Richard Ernest Jackson Jr. (born July 18, 1945) is an American politician, civil servant, and educator from New York. A Republican, Jackson has served as New York State Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, Mayor of Peekskill, New York, and as a member of the Peekskill City Council.
Richard E. Jackson | |
|---|---|
 Jackson in 1995 | |
| New York State Commissioner of Motor Vehicles | |
| In office February 14, 1995 – 2000 | |
| Governor | George Pataki |
| Preceded by | Patricia B. Adduci |
| Succeeded by | Raymond P. Martinez |
| Mayor of Peekskill, New York | |
| In office December 31, 1984 – April 24, 1991[1] | |
| Preceded by | George Pataki |
| Succeeded by | Vincent C. Vesce |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Richard Ernest Jackson Jr. July 18, 1945 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Profession | Politician, teacher |
He is the first African-American to serve as mayor of a city in the history of New York.
Early life
editJackson was born in Peekskill on July 18, 1945.[2]
Career
editJackson began his career as a mathematics teacher at Peekskill High School.[1] Jackson later taught calculus at Averill Park High School.
A three-term Peekskill City Councilmember, Jackson was appointed Mayor of Peekskill in December 1984 by a unanimous vote of the City Council when the previous mayor, George Pataki, stepped down to serve in the New York State Assembly.[2][3] Upon assuming office, he became the first African-American Mayor of Peekskill.[2][3] According to The New York Times, Jackson was also the first African-American mayor of a city in the State of New York.[2][a] A Republican, Jackson won a full term as mayor in 1985; he later won re-election to two successive terms with the largest pluralities in the city's 51-year history.[1] He continued to teach mathematics at Peekskill High School while serving in his part-time mayoral post. Jackson stepped down on April 24, 1991.[1]
In 1995, then-Governor Pataki appointed Jackson to the post of New York State Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. Jackson served as Commissioner from 1995 to 2000.[8]
Notes
edit- ^ Although The New York Times has referred to Jackson as the first African-American mayor of a city in New York history, Jackson was not the first African-American mayor in New York history. The Villages of Cleveland, Port Byron, and Bridgewater, respectively, had African-American chief executives before Jackson became Mayor of Peekskill. Ben White, an African-American, was elected Mayor of the Cayuga County Village of Port Byron on March 16, 1971.[4] Everett T. Holmes, also an African-American, served as Mayor of the Oneida County Village of Bridgewater from 1974 to 1976 and from 1978 until 1982.[4][5] Also, Ronald Blackwood, an African-American man from Mount Vernon, New York, became Acting Mayor of that city in 1976.[2] According to The New York History Blog and the Cleveland Historical Society, the Oswego County Village of Cleveland elected an African-American man named Edward "Ned" Sherman to the position of village president in May 1878.[6][7]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Melvin, Tessa (May 5, 1991). "Peekskill Left Stunned by Mayor's Resignation". The New York Times. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Williams, Lena (December 23, 1984). "Peekskill Mayor Looks to Growth". The New York Times. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ a b Bailey, A. Peter (April 1985). "Richard E. Jackson: The New Man On Top In Peekskill". Ebony – via Google Books.
- ^ a b Roe, Dawn (October 14, 2013). "What Cayuga County town elected the first black mayor in New York state?". AuburnPub.com. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ Morrison, Angelica (August 3, 2008). "Descendents of state's first black mayor connect at reunion". Observer Dispatch. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ White, Richard (March 12, 2018). "Ned Sherman: Early African-American Mayor". The New York History Blog. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ "Edward "Ned" Sherman". ClevelandHistoricalSociety.com. January 29, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ Fisher, Ian (December 29, 1994). "Proponent of Work for Welfare Is Among 9 Pataki Appointments". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.