Alvin Brown (politician)
Encyclopedia
Alvin Brown is an American
politician who is currently Mayor of Jacksonville, Florida
. The first African American
elected to the position, he succeeded John Peyton on July 1, 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party
.
. He moved to Jacksonville in 1981 and attended Edward Waters College
and Jacksonville University
, where he earned his bachelor's
and Master of Business Administration
degrees. During the 1990s he served as an adviser to Housing and Urban Development director Andrew Cuomo
, President Bill Clinton
, and Vice-President Al Gore
, although to what extent is unclear according to the Jacksonville newspaper The Florida Times-Union
. While living in Washington, Brown met his future wife Santhea. They have two sons, Joshua and Jordan.
Brown entered the race for Mayor of Jacksonville in 2011. Widely considered an underdog in the March primary election, Brown came in second in the six-person race to face the frontrunner, Republican Mike Hogan, in the runoff election. On May 17, Brown narrowly defeated Hogan by 1,648 votes in what was called the closest mayoral election in Jacksonville history. Brown became the first African American ever elected Mayor of Jacksonville, as well as the first Democrat elected since Ed Austin
in 1991. The win was considered a major upset in light of the momentum gained by the Republican Party
and the conservative Tea Party movement
in the 2010 elections, and a significant victory for the Florida Democratic Party.
Brown succeeded John Peyton to the office of Mayor of Jacksonville on July 1, 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician who is currently Mayor of Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
. The first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
elected to the position, he succeeded John Peyton on July 1, 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
Life and career
Brown was born in Beaufort, South CarolinaBeaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort is a city in and the county seat of Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston. The city's population was 12,361 in the 2010 census. It is located in the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan...
. He moved to Jacksonville in 1981 and attended Edward Waters College
Edward Waters College
-External links:* -- Official web site** at * Florida's Office of Cultural and Historical Programs** **...
and Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University is a private university in Jacksonville, Florida, on the banks of the St. Johns River. The school was founded in 1934 as a two year college and was known as Jacksonville Junior College until 1958, when it shifted its focus to four-year university degrees and adopted its...
, where he earned his bachelor's
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
and Master of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
degrees. During the 1990s he served as an adviser to Housing and Urban Development director Andrew Cuomo
Andrew Cuomo
Andrew Mark Cuomo is the 56th and current Governor of New York, having assumed office on January 1, 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the 64th New York State Attorney General, and was the 11th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development...
, President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, and Vice-President Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
, although to what extent is unclear according to the Jacksonville newspaper The Florida Times-Union
The Florida Times-Union
The Florida Times-Union is a major daily newspaper in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. Widely known as the oldest newspaper in the state, it began publication as the Florida Union in 1864. Its current incarnation started in 1883, when the Florida Union merged with another Jacksonville paper, the...
. While living in Washington, Brown met his future wife Santhea. They have two sons, Joshua and Jordan.
Brown entered the race for Mayor of Jacksonville in 2011. Widely considered an underdog in the March primary election, Brown came in second in the six-person race to face the frontrunner, Republican Mike Hogan, in the runoff election. On May 17, Brown narrowly defeated Hogan by 1,648 votes in what was called the closest mayoral election in Jacksonville history. Brown became the first African American ever elected Mayor of Jacksonville, as well as the first Democrat elected since Ed Austin
Ed Austin
T. Edward "Ed" Austin, Jr. was an American politician and attorney. He served as mayor of Jacksonville, Florida from 1991 to 1995. He also served as the first Public Defender for Florida's Fourth Judicial Circuit from 1963 to 1968, and served as State Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit from...
in 1991. The win was considered a major upset in light of the momentum gained by the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and the conservative Tea Party movement
Tea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
in the 2010 elections, and a significant victory for the Florida Democratic Party.
Brown succeeded John Peyton to the office of Mayor of Jacksonville on July 1, 2011.