C-SPAN