Andrew Gillum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Andrew Gillum
Gillum in 2014
126th Mayor of Tallahassee
In office November 21, 2014 – November 19, 2018
Preceded by	John Marks
Succeeded by	John E. Dailey
Member of the Tallahassee City Commission for the 2nd seat
In office February 28, 2003 – November 21, 2014
Preceded by	John Paul Bailey
Succeeded by	Curtis B. Richardson
Personal details
Born	Andrew Demetric Gillum (1979-07-26) July 26, 1979 (age 45) Miami, Florida, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Rashada Jai Howard ​ (m. 2009)​
Children	3
Education	Florida A&M University (BA)

Andrew Demetric Gillum (born July 26, 1979) is an American former politician. He served as the 126th mayor of Tallahassee, Florida, from 2014 to 2018. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Before becoming mayor, he was a Tallahassee city commissioner from 2003 to 2014. He was first elected to the commission when he was 23 years old.

In 2018, Gillum was chosen by the Florida Democratic Party to run for governor of Florida. He won the Democratic primary election against several other candidates. In the main election, he had a very close race against Republican U.S. representative Ron DeSantis. Gillum lost by a small number of votes. This made it one of the closest governor races in recent American history.

Early Life and Education

Andrew Gillum was born in Miami and grew up in Gainesville, Florida. He is one of seven children. His father was a construction worker, and his mother was a school bus driver.

Gillum finished Gainesville High School in 1998. The local newspaper, Gainesville Sun, named him one of the city's "persons of the year." After high school, he moved to Tallahassee to study political science at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU).

While at FAMU, Gillum was the president of the Student Government Association from 2001 to 2002. He was also the first student to be a member of the FAMU Board of Trustees. Gillum was elected to the Tallahassee City Commission before he finished his college studies.

Political Career

City Commissioner in Tallahassee

Gillum graduated from Florida A&M University in 2003 with a degree in political science.

In 2003, Andrew Gillum was elected to the Tallahassee City Commission. He was 23 years old, making him the youngest person ever elected to the commission. He was still a political science student at FAMU when he won.

He was later re-elected for a full four-year term in 2004. He won with 72 percent of the votes. He was re-elected again in 2008 and 2012.

Community Projects in Tallahassee

During his eleven years as a city commissioner, Gillum supported many projects to help the community.

• Digital Harmony Project: This project helped Nims Middle School students. For two years, it gave every sixth and seventh-grader a new desktop computer. It also provided free internet access and online learning tools. The school offered training for parents and students on computer skills. This project put 200 computers into students' homes.
• Palmer Munroe Teen Center: Gillum supported the opening of Tallahassee's first Teen Center. This center gives young people a safe place to go. It also runs a program called restorative justice. These programs help young people learn from their mistakes and make things right. This can help reduce future problems.
• Cascades Park: Gillum supported the building of Cascades Park in downtown Tallahassee. The park was built in 2013. It also helps manage storm-water, which protects nearby neighborhoods from flooding.

Mayor of Tallahassee

Election to Mayor

Gillum was elected mayor of Tallahassee in 2014.

In April 2013, Andrew Gillum announced he would run for mayor of Tallahassee. He ran against three other candidates. In the August 26, 2014, primary election, Gillum won with 76 percent of the votes. One of his opponents then left the race, making Gillum the mayor-elect.

Time as Mayor

Before he officially became mayor, Gillum met with other mayors to learn from their successes. He also started the Tallahassee Mayoral Fellows Program. This program allowed talented graduate students from Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University and Florida State University to gain experience working in city government. Gillum officially became mayor on November 21, 2014.

• Fair Employment: In January 2015, Gillum supported the city joining the Ban the Box campaign. This idea helps people with past mistakes get a fair chance at jobs. It does not stop background checks. It aims to help people find work and reduce repeat offenses.
• Transportation: In February 2015, Gillum welcomed the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Anthony Foxx, to Tallahassee. Gillum spoke about how important it is to invest in long-term transportation projects for cities.
• Citizen Involvement: In March 2015, Mayor Gillum wanted to improve how City Advisory Committees worked. These are local groups that help the city. He asked citizens for their ideas and encouraged them to get involved in local government.
• Trade: Also in March 2015, Gillum spoke with other Florida mayors and the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce. He supported laws that would help international trade. He said it was important for local governments to have a fair chance in trade.
• Children's Education: On March 27, 2015, Gillum held the Mayor's Summit on Children. This was a big meeting where business and community leaders learned about the importance of investing in quality Early Childhood Education (ECE). Experts spoke about how ECE helps children's language development and their future success.
• Family First Agenda: After the Summit on Children, Gillum started four community groups. These groups focused on: better and affordable child care, family-friendly workplaces, more community investments in children and families, and resources for parents. Gillum said that investing in early childhood education helps the community save money in the long run.
• Mentoring and Youth Jobs: In May 2015, Gillum started a 1,000 Mentors Initiative. This program aimed to find 1,000 adults to mentor young people in Tallahassee. He also helped create the Tallahassee Future Leaders Academy (TFLA). This summer jobs program employed over 100 young people in city government. Gillum explained that similar programs help reduce crime and increase the chances of going to college.
• Safe Neighborhoods: In 2015, Gillum and the Tallahassee Police Department started Operation Safe Neighborhoods. This was in response to an increase in shootings. The plan included more police presence, stronger community programs, and a community watch program called Neighbors on the Block.
• Community Conversations: In October 2015, a project called The Longest Table was launched. Over 400 people gathered at a long table in downtown Tallahassee. The goal was to encourage meaningful conversations among people from different backgrounds. This project won a grant to help bring people together.

2018 Governor Campaign

Andrew Gillum campaigning in 2018.

Gillum announced he would run for governor in March 2017. He was the first Democrat to say he would run. He won the Democratic nomination for governor in a surprise victory. He was the first black person nominated for governor in Florida's history.

Gillum first accepted that he had lost to Republican Ron DeSantis on election night, November 6, 2018. However, when a recount of votes began, Gillum said he wanted every vote to be counted. He accepted his loss again on November 17, after the recount was finished. The final count showed DeSantis won by about 36,219 votes. This was a very small difference, less than half a percent of all votes.

During the campaign, there were some discussions about race. Ron DeSantis used a phrase that some people thought had a hidden racial meaning. President Donald Trump also made a comment about Gillum that some saw as a racial remark.

Political Ideas

Andrew Gillum is often described as a progressive politician. Some people who hold more traditional views called him a democratic socialist. However, a fact-checking website said this was not true.

Gillum has supported several ideas:

• He wants to change the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
• He wants to expand health care coverage to more people in Florida.
• He supports removing statues that honor Confederate figures.
• He wants to raise Florida's business tax rate to help fund education.
• He supports a $15 minimum wage.
• He believes in the scientific consensus on climate change. He has warned that climate change causes sea levels to rise, which affects Florida. He disagreed with the decision to leave the Paris Agreement on climate change. He said he would work with other states on climate efforts if he were governor.
• Gillum is against Florida's stand-your-ground law.
• He supports a ballot proposal to give voting rights back to most people who have finished their felony sentences. He said this would give Floridians a second chance.

Honors and Awards

Andrew Gillum has received many honors and awards throughout his career.

• In 2001, while at FAMU, he was named the country's top student leader by the National Center for Policy Alternatives.
• In 2004, Ebony magazine included him in their "Fast Track 30 Leaders Who Are 30 and Under" list.
• Essence Magazine named him a "2010 Emerging Leader."
• In 2012, Florida A&M University honored him as an Outstanding Alumnus during its 125th Anniversary.
• Also in 2012, The Huffington Post named him one of "50 Young Progressive Activists Who Are Changing America."
• In 2014, The Washington Post political blog "The Fix" included him in their "40 Under 40" list.

Personal Life

On May 24, 2009, Andrew Gillum married Rashada Jai Howard. She also graduated from FAMU. They have three children.

In September 2020, Gillum shared that he is bisexual in an interview on a TV talk show.

Electoral History

Tallahassee City Commission, 2003–2012

Mayor of Tallahassee, 2014

Florida Gubernatorial Election, 2018

See Also

In Spanish: Andrew Gillum para niños