Jill Duson facts for kids

Jill C. Duson, born in 1953, is an American lawyer and politician from Portland, Maine. She has been a part of the Portland School Board and the Portland, Maine City Council since 2001.

In 2004, she made history by becoming the first African-American mayor of Portland, Maine's biggest city. She was also the first African-American woman to be a mayor in the entire state. At that time, the city council members chose the mayor to lead their meetings.

About Jill Duson

Early Career and Leadership

Jill Duson has a long history of serving her community in Portland, Maine. She first joined the Portland School Board. Later, she became a member of the Portland, Maine City Council. She has been involved in city government since 2001.

First Mayor Role

In 2004, Jill Duson was chosen by her fellow council members to be the mayor of Portland. This was a very important moment. She became the first African-American mayor of Portland. She was also the first African-American woman to hold a mayor's position anywhere in Maine.

Running for Office

In 2011, Portland created a new position for a directly elected mayor. Jill Duson decided to run for this important role. She was one of fifteen candidates and finished in sixth place.

In 2012, Jill Duson was chosen to be a delegate for the 2012 Democratic National Convention. This is a big meeting where the Democratic Party chooses its candidate for president. She also served as a Democratic elector in the general election. She supported President Barack Obama.

Important Roles and Elections

In June 2016, Jill Duson ran for the Democratic nomination for the Maine Senate. She wanted to represent her district in the state government. However, she did not win the primary election that year.

In November 2017, Duson was re-elected to the Portland City Council for her fifth term. Soon after, she announced her plan to run for the State Senate again in 2018. In June 2018, she ran in the Democratic primary but lost to another candidate.

Jill Duson was elected to the Maine Senate in 2022. This was another historic moment for her. She became the first Black woman to serve as a state senator in Maine's history.

Personal Life and Education

Jill Duson grew up in Chester, Pennsylvania. She worked hard to get a good education. She earned a bachelor's degree from Antioch College. She then went on to get a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She also studied at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.

Work Outside Politics

Besides her work in elected office, Jill Duson has had several different jobs. She has worked as a lobbyist, which means she helps represent groups and their interests to lawmakers. She also worked for the Maine Department of Labor. She was a compliance director for the Maine Human Rights Commission. She even worked in retail for L.L.Bean.