Ruben Wills facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ruben Wills
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| Member of the New York City Council from the 28th district |
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| In office January 1, 2011 – August 10, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas White Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Adrienne Adams |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ruben W. Mills
August 9, 1971 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Marcia Thompson |
| Website | Official website: http://council.nyc.gov/d28/html/members/home.shtml |
Ruben W. Wills, born on August 9, 1971, is a former member of the New York City Council. He represented the 28th district from 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Mr. Wills faced some legal challenges during his time in office. However, he was later cleared of these charges in 2021.
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About Ruben Wills
Ruben Wills grew up in Southeast Queens, New York. He went to Public School 40 and Thomas Edison High School. He is married to Marcia.
Before becoming a council member, Mr. Wills worked in different roles. He was a special assistant to City Council Member Leroy Comrie. He also worked as chief of staff for State Senator Shirley Huntley. Wills also worked for the SEIU Local 1199 Union. He also ran his own company that did renovations for buildings.
Time in the New York City Council
Ruben Wills first ran for the 28th district council seat in 2009. He did not win that election. However, he won the seat in 2010 after the previous council member, Thomas White Jr., passed away.
Wills was re-elected in 2011 to finish the term. He then won a full term in 2013. He helped rename a street in his district to honor Thomas White Jr.
Helping the Community
In 2013, Councilman Wills helped get $4.4 million for schools. This money came from the city's budget. This made him a big supporter of schools in his area.
In 2016, Councilman Wills started a special fund. This fund was worth $13 million. It helped people who were at risk of losing their homes. The fund bought their mortgages and changed the loan terms. This allowed many families to stay in their homes.
During this time, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed new laws. These laws helped freelance workers. They also made it easier for people in jail to vote if they had the right to. Wills helped create the bill that protected voters.
Legal Challenges and Exoneration
After a legal case, Ruben Wills was released on parole in 2019. He always said he was innocent.
In 2020, a higher court looked at his case again. They decided that he should get a new trial. The court said that some important witnesses were not allowed to speak in the first trial.
Finally, on April 22, 2021, the charges against Ruben Wills were dropped. This means he was fully cleared.
Election History
| Election history | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Year | Election | Results |
| NYC Council District 28 |
2009 | Democratic Primary | √ Thomas White, Jr. 32.14% Lynn Nunes 32.07% Allan Jennings 16.23% Ruben Wills 9.01% Robert A. Hogan 6.0% Stephen S. Jones 4.56% |
| NYC Council District 28 |
2009 | General | √ Thomas White, Jr. (D) 88.71% Ruben Wills (Conservative) 11.26% |
| NYC Council District 28 |
2010 | Special | √ Ruben Wills 35.69% Nicole Paultre Bell 29.16% Allan Jennings 11.30% Albert Baldeo 9.73% Charles A. Bilal 8.34% Harpreet Singh Toor 3.64% Martha Taylor Butler 2.15% |
| NYC Council District 28 |
2011 | Democratic Primary | √ Ruben Wills 67.97% Allan Jennings 17.32% Michael Duvalle 9.70% Clifton Stanley Diaz 5.01% |
| NYC Council District 28 |
2011 | General | √ Ruben Wills (D) 92.43% |
| NYC Council District 28 |
2013 | Democratic Primary | √ Ruben Wills 48.90% Hettie V. Powell 32.97% Eugene Walter Evans 10.37% David Kayode 7.77% |
| NYC Council District 28 |
2013 | General | √ Ruben Wills (D) 95.23 Mireille Leroy (Unity) 4.64% |
