Evelyn Wells (politician) facts for kids

Evelyn Wells was born in 1946 or 1947. She is an American politician. She made history in Lynwood, California. She became the city's first woman mayor. She was also the second African-American mayor of Lynwood.

Evelyn Wells's Story

Evelyn Wells started her political journey in November 1985. She was elected to the Lynwood City Council. This was a big step. She was the first woman elected to the council in 20 years. She was also the second African-American person to join the council.

Becoming a Leader

In December 1985, Wells helped choose the next mayor. She nominated Robert Henning. He became Lynwood's first African-American mayor. At the same time, Evelyn Wells was named mayor pro tem. This means she was like a temporary mayor or vice-mayor. She could step in if the mayor was absent.

After an election in November 1986, more African-American leaders joined the City Council. This included Paul Richards. On December 2, 1986, the council had a problem. They couldn't agree on who should be the next mayor. A council member named John Byork was sick. He could not vote.

Robert Henning, the mayor, supported Evelyn Wells. He resigned on the same day. This made Evelyn Wells the acting mayor. She became the first woman to hold this important office in Lynwood.

Taking the Mayor's Seat

On December 16, 1986, John Byork returned to the council. The council then voted for Paul Richards to be mayor. Even though she was not chosen as mayor at that moment, Evelyn Wells did something important. She refused to give up the center seat. This seat was traditionally for the mayor. She felt she was not chosen because she was a woman.

In January 1989, the council voted again. This time, they chose Evelyn Wells as mayor. She took over from Paul Richards.

Important Decisions as Mayor

As mayor, Evelyn Wells made some big changes.

• In February 1989, she helped pass a ban on assault weapons. This was a unanimous decision by the council.
• In April 1989, she led a vote to rename Century Boulevard. It became Martin Luther King Boulevard. This was a meaningful change for the community. Some local business owners did not agree with the name change.
• She also supported a project called Genesys. This was a special military-style school. It was for young Black men in the city.

Evelyn Wells served as mayor until January 1990. Then, her political friend Robert Henning became mayor again.

After Her Time as Mayor

In 1991, Robert Henning lost his bid for a council seat. This left Evelyn Wells and Paul Richards without a strong majority on the council.

In 1992, Evelyn Wells ran for a seat in the California Assembly. This is part of the state government. She did not win this election. She finished third in the primary vote. After this, she did not run for re-election to the City Council.