Richard E. Jackson

Richard Ernest Jackson Jr. (born July 18, 1945) is an American politician, civil servant, and educator 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. He was the first African-American mayor of a city in the history of New York.

Richard E. Jackson
New York State Commissioner of Motor Vehicles
In office
February 14, 1995 – 2000
GovernorGeorge Pataki
Preceded byPatricia B. Adduci
Succeeded byRaymond P. Martinez
Mayor of Peekskill, New York
In office
December 1984 – April 24, 1991[1]
Preceded byGeorge Pataki
Succeeded byVincent C. Vesce
Personal details
Born
Richard Ernest Jackson Jr.

(1945-07-18) July 18, 1945
Political partyRepublican
ProfessionPolitician, teacher

Early life

Jackson was born in Peekskill on July 18, 1945.[2]

Career

Jackson began his career as a mathematics teacher at Peekskill High School.[1]

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][lower-alpha 1] 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]

Personal life

He and his wife, the former Ruth Sokolinsky, have two daughters.

Notes
  1. 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
  1. Melvin, Tessa (May 5, 1991). "Peekskill Left Stunned by Mayor's Resignation". The New York Times. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  2. Williams, Lena (December 23, 1984). "Peekskill Mayor Looks to Growth". The New York Times. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  3. Bailey, A. Peter (April 1985). "Richard E. Jackson: The New Man On Top In Peeskill". Ebony – via Google Books.
  4. Roe, Dawn (October 14, 2013). "What Cayuga County town elected the first black mayor in New York state?". AuburnPub.com. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  5. Morrison, Angelica (August 3, 2008). "Descendents of state's first black mayor connect at reunion". Observer Dispatch. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  6. White, Richard (March 12, 2018). "Ned Sherman: Early African-American Mayor". The New York History Blog. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  7. "Edward "Ned" Sherman". ClevelandHistoricalSociety.com. January 29, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  8. Fisher, Ian (December 29, 1994). "Proponent of Work for Welfare Is Among 9 Pataki Appointments" – via NYTimes.com.
Political offices
Preceded by
George Pataki		 Mayor of Peekskill, New York
1985 – 1991		 Succeeded by
Vincent C. Vesce
Government offices
Preceded by
Patricia B. Adduci		 New York State Commissioner of Motor Vehicles
February 14, 1995 – 2000		 Succeeded by
Raymond P. Martinez
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