Sharon Sayles Belton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sharon Sayles Belton
Sharon Sayles Belton as mayor of Mayor of Minneapolis in the 1990s
45th Mayor of Minneapolis
In office January 1, 1994 – December 31, 2001
Preceded by	Donald M. Fraser
Succeeded by	R. T. Rybak
President of the Minneapolis City Council
In office 1990–1993
Member of the Minneapolis City Council from the 8th Ward
In office 1983–1993
Personal details
Born	Sharon Sayles (1951-05-13) May 13, 1951 (age 74) Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Political party	Democratic (DFL)
Children	3
Alma mater	Macalester College

Sharon Sayles Belton (born May 13, 1951) is an American leader, politician, and activist. She has worked to help communities and improve government relations.

She served as the mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota, from 1994 to 2001. She was the first African American and the first woman to hold this important position.

Early Life and Education

Sharon Sayles Belton was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She was one of four daughters. When her parents separated, she lived for a year in Richfield, Minnesota. There, she was the only African American student in her junior high school. Later, she moved to south Minneapolis to live with her father and stepmother.

She went to Central High School in Minneapolis. She volunteered at Mount Sinai Hospital. She helped patients as a "candy striper," which is a hospital volunteer. Later, she worked as a nurse's aide. For a short time, she was also a civil rights activist in Mississippi. This means she worked to make sure all people had equal rights.

Sayles Belton then attended Macalester College in Saint Paul. She studied biology and sociology there. Like her grandfather, she became a neighborhood activist. This means she worked to make her community a better place.

Political Career and Leadership

Starting in City Government

In 1983, Sharon Sayles Belton was elected to the Minneapolis City Council. She represented the Eighth Ward. She was inspired by working with Mayor Donald M. Fraser. In 1984, she represented Minnesota at the 1984 Democratic National Convention. This is where Walter Mondale was chosen to run for President of the United States.

Sayles Belton was a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. In 1990, she was elected president of the city council.

Becoming Mayor of Minneapolis

In 1993, she decided to run for mayor. She had a strong campaign with many volunteers. She was elected on a promise to improve the police department. Her election was historic because she was the first African American and the first woman mayor in Minneapolis's 140-year history. She won against John Derus.

She was reelected in 1997, defeating Barbara Carlson. Sayles Belton served as mayor for two terms. Her time in office lasted from January 1, 1994, to December 31, 2001.

Key Achievements as Mayor

During her time as mayor, the city fixed old utility billing systems. They also updated water treatment and solved neighborhood flooding issues. By the end of the 1990s, Minneapolis saw property values go up. The city's population also increased for the first time since the 1940s.

Sayles Belton is known for helping to calm racial tensions in neighborhoods. She also supported the school system. Many saw her as a skilled city manager. Some people did not agree with using city money to help develop downtown areas. This included about $90 million for a Target store and Block E.

After the Mayor's Office

In the 2001 election, Sayles Belton lost her party's support. She also lost the Democratic primary to R. T. Rybak. After leaving the mayor's office, she became a senior fellow at the Roy Wilkins Center for Human Relations and Social Justice. This center is part of the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.

Sayles Belton later worked for GMAC Residential Finance Corporation. In 2010, she joined Thomson Reuters. There, she became the vice president of Community Relations and Government Affairs.

Personal Life

Sharon Sayles Belton is married to Steven Belton. They have three children together: Kilayna, Jordan, and Coleman.

Community Involvement

Sayles Belton has been involved in many important projects. These include supporting fairness for all races and developing communities. She also works on public policy, women's rights, and issues for families and children. She helps improve police-community relations and youth development.

In 1978, she helped start the Harriet Tubman Shelter for Battered Women in Minneapolis. ..... She has served on the boards of many organizations. These include the Neighborhood Revitalization Program, Clean Water Partnership, and the American Bar Association. She also worked with the United States Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities.

Awards and Recognition

A bust of Sharon Sayles Belton in Minneapolis City Hall, pictured in 2023

• She received the Gertrude E. Rush Distinguished Service Award from the National Bar Association.
• She was given the Rosa Parks Award by the American Association for Affirmative Action.
• A statue (bust) of Sayles Belton was revealed in Minneapolis City Hall on May 16, 2017. Governor Mark Dayton declared that day "Sharon Sayles Belton Day" in Minnesota.