John Jenkins (American politician) facts for kids

John Jenkins (May 29, 1952 – September 30, 2020) was an American martial artist, speaker, and politician. He made history as the first African American Mayor of Lewiston, Maine. He served in this role from 1994 to 1998.

Jenkins also served as a State Senator for Maine from 1996 to 1998. Later, he became the Mayor of Auburn, Maine, from 2007 to 2009. He was known for his skills in martial arts and for inspiring others through his speeches.

Born in Newark, New Jersey, Jenkins graduated from Bates College in 1974. During his college years, he became very good at martial arts. After graduating, he traveled to Japan to compete.

He won the 1977 Karate World Championships. He also won three other championships in karate and ju-jitsu.

In 1980, he returned to Maine to work at Bates College. He became the director of housing there. In November 1993, he officially entered politics. He won his first election to become Mayor of Lewiston by a large margin.

While serving as mayor, he also ran for the Maine Senate. He won, becoming a state senator. After a break from politics, he became a business consultant and a motivational speaker. In 2007, he successfully ran for mayor of Auburn as a write-in candidate. He went back to business consulting after his term ended in 2009.

In 2017, John Jenkins announced he would run for governor of Maine. He ran as an Independent candidate in the 2018 election.

Early Life and Education

John Jenkins was born in Newark, New Jersey, on May 29, 1952. He was the youngest of three children. He faced many challenges during his early life.

He often said that good schools and his strong religious faith helped him through tough times. His mother, a Christian Baptist, sent him to a program after high school. This program was run by the American Friends Service Committee. It connected him with a social program at Princeton University. This experience showed him the value of a college education.

In 1970, Jenkins enrolled in Bates College. Even though many students there came from wealthy families, he started the Afro-American Society. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology in 1974.

While at college, he became an expert in martial arts. After graduating, he went to Japan to compete. He won the 1977 Karate World Championships. He also won three other championships in karate and ju-jitsu.

Jenkins passed away on September 30, 2020, after an illness.

Political Career

Mayor of Lewiston

After working at Bates College, John Jenkins decided to run for mayor. In November 1993, he announced his campaign for Mayor of Lewiston, Maine. He won the election by a big margin, with three times more votes than his opponent.

As mayor, he worked to grow the city's economy. He encouraged businesses from other countries to invest in Lewiston. Jenkins also helped create trade and city partnerships with nearby towns in Maine. By 1995, Lewiston's economy was thriving. The city's unemployment rates dropped, making it one of the healthiest economies in the state.

Serving as State Senator

Two years into his time as mayor, in 1995, Jenkins ran for the Maine Senate. He won the election, defeating the person who held the seat before him. He became a state senator representing the 21st district. He was the first African American to hold this position.

His campaign for the Maine Senate was tough. It involved personal attacks and racial issues. This was different from his earlier campaigns. After finishing his terms as mayor of Lewiston and state senator, he took a break from politics. During this time, he worked as a business consultant and a motivational speaker.

Mayor of Auburn

After his break, Jenkins decided to return to politics. He ran for mayor of Auburn. He won the election as a write-in candidate, meaning people wrote his name on the ballot.

Later Political Activities

In August 2010, John Jenkins announced he would run for governor of Maine. He ran as a write-in candidate in the 2010 Maine gubernatorial election. The current governor, John Baldacci, could not run again. Jenkins competed against other candidates, including Eliot R. Cutler, Libby Mitchell, and Paul LePage. In the end, Paul LePage was elected governor.

On September 1, 2017, it was announced that Jenkins was thinking about running for governor again. He was interested in the 2018 Maine gubernatorial election. He said he would run as an Independent if everything worked out. If elected, he would have been Maine's first African-American governor. In November 2017, he officially filed the paperwork to announce his candidacy.