Wendell Butler Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wendell Butler Jr.
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| Mayor of Chester, Pennsylvania | |
| In office October 9, 2002 – January 4, 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Dominic F. Pileggi |
| Succeeded by | John Linder |
| Police Commissioner of Chester | |
| In office January 1996 – October 9, 2002 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 1943/1944 (age 80–81) Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Tanya Butler |
| Children | 3 |
Wendell Butler Jr. (born 1943/1944) is an American politician. He served as the Republican mayor of Chester, Pennsylvania, from 2002 to 2012. Before becoming mayor, he had a long career in law enforcement.
Contents
About Wendell Butler Jr.
Early Life and Police Career
Wendell Butler Jr. was born and grew up in Chester, Pennsylvania. He lived in a local housing area and went to schools in Chester. When he was a junior in high school, he moved to Ridley Township. He graduated from Ridley High School in 1962.
After high school, he joined the U.S. Army and served for three years. When he returned to Chester, he worked at the American Viscose Corporation. In 1969, he joined the Chester Police force. He worked his way up, becoming a sergeant in 1989. In 1994, he was promoted to major. Then, in January 1996, Mayor Aaron Wilson Jr. chose him to be the police commissioner.
Becoming Mayor of Chester
On October 9, 2002, the city council of Chester chose Wendell Butler Jr. to be the mayor. He took over from Dominic F. Pileggi, who had moved to a different political role. After being appointed, Butler Jr. won two more elections to stay as mayor.
During his time as mayor, he worked to keep the city safe. In 2010, he put a special plan in place, including a nighttime curfew. This was done to help reduce crime and keep everyone secure.
Later Political Life
In the 2011 election for mayor of Chester, Wendell Butler Jr. ran again. However, he lost to Democrat John Linder. This election was a big change because it ended a long period of Republican mayors in Chester. Before this, only one Democratic mayor, Barbara Bohannan-Sheppard, had served since 1905.
In 2015, Butler Jr. tried to become mayor again but was not successful. He also served on the board of the Chester Water Authority. He was appointed to this five-year position by the Delaware County Council in 2012.
Personal Life
Wendell Butler Jr. is married to Tanya Butler. They have two children together, Dondi and Dirk. He also has an older daughter named Elaine from a previous marriage.
See also
- List of mayors of Chester, Pennsylvania
