Charles Yancey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Charles Yancey
Yancey in the 1980s
President of the Boston City Council
In office January 2001 – December 2001
Preceded by	James M. Kelly
Succeeded by	Michael F. Flaherty
Member of the Boston City Council from District 4
In office 1984–2015
Preceded by	District created
Succeeded by	Andrea Campbell
Personal details
Born	(1948-12-28) December 28, 1948 (age 76) Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Alma mater	Tufts University Harvard University

Charles Calvin Yancey, born on December 28, 1948, is a former member of the Boston City Council. He represented the areas of Mattapan and parts of Dorchester in Boston. He also served as the president of the City Council in 2001. In 2013, he ran for mayor but did not win. After serving for 16 terms on the Boston City Council, he lost his re-election bid in 2015 to Andrea Campbell.

Early Life and Schooling

Charles Yancey was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on December 28, 1948. His parents were Howell Yancey Sr. and Alice W. Yancey. He grew up in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. He attended schools within the Boston Public School System.

He went to Philip Brooks Elementary School and Patrick T. Campbell Junior High School. Later, he attended Boston Technical High School. In 1970, he earned a bachelor's degree in Economics from Tufts University. He then received a master's degree in Public Administration from Harvard University in 1991. While studying at Tufts, he helped start the Afro-American Society and the African American Cultural Center. These groups supported African American students and culture.

Political Career

In 1978 and 1979, Charles Yancey worked as the director of administration for the Massachusetts Office of Communities and Development. This role involved managing how communities in Massachusetts were developed.

Running for City Council

Yancey first ran for the Boston City Council in 1979 and again in 1981, but he did not win either time. In November 1983, on his third try, Yancey was elected to represent the 4th district. He was re-elected 15 more times, serving a total of 16 terms in a row. Each term lasted two years. His last re-election was in November 2013.

Other Elections and Endorsements

In 1992, Yancey ran against U.S. Representative Joseph P. Kennedy II for a seat in the U.S. Congress. He received 11,005 votes. In 1998, he was one of ten Democrats who ran for an open seat in Congress when Kennedy decided not to run again. Yancey finished seventh in that election.

During the 2008 presidential primary elections, Yancey supported Barack Obama for president.

Key Projects and Votes

In the 2010s, one of Yancey's main goals was to create a "first class" high school in Mattapan. In 2013, he voted against building a school in Downtown Boston. This vote was seen as a way to show his disappointment that his proposed Mattapan high school had not been approved.

In 2011, Yancey was the only member of the Boston City Council to vote against a rule. This rule would have required people applying for certain licenses to provide information about their past.

Mayoral Campaign and Later Career

Yancey was a candidate in the 2013 election for Mayor of Boston. During his campaign, he shared his views on several topics. He supported limiting the number of charter schools in Boston. He also thought there should be a citywide vote on whether to allow a casino. Additionally, he wanted to increase the number of street workers in Boston to help reduce youth violence. In the first round of the election, he finished 9th out of 12 candidates, receiving 2.1% of the votes.

In November 2015, Yancey lost his seat on the City Council to Andrea Campbell. Yancey received 38.4% of the votes, while Campbell received 61.3%.

After his time on the City Council, Yancey taught classes about state and local government at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston. In 2001, he received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Mount Ida College. This is a special degree given to honor someone's achievements.