James Garner (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James A. Garner
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| Mayor of Hempstead, New York | |
| In office 1989–2005 |
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| 61st President of the United States Conference of Mayors | |
| In office 2003–2004 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas Menino |
| Succeeded by | Don Plusquellic |
| Personal details | |
| Born | North Carolina |
| Political party | Republican, Conservative |
| Residences | Hempstead, New York, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Adelphi University |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1966–1969 |
James A. Garner is an American politician. He was the mayor of the Village of Hempstead, New York. He served as mayor from 1988 to 2005.
Garner was the first African-American person to be elected mayor on Long Island. He belonged to the Republican Party.
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Mayor of Hempstead
As mayor, James Garner worked to improve Hempstead. He focused on making the village better. This included fixing up areas and helping with housing.
In 2002, he was part of a special meeting. This meeting was about helping more people own homes. It was called the White House Conference on Minority Homeownership.
Leading Mayors Across the U.S.
In 2003, mayors from all over the country chose Garner. He became the 61st president of the United States Conference of Mayors. This group helps mayors share ideas. He held this important job for one year.
Political Campaigns
In 2004, James Garner ran for a bigger political job. He wanted to become a Representative in Congress. He was chosen by the Republican Party for this race.
He ran against Carolyn McCarthy in New York. Many thought the election would be very close. However, McCarthy won the election.
Later Elections
In March 2005, Garner ran for mayor again. He lost to Democrat Wayne Hall. Hall also defeated Garner in the 2009 mayoral election.
Early Life and Career
Before becoming mayor, Garner was part of the Hempstead Village Board of Trustees. He served one term on this board.
He is a veteran of the Vietnam War. He served in the United States Army during this time.
Garner studied at Adelphi University. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree there. After college, he started his own business. It was a company that helped control pests. Today, his family still owns and runs this business.
He is also a member of community groups. These include the American Legion and the NAACP.
Military Service
James Garner served in the United States Army. He was a soldier during the Vietnam War.
