Tony Yarber
Tony Yarber | |
---|---|
52nd Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi | |
In office April 24, 2014 – July 3, 2017 | |
Preceded by | Charles Tillman (Interim Mayor) |
Succeeded by | Chokwe Antar Lumumba |
Personal details | |
Born | (1978-03-17) March 17, 1978 (age 46) Jackson, Mississippi, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Alma mater | University of Southern Mississippi Jackson State University |
Occupation | Pastor Elementary school principal |
Tony Yarber (born April 16, 1978) is an American pastor, educator and politician in Jackson, Mississippi. He was elected as Mayor of Jackson in April 2014 from special election following the death in office of Chokwe Lumumba.[1] A native of Jackson and experienced city councilor, Yarber is noted for his passion for youth causes, and has been described as "a consensus builder".[2] He was succeeded as Mayor of Jackson by his predecessor's son Chokwe Antar Lumumba on July 3, 2017.[3]
Career and personal life
Yarber was born in Jackson, Mississippi to George and Deloris Yarber in 1978, and grew up in the city's Westside Community.[2][4] He attended Forest Hill High School in Jackson.[5]
Yarber received a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Southern Mississippi and an M.S. in Education Administration and Supervision from Jackson State University.[4] He has taught school and served as an elementary school principal. Yarber served as a committee member for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.[4]
He is also Pastor and Founder of the non-denominational Relevant Empowerment Church, started in 2008.[2] He has served on the Board of Directors for Relevant Ministries.[4]
Yarber has a black belt in ninjutsu.[2] He is married and has three children.[4]
Civic achievements
Yarber is a founding member of Alignment Jackson, a non-profit organization for improving student achievement.[6]
He was the second Vice-President of the Mississippi Black Caucus of Locally Elected Officials.[6]
Elected office
City Councillor
In 2009, Yarber entered city politics, running for the Jackson City Council from Ward 6. He became City Council Vice President in 2011, and President in 2012. In 2013, Yarber served as Chair of the Budget Committee and the Education/Youth Ad Hoc Committee.[6]
Mayor
Yarber was elected Mayor of Jackson on April 22, 2014, in a runoff election against Chokwe Antar Lumumba, son of deceased former mayor Chokwe Lumumba.[1]
Yarber stated that his goals as mayor would be to improve customer service for residents and to attract new business. Yarber also discussed Jackson's potential for growth as an entertainment hub, and as a "medical corridor."[2][7]
On May 2, 2017, Yarber was soundly defeated by Chokwe Antar Lumumba in the nine-candidate primary for the Democratic nominee for mayor of Jackson, receiving 5% to Lumumba's 55%.[8]
References
- ^ a b Barnes, Dustin (April 22, 2014). "Yarber New Jackson Mayor". Clarion-Ledger.
- ^ a b c d e Lucas, Sherry (April 20, 2014). "Mayoral Race: Personal Profile of Tony Yarber". Clarion-Ledger.
- ^ "Chokwe Antar Lumumba sworn in as Jackson mayor". 3 July 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "Tony Yarber". City of Jackson, Mississippi. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
- ^ Ferretti, Haley; Nave, R.L. (April 23, 2014). "A Hands-On Tony Yarber Administration?". Jackson Free Press.
- ^ a b c "About the Mayor". City of Jackson. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
- ^ Barnes, Dustin (April 24, 2014). "Mayor Tony Yarber Preaches Plans for Jackson". Clarion-Ledger.
- ^ "Some Mayors Defeated in Mississippi Municipal Primaries". U.S. News & World Report. 2017-05-03. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
External links
- Office of the Mayor
- v
- t
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- Thomas H. Dickson 1834
- S.P. Baley 1835
- Thomas H. Dickson 1836
- S.P. Baley 1836
- John P. Oldham 1837–1838
- John P. Oldham 1839
- H.R. McDonald 1840
- John P. Oldham 1840–1841
- James H. Boyd 1842–1843
- John P. Oldham 1844–1849
- James H. Boyd 1850
- J. P. Jones 1851
- William H. Taylor 1852–1853
- Richard Fletcher 1854
- William H. Taylor 1855–1857
- James H. Boyd 1858
- W. A. Purdom 1859
- Richard C. Kerr 1860–1861
- Charles Henry Manship 1862–1863
- D. N. Barrows 1864–1867
- Thomas H. Norton 1868
- Lt. Col. James Biddle 1868
- James P. Sesseons 1868–1869
- Rhesa Hatcher 1869
- Lt. Col. Joseph G. Crane 1869
- Captain F.A. Field 1869
- A. Way Kelly 1869
- E. W. Cabiniss 1869–1870
- Oliver Clifton 1870–1871
- Rhesa Hatcher 1871–1872
- Marion Smith 1872–1874
- John McGill 1874–1888
- William Henry 1888–1893
- L. F. Chiles 1893–1895
- Oliver Clifton 1895–1897
- Ramsey Wharton 1897–1899
- H. M. Taylor 1899
- W. W. Morrison 1899 (Mayor Pro Tem.)
- John W. Todd 1899–1901
- William Hemingway 1901–1905
- Oliver Clifton 1905 (died before taking office)
- Ramsey Wharton 1905–1908 (died in office)
- A. C. Crowder 1909–1913
- S. J. Taylor 1913–1917
- Walter A. Scott 1917–1945
- Leland S. Speed 1945–1949
- Allen C. Thompson 1949–1969
- Russell C. Davis 1969–1977
- Dale Danks 1977–1989
- J. Kane Ditto 1989–1997
- Harvey Johnson Jr. 1997–2005
- Frank Melton 2005–2009 (died in office)
- Leslie B. McLemore 2009 (interim mayor)
- Harvey Johnson Jr. 2009–2013
- Chokwe Lumumba 2013–2014 (died in office)
- Charles Tillman 2014
- Tony Yarber 2014–2017
- Chokwe Antar Lumumba 2017–present