James McClinton
Encyclopedia
James A. McClinton is a Kansas
politician
, originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, and former mayor
of Topeka, Kansas
who served a partial term from January 2004 to April 2005. He was appointed by the city council to replace Butch Felker
who resigned amid a campaign finance scandal. (Duane Pomeroy
served as acting mayor from November to December 2003.) McClinton had previously served on the city council
from 1991 to 1993 and from 1997 to 2001. He is a Democrat
.
James McClinton was born in Milwaukee, but subsequently moved in childhood first to Arkansas
and finally to Topeka, Kansas. He attended Washburn University
where he received an Associate's degree
in Mental Health
and a Bachelor's Degree
in Criminal Justice
. He received his Master's Degree
in Public Administration
from the University of Kansas
. He and his wife, Martha, have four children together.
McClinton's short stint as mayor is significant for its firsts and lasts. He was the first African American
mayor of Topeka and the first mayor to be appointed by the city council. (He was chosen from a field of 40 candidates by the city council.) However, he was also the last mayor to serve the city with full authority as the populace subsequently voted in a referendum for council-manager form of government in 2004 which stripped the mayor of most of his or her powers. Instead, a new city manager
and the city council
would hold non-ceremonial power. (The decision to include this initiative on the 2004 ballot was made prior to the appointment of McClinton, possibly in reaction to Felker's alleged abuses.) In 2004, McClinton decided against running for a full term as a "ceremonial" mayor.
He was also the subject of a negative press, prior to his appointment. In 2002, he was alleged to have committed an act of domestic battery
, but the charges were subsequently dropped by the district attorney.
During his time as mayor, Topeka celebrated its 150th anniversary. The city was also honored by a visit from both George W. Bush
and John Kerry
, celebrating the anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education
decision which ended racial segregation in schools and the renovated Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site
. Mayor McClinton created a large diverse group of community leaders and charged them to create a Riverfront Development Plan. He submitted that Plan to the City Council prior to leaving office. The Riverfront Plan was approved by the Council, received approval by the Kansas Legislature and signed into law by then Governor Kathleen Sebelius.
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, and former mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Topeka, Kansas
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
who served a partial term from January 2004 to April 2005. He was appointed by the city council to replace Butch Felker
Butch Felker
Harry L. "Butch" Felker III was a Kansas politician and former mayor of Topeka, Kansas who served two full terms and one partial term, resigning in 2003 due to political pressure as a result of a scandal....
who resigned amid a campaign finance scandal. (Duane Pomeroy
Duane Pomeroy
Duane Pomeroy is a Kansas politician and teacher who has served on the Topeka city council continuously since January 1993, was deputy mayor of Topeka, Kansas under Butch Felker, and then became acting mayor from November 2003 to early January 2004 after a scandal forced Felker's resignation...
served as acting mayor from November to December 2003.) McClinton had previously served on the city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
from 1991 to 1993 and from 1997 to 2001. He is a Democrat
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...
.
James McClinton was born in Milwaukee, but subsequently moved in childhood first to Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
and finally to Topeka, Kansas. He attended Washburn University
Washburn University
Washburn University is a co-educational, public institution of higher learning in Topeka, Kansas, USA. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and business. Washburn has 550 faculty members, who teach more than 6,400 undergraduate students and...
where he received an Associate's degree
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
in Mental Health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
and a Bachelor's Degree
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...
in Criminal Justice
Criminal justice
Criminal Justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts...
. He received his Master's Degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Public Administration
Public administration
Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal.....
from the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
. He and his wife, Martha, have four children together.
McClinton's short stint as mayor is significant for its firsts and lasts. He was 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...
mayor of Topeka and the first mayor to be appointed by the city council. (He was chosen from a field of 40 candidates by the city council.) However, he was also the last mayor to serve the city with full authority as the populace subsequently voted in a referendum for council-manager form of government in 2004 which stripped the mayor of most of his or her powers. Instead, a new city manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
and the city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
would hold non-ceremonial power. (The decision to include this initiative on the 2004 ballot was made prior to the appointment of McClinton, possibly in reaction to Felker's alleged abuses.) In 2004, McClinton decided against running for a full term as a "ceremonial" mayor.
He was also the subject of a negative press, prior to his appointment. In 2002, he was alleged to have committed an act of domestic battery
Battery (crime)
Battery is a criminal offense involving unlawful physical contact, distinct from assault which is the fear of such contact.In the United States, criminal battery, or simply battery, is the use of force against another, resulting in harmful or offensive contact...
, but the charges were subsequently dropped by the district attorney.
During his time as mayor, Topeka celebrated its 150th anniversary. The city was also honored by a visit from both George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
, celebrating the anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 , was a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. The decision overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896 which...
decision which ended racial segregation in schools and the renovated Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site
Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site
Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site was established in Topeka, Kansas, on October 26, 1992, by the United States Congress to commemorate the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision aimed at ending racial segregation in public schools...
. Mayor McClinton created a large diverse group of community leaders and charged them to create a Riverfront Development Plan. He submitted that Plan to the City Council prior to leaving office. The Riverfront Plan was approved by the Council, received approval by the Kansas Legislature and signed into law by then Governor Kathleen Sebelius.