Keiffer Mitchell Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Keiffer J. Mitchell Jr.
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| Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 44th district |
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| In office January 12, 2011 – January 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Ruth M. Kirk |
| Succeeded by | none (due to redistricting) |
| Member of the Baltimore City Council from the 11th district |
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| In office 1995–2007 |
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| Succeeded by | William H. Cole, IV |
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| Born | September 28, 1967 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Nicole Kramer |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Clarence Mitchell Jr. (grandfather) Clarence Mitchell III (uncle) Parren Mitchell (uncle) Clarence Mitchell IV (cousin) |
| Residences | Baltimore, Maryland |
Keiffer Jackson Mitchell Jr. (born September 28, 1967) is an American politician from Baltimore, Maryland. He has served in important roles, including the Maryland House of Delegates and the Baltimore City Council. He also ran for mayor of Baltimore in 2007.
Contents
Early Life and Political Roots
Keiffer Mitchell Jr. was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on September 28, 1967. He grew up in a family deeply involved in politics. His grandfather, Clarence M. Mitchell Jr., was a famous civil rights leader. His great-uncle, Parren Mitchell, was a U.S. Congressman. Other family members, like his uncle Clarence Mitchell III and his father's brother Michael B. Mitchell Sr., also served in government.
Keiffer started helping with political campaigns at a very young age. When he was just three, he handed out flyers for his uncle's State Senate campaign. At twelve, while attending Boys' Latin School of Maryland, he organized a "Kids-for-Carter" group to support Jimmy Carter for president. In college, he volunteered at the Democratic National Convention and even protested against the Ku Klux Klan.
Education Journey
Keiffer Mitchell Jr. graduated from Boys' Latin School of Maryland in Baltimore in 1986. He then went to Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. There, he earned a degree in political science, which is the study of government and politics.
Later, he continued his education and received a law degree (called a J.D.) from the District of Columbia School of Law in 1994. He is also a member of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity.
Public Service and Career
During his college years, Keiffer Mitchell Jr. gained valuable experience. He worked as an intern at the White House under the Clinton Administration. He also served as a law clerk for important groups like the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Maryland Public Defender's Office.
In 1995, Mitchell returned to his old school, Boys' Latin, to teach history. He taught about the United States, African-American history, and Maryland history. He also coached the junior varsity basketball team. That same year, he was elected to the Baltimore City Council. On the council, he led the Education and Human Resources Committee and was vice-chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
Mitchell continued his public service, attending the 2000 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. He was also appointed to lead Baltimore's Human Services Commission. In 2002, he was re-elected to the City Council and became a leader in the Maryland Democratic Party.
After teaching, Mitchell worked in finance with firms like A. G. Edwards and Harbor Bank of Maryland. He was re-elected to the city council for a third term in 2004. He served on committees focused on law, education, housing, and health. The Baltimore City Paper voted him Baltimore's "Best Politician" in both 1999 and 2005.
Beyond his official roles, Mitchell is active in his community. He serves on the boards of organizations like Echo Hill Outdoor School and Habitat for Humanity. He is a lifelong member of Sharp Street United Methodist Church and lives in Baltimore's historic Bolton Hill neighborhood.
Running for Mayor of Baltimore
On January 19, 2007, Keiffer Mitchell Jr. announced he would run for mayor of Baltimore. His campaign focused on making the city safer and improving leadership. Many people saw him as a strong candidate to help reduce crime. He received support from important groups like the Firefighters Union and the Police Union.
On September 11, 2007, Mitchell accepted that he had not won the Democratic primary election for Mayor of Baltimore City. The winner was Sheila Dixon.
Primary Election Results (2007)
In the 2007 Democratic Primary for Mayor of Baltimore, here's how the votes turned out:
- Sheila Dixon received 54,381 votes (63.1%).
- Keiffer J. Mitchell Jr. received 20,376 votes (23.7%).
- Andrey Bundley received 6,543 votes (7.6%).
- Jill P. Carter received 2,372 votes (2.8%).
Serving in the Maryland Legislature
From 2011 to 2015, Keiffer Mitchell Jr. served in the Maryland House of Delegates. He was first on the House Judiciary Committee. In 2014, he moved to the House Economic Matters Committee.
In 2013, he helped create a new law called the Baltimore City Public Schools Construction and Revitalization Act. This law approved 1.1 billion dollars to build new schools in Baltimore City. This was a big step towards improving education for students in the city.
Active in the Democratic Party
Keiffer Mitchell Jr. has also been very active in the Democratic Party. In December 2007, he was chosen to be a delegate for Barack Obama's presidential campaign from Maryland's 7th congressional district. This meant he helped represent the district's voters at the Democratic National Convention.
In 2009, there were discussions that Mitchell might run again for the Maryland House of Delegates in 2010. He did run and was successful.
Democratic Primary Election Results (2010)
In the 2010 race for the Maryland House of Delegates – 44th District, voters chose three candidates. Here are the top finishers:
- Keith E. Haynes won with 4859 votes (25.9%).
- Keiffer J. Mitchell Jr. won with 4481 votes (23.9%).
- Melvin L. Stukes won with 3321 votes (17.7%).
- Ruth M. Kirk lost with 2860 votes (15.2%).
