Wanda Williams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wanda Williams
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Williams in 2023
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| 39th Mayor of Harrisburg | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Eric Papenfuse |
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| Born | July 4, 1953 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Jerome Williams |
| Education | Harrisburg Area Community College |
Wanda R. D. Williams (born in 1953) is an American politician. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Currently, she is the 39th Mayor of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She won the 2021 Harrisburg mayoral election. This made her the city's second female and second African-American mayor.
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Early Life and Education
Wanda Williams grew up in Harrisburg. She went to William Penn High School. Later, she studied at Harrisburg Area Community College.
Political Career
Williams began her political journey in 1998. She became a member of the Harrisburg school board. This was her first step in public service.
Serving on the City Council
In 2006, Williams joined the Harrisburg City Council. She served on the council for many years. For her last two terms, she was the council president. As president, she helped lead important discussions. She also worked to set limits on how long mayors could serve.
Running for Mayor
In March 2021, Wanda Williams decided to run for mayor. She had planned to run for city council again. But she chose to aim for the top city job instead. Her main goals were to improve city buildings and roads. She also wanted to make housing more affordable. Plus, she aimed to help Harrisburg grow and become better.
Williams won the Democratic primary election for mayor. This was a close race. She beat the current mayor, Eric Papenfuse, by only 56 votes. Winning the primary meant she would be the Democratic candidate. This was a big step, as the Democratic candidate usually wins the general election in Harrisburg.
Becoming Mayor
In the general election, Williams faced a Republican candidate. The former mayor, Eric Papenfuse, also ran as a write-in candidate. Despite this, Wanda Williams won the election easily. She received more than twice as many votes as her opponents.
On January 3, 2022, Wanda Williams became the 39th Mayor of Harrisburg. She is the second Black person and the second woman to hold this important position in the city's history. In July 2022, she briefly transferred her mayoral duties. Police Commissioner Thomas Carter served as acting mayor for a short time. This happened while Mayor Williams had a medical procedure. She returned to her duties in August 2022.
