Albert Tresvant facts for kids

Albert Tresvant (born April 15, 1926 – died July 25, 2004) was an American politician. He made history as the first African-American commissioner and mayor of Opa-locka, Florida. He was also the first African-American mayor in Dade County.

Early Life and Community Work

Albert Tresvant was born in Brunswick, Georgia. When he was five, his mother passed away. He then moved to the Liberty City area of Miami. There, his aunt and grandmother raised him.

He went to Liberty City Elementary School. Later, he graduated from D.A. Dorsey Senior High School. After finishing school, he started his own business. He worked in upholstery, fixing furniture.

In 1956, Albert Tresvant became very active in his community. He started the Opa-locka Civic Club. This club helped organize the Black community. Their goal was to improve the city of Opa-locka.

Becoming a City Leader

In 1964, Tresvant first tried to join the City Commission. This was a big deal and got national attention. Even though he didn't win that time, he kept working for his community.

In January 1972, a spot opened on the City Commission. Commissioner Bert T. Goodson suggested Albert Tresvant. Everyone on the commission agreed to appoint him. They wanted someone with a strong record of helping the community. They also wanted to have minority representation. This happened after some unrest in 1971.

At that time, about 35-40% of Opa-locka's population was Black. City Commissioners were elected by all voters in the city. The person with the most votes became mayor.

In April 1972, Tresvant won a seat on the City Commission. He finished third in the election. His term was for two years.

First African-American Mayor

In the 1974 election, Tresvant tied for first place with Kenton Wells. They decided to share the two-year mayoral term. Wells served the first year. Tresvant's term as mayor began in 1975. Both men also served as city commissioners during this time. Albert Tresvant was officially sworn in as mayor on April 18, 1975.

Making a Difference as Mayor

When Albert Tresvant became mayor, the city faced some challenges. He worked to hire more Black police officers. Before his time, only 3 out of 28 officers were Black.

During his time as mayor, he achieved several important things. He helped get more police protection for Black neighborhoods. He also appointed more Black people to city government roles. Additionally, he worked on improving the city's roads and services. In April 1976, Candido Giardino was elected as the next mayor.

Personal Life

Albert Tresvant was married to Virginia Wilkinson. They had five daughters and one son together. He passed away on July 25, 2004, at the age of 78.