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Wanda Williams

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Wanda Williams
Williams in 2023
39th Mayor of Harrisburg
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2022
Preceded byEric Papenfuse
Personal details
Born (1953-07-04) July 4, 1953 (age 71)
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJerome Williams
EducationHarrisburg Area Community College
WebsiteCampaign website

Wanda R. D. Williams (born 1953) is an American Democratic politician from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, currently serving as 39th Mayor of Harrisburg. Running as a Democrat and President of the Harrisburg City Council, she won the 2021 Harrisburg mayoral election becoming the city's second female and second African-American mayor.[1]

Early life

[edit]

Williams grew up in Harrisburg and attended William Penn High and Harrisburg Area Community College.[2]

Politics

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Williams started her political career in 1998 as a member of the Harrisburg school board.[3][2] She served on the Harrisburg City Council since 2006, with her last two terms serving as the council president.[2] During her time in the City Council, she worked to set term limits for Harrisburg mayors.[4] In 2016 she received criticism as she was accused of politicizing the Harrisburg Environmental Advisory Council.[5]

Although she had originally planned to run again for city council,[6] Williams announced her candidacy for mayor of Harrisburg in March 2021, running on a platform of infrastructure improvements, affordable housing, and revitalization.[2] She won the Democratic primary for the 2021 Harrisburg mayoral election in an upset[7] with 28.95% of the vote, leading incumbent mayor Eric Papenfuse's 27.93% by only 56 votes, to become the Democratic nominee.[8][9][10] She was seen as the heavy favorite to win in the general election, as the winner of the Harrisburg Democratic primary has gone on to win the mayorship since 1977.[11][3][7][12] She faced a single Republican candidate who is facing criminal charges of child abuse.[13] However, on September 15, Eric Papenfuse announced that he would run a write-in campaign in the November General Election.[14] Despite this, Williams won the general election by more than a 2–1 margin.[15][16] Williams became the city's second Black and second female mayor.[7][12][17] On July 31, 2022 Williams transferred mayoral powers to Police Commissioner Thomas Carter due to a medical procedure; Carter served as acting mayor until August 16, 2022.[18] In October 2024, Williams announced a run for re-election in the 2025 Harrisburg mayoral election.[19]

Williams is the subject of a federal lawsuit filed against her by a former city employee who alleged that his sudden July 2022 termination was retaliation against refusing to promote unqualified individuals with personal ties to Williams. The lawsuit claims retaliation for his ethical concerns.[20][21] City taxpayers paid over $20,000 in legal fees for Williams from late 2022 to February 2024.[22]

Personal life

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Williams lost a granddaughter to gun violence in 2013 as a bystander at a shooting.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Schad, Ben; Talley, Megan (November 3, 2021). "Wanda Williams secures Harrisburg Mayoral race". WHTM.
  2. ^ a b c d Conley Gittens, Maddie (4 March 2021). "Harrisburg Council President Wanda Williams announces run for mayor, joins crowded field". The Burg. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Thompson, Charles (4 March 2021). "Harrisburg Council President Wanda Williams joins crowded mayoral field". PennLive. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  4. ^ McKelvey, Wallace (30 August 2017). "No more 'mayors for life'? Harrisburg mulls term limits in shadow of Stephen Reed". PennLive. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  5. ^ Vendel, Christine (31 March 2016). "Harrisburg Environmental Advisory Council collapses under 'dysfunction'". PennLive. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  6. ^ Benscoter, Jana (10 December 2020). "Harrisburg City Council president says she'll run again, defends her actions during budget process". PennLive. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  7. ^ a b c Cann, Harrison (7 June 2021). "What happened in three mayoral primaries and what it means for cities". City and State PA. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  8. ^ Schad, Ben (18 May 2021). "Wanda Williams wins Harrisburg Democratic Mayoral nomination". ABC 27. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  9. ^ Binda, Lawrance (19 May 2021). "Wanda Williams narrowly captures Democratic nod for Harrisburg mayor; city council, school board nominees also chosen". The Burg. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  10. ^ Pikora, Jillian (19 May 2021). "The Votes Are In, Harrisburg Wants New Mayor". Daily Voice. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  11. ^ Thompson, Charles (19 May 2021). "Tired but happy, an exultant Wanda Williams basks in Harrisburg mayoral primary win". MSN. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  12. ^ a b Thompson, Charles (19 May 2021). "Wanda Williams wins Democratic primary in Harrisburg mayor's race, Papenfuse concedes". WITF. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  13. ^ Thompson, Charles (27 April 2021). "GOP candidate for Harrisburg mayor denounces gays on social media, awaits trial in child abuse case". PennLive. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  14. ^ "Papenfuse seeking third term as Harrisburg mayor via write-in campaign". WPMT-TV. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  15. ^ Binda, Lawrance; Conley, Maddie (November 2, 2021). "Wanda Williams elected Harrisburg mayor, beats back write-in challenge". The Burg. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  16. ^ "2021 Municipal Election Results UNOFFICIAL RESULTS". Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Elections. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  17. ^ Barcaro, Matt (19 May 2021). "It looks like Harrisburg will have a new mayor". WGAL. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  18. ^ Metrick, Becky (August 1, 2022). "Harrisburg mayor temporarily transfers power to police chief after medical procedure". PennLive Patriot-News. Advance Local Media LLC. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  19. ^ "Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams to run for re-election". ABC27. 2024-10-17. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  20. ^ Hoopes, Zack (2023-12-04). "Ex-Harrisburg public works chief's suit against city, mayor moves toward trial". pennlive. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  21. ^ "United States Courts Opinion: United States District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania: 22-1474 - Spriggs v. City of Harrisburg et al". Pakistan Law Reporter: NA–NA. 2023-07-03.
  22. ^ Thompson, Charles (2025-03-03). "Ex-Harrisburg public works director's lawsuit raises questions about the mayor". pennlive. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Harrisburg
2022–present 		Incumbent
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