Rickey Williams Jr. facts for kids

Rickey Williams Jr. (born in 1977 or 1978) is an American politician. He made history as the first African-American mayor of Danville, Illinois. Danville is the main city in Vermilion County.

About Rickey Williams Jr.

His Early Life and Education

Rickey Williams Jr. grew up in Danville. His mother, Laura, was an adult educator. His father, Ricky Williams Sr., worked as an assistant warden at the Danville Correctional Center. He also taught at the Danville Area Community College. Rickey has a younger sister.

He studied political science at Millikin University, earning a bachelor's degree. Later, he joined a PhD program at Emory University. However, he left to go on a Christian missions trip to Malawi.

Working in the Community

After his trip, Rickey Williams Jr. returned to the United States. He served as a missionary in Clarkston, Georgia. In 2006, he became the executive director of the local Boys & Girls Club. This organization helps young people grow and learn.

Becoming a City Leader

In 2009, Rickey Williams Jr. was elected to the Danville City Council. This was his first step into local government. In 2011, he ran for mayor but finished in third place.

In October 2018, the City Council chose him as acting mayor. This happened after the previous mayor, Scott Eisenhauer, resigned early. Rickey Williams Jr. was officially sworn in on November 6, 2018.

Winning a Full Term as Mayor

On April 2, 2019, Rickey Williams Jr. ran for mayor again. He promised to improve community safety and manage city money wisely. He won the election with 47.8% of the votes. He defeated three other candidates. He was sworn in for his full four-year term on May 7, 2019.

On April 4, 2023, Rickey Williams Jr. won a second term as mayor. He won by a very small margin of just 59 votes.

Key Events as Mayor

City Improvements

As mayor, Rickey Williams Jr. worked to get money for projects in Danville. One project was to tear down the Collins Tower. This building was a well-known landmark in Danville. It was built in 1917 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Changes in City Spending

Before the 2023 election, Mayor Williams supported a plan to raise the mayor's salary. The Danville City Council agreed to increase it from $75,000 to $110,000.

During his second term, a big change happened for Danville. The Quaker Oats factory announced it would close permanently. This factory had been a part of the Danville area for 65 years. It stopped production on June 8, 2024.

The city also received money from the federal government for COVID-19 relief. Danville received about $26 million. About half of this money was used to build a new water park. This decision was mentioned in a Wall Street Journal article.