C. Jack Ellis

Infobox Mayor
name = C. Jack Ellis
small

caption =
order = 40th Mayor of Macon, Georgia
term_start = December 14, 1999
term_end = December 11, 2007
predecessor = Jim Marshall
successor = Robert Reichert
birth_date = birth date and age|1946|01|06
birth_place = Macon, Georgia
death_date =
death_place =
constituency =
party = Democratic
spouse =
profession =
religion = Christian


footnotes =
order2 =
term_start2 = 2003
term_end2 = 2007
predecessor2 =
successor2 = Robert Reichert
order3 =
term_start3 =
term_end3 =
predecessor3 =
successor3 =

Clarence Jack "C. Jack" Ellis, is the former mayor of Macon, Georgia.

C. Jack Ellis, a Macon native, was born on January 6, 1946. [ [http://www.cityofmacon.net/CityDept/mayor/aboutmayor.htm The Official City of Macon Web Site - Mayor C. Jack Ellis: About Mayor C. Jack Ellis] ] Prior to taking office, Ellis served 20 years in the United States Army as a paratrooper and 2 years in Vietnam as a combat leader. Upon retirement from the US Army, Ellis managed a cable television system, served as a senior executive for the United States Census Bureau, and hosted a public access television show focusing on public and political affairs. He attended Macon public schools and has a Bachelors of Arts degree from St. Leo College. He is the father of 5 children.

He ran for mayor in 1999, and was elected as the first African-American to hold the position. After a successful first term, he was re-elected in 2003 after defeating several challengers in the Democratic primary and write-in opposition in the general election. During Ellis's second term, he had several notable accomplishments, including the expansion of the Middle Georgia Airport, the purchase and renovation of the historic Terminal Station, and the increase of contracts for goods and services for women and minority owned businesses. Ellis's administration was also responsible for approximately $1 million in loans to disadvantaged businesses, construction of Macon's first dog park, and closing the digital divide by making all public spaces wireless and establishing cyber centers for youth and seniors, as well as the disadvantaged throughout the city. Ellis's administration was also responsible for installing and repairing more sidewalks than any previous administartion at no cost to the taxpayers of Macon.

Under Ellis's leadership, the city successfully won a federal Hope VI grant to improve public housing, in addition to other grants and federal aid. His administration constructed over 200 new affordable housing units and eliminated over 2000 sub-standard houses and collaborated with other organizations to build over 100 new lofts in downtown Macon. Also during Ellis's administration, the city of Macon was designated as a city of excellence by the Georgia Municipal Association and awarded the City Livibilty Award by the US Conference of Mayors. First Lady Laura Bush designated Macon as a "Preserve American Community."

Ellis established relationships with several international cities in Russia, Africa, and Korea, which led to "sister-city" designations with Macon. On behalf of the US Conference of Mayors, the National Conference of Black Mayors, and the World Conference of Mayors, Ellis led several delegations on goodwill and fact-finding missions to many African countries, including Ethiopia, South Africa, Ghana, Senegal, Uganda, and Cameroon.

In April 2007, Ellis announced that he had been appointed honorary consul for the African nation of Uganda, a posting that will begin after his term as mayor ends (per State Department regulations). Ellis expects to use the honorary position to promote Uganda in his territory of the southeastern United States. Honorary consuls typically also help nationals of the country they represent with any problems they have in the country in which they live.

Ellis's term expired in December 2007. He was ineligible to run for a third term. Ellis founded the C. Jack Ellis Youth Foundation, which continues to provide services to youth with disabilities in America and Africa. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Jack Ellis controversy day 1 | date=2007-08-14 | publisher=ABC Macon News | url =http://www.macon.tv/news/local/9158006.html | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-17 | language = ] [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Jack Ellis controversy day 2 | date=2007-08-15 | publisher=ABC Macon News | url =http://www.macon.tv/news/local/9158046.html | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-17 | language = ]

Notes

See also

External links

* [http://www.cityofmacon.net/CityDept/mayor/mayor.htm Website of the Mayor's Office]
* [http://www.wmccnews.com/ WMCC News - Humor site]