Wilmot Collins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wilmot Collins
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| 40th Mayor of Helena | |
| Assumed office January 2, 2018 |
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| Preceded by | James Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 15, 1963 Monrovia, Liberia |
| Political party | Democratic (2019–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Independent (until 2019) |
| Spouse |
Maddie Muna
(m. 1991) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Liberia (BA) Troy University (MS) |
Wilmot Collins was born on October 15, 1963. He is an American politician who serves as the mayor of Helena, Montana. He won the mayoral election on November 7, 2017, with 51% of the votes. This made him the first person of color to be elected mayor of any city in Montana since it became a state in 1889.
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Wilmot Collins's Journey to Helena
Wilmot Collins came to Helena, Montana, in 1994. He was a refugee from Liberia, his home country. A refugee is someone who has to leave their country because of war or danger. He left during the First Liberian Civil War.
Collins came to join his wife, who had moved to Montana two years earlier. He became a United States citizen in 2002. After that, he worked for the Montana Department of Health and Human Services. He helped protect children in his job.
Family Life and Military Service
Wilmot Collins has two children with his wife, Maddie Muna. Their daughter is named Jaymie, and their son is named Bliss.
For more than 20 years, Collins was a member of the United States Navy Reserve. This means he was part of a group of trained military members who can be called upon if needed.
Wilmot Collins's Political Career
Wilmot Collins has been active in politics. He announced he would run for the United States Senate in 2020 as a Democrat. However, he later decided not to run and supported another candidate, Steve Bullock.
Re-election as Mayor
On March 29, 2021, Collins announced he would run for mayor of Helena again. He talked about his achievements during his first term. These included policies that help the environment, making housing more affordable, and funding important city services.
Collins won his re-election as mayor on November 2, 2021. He won with 67% of the votes. This made him the first Black person to win re-election for any office in Montana.
Welcoming Newcomers
In 2021, Wilmot Collins spoke about welcoming Afghan refugees. These are people who had to leave Afghanistan because of conflict. He shared his own experience as a former refugee. He said he was excited to welcome them to Montana. He hoped they would join the community and share their experiences and culture.
