Rickey Williams Jr. facts for kids

Rickey Williams Jr. (born 1977 or 1978) is an American politician. He made history as the first African-American mayor of Danville, Illinois. Danville is the main city in Vermilion County.

About Rickey Williams Jr.

Rickey Williams Jr. grew up in Danville. His mother was an educator for adults. His father worked at the Danville Correctional Center and taught at Danville Area Community College. He also has a younger sister.

Education and Early Career

Williams studied political science at Millikin University, earning a bachelor's degree. He then started a PhD program at Emory University. However, he left to go on a Christian missions trip to Malawi.

After his trip, he returned to the United States. He worked as a missionary in Clarkston, Georgia. In 2006, he became the executive director of the local Boys & Girls Club.

Joining the City Council

In 2009, Rickey Williams Jr. was elected to the Danville City Council. This was his first step into local government. In 2011, he ran for mayor but finished in third place.

Becoming Mayor of Danville

In October 2018, the City Council chose Williams as acting mayor. This happened after the previous mayor, Scott Eisenhauer, resigned early. Eisenhauer had been mayor for over 15 years. Williams was officially sworn in on November 6, 2018.

In the election on April 2, 2019, Williams ran for a full four-year term. He promised to focus on community safety and smart money management for the city. He won the election with 47.8% of the votes. He was sworn in for his full term on May 7, 2019.

Key Actions as Mayor

During his time as mayor, Williams worked on several city projects. He helped raise money to tear down the Collins Tower. This building was a Danville landmark built in 1917. It was also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The city of Danville faced challenges with safety during his leadership. Studies showed Danville was one of the most challenging cities for safety in the Midwest.

Before the 2023 election, Williams supported a plan to raise the mayor's salary. The salary increased from $75,000 to $110,000.

Second Term as Mayor

On April 4, 2023, Rickey Williams Jr. won a second term as mayor. He narrowly defeated his opponent, Jackie Vinson, by just 59 votes.

During his second term, the Quaker Oats factory announced its closure. This factory had been a major part of the Danville area for 65 years. It stopped production permanently on June 8, 2024.

Danville also received national attention for how it spent COVID-19 relief funds. The city received about $26 million from the federal government. About half of this money was used to build a new water park.