Victoria Jackson-Stanley

Victoria Jackson-Stanley
Mayor of Cambridge
Assumed office
July 21, 2008
Preceded by Cleveland Rippons
Personal details
Born (1953-08-20) August 20, 1953
USA
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Jerome Tollifer Stanley
Children Ericca Louise Stanley
Profession social worker
Religion United Methodist

Victoria Jackson-Stanley (born August 20, 1953) is an American politician and the first African-American and the first woman[1] to be elected Mayor of Cambridge, Maryland.[2]

Background

Jackson-Stanley was born in and grew up in a racially segregated Cambridge, where blacks lived in a section called Ward Two and attended segregated schools. The town had a history of racial unrest, with race riots making headlines in the 1960s.[3] By the 1970s, the town integrated and she was among the first black students to attend the previously all-white Cambridge High School.[4]
Jackson-Stanley is currently the deputy director of the Dorchester County Department of Social Services.[5] She and her husband, Jerome, live in Cambridge; they have a daughter and a grandson.

Election

On June 10, 2008, in a non-partisan primary election Jackson-Stanley and incumbent Mayor Cleveland Rippons won the right to face each other in the July general election. Rippons received 696 votes, Jackson-Stanley 674 votes and Octavene Saunders finished third with 128 votes.[6] Under Cambridge local election laws, only the top two vote-getters qualify for a run-off general election. During the general election campaign, Jackson-Stanley went door-to-door in the City of Cambridge touting her leadership skills and vowed to hire competent professionals to head vital city departments. Rippons, an eight-year incumbent, was criticized during the campaign for his support of the expansion of development in and around Cambridge.[5] On July 8, 2008 voters chose Jackson-Stanley over Rippons by a 1,383 to 1,231 margin.[7] Although Cambridge is composed equally of black and white residents, neither candidate felt that the other brought up race as an issue.[4] Residents agreed that economic growth and other concerns were more important than gender or race.[8] Jackson-Stanley was sworn in on July 21, 2008.[9] She won a second term in July 2012.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Maddox, Pamela. "Jackson-Stanley defeats Rippons". The Star Democrat. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  2. ↑ "City Elects First Black Mayor". Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  3. ↑ "Maryland History: 1960's". Maryland State Archives. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  4. 1 2 Wyatt, Kristen (2008-07-11). "Md. city with edgy racial past elects black mayor". DelawareOnline/AP. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  5. 1 2 Guy, Chris (2008-07-10). "Cambridge makes history". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  6. ↑ "Rippons, Jackson-Stanley, survive Cambridge primary". WBOC16. 2008-06-11. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  7. ↑ "Cambridge makes history". Baltimore Examiner. 2008-07-10. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  8. ↑ Watson, Amber (2008-07-10). "History In The Making". Delmarva 47 News. Retrieved 2008-07-12.
  9. ↑ "Victoria Jackson-Stanley: Cambridge Mayor Acceptance Speech".
  10. ↑ "Cambridge mayor wins second term". Star-Democrat.
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