James M. Baker

James M. Baker is the 54th Mayor of Wilmington, Delaware. He took office in January, 2001, during a Special Meeting of the Wilmington City Council.

Early life

Baker was born in Fostoria, Ohio, in 1942. After completing high school there, he joined the United States Air Force. He received an honorable discharge in 1966. Following his discharge he joined VISTA, the domestic Peace Corps program.

Political Life

Baker has held staff and executive positions with private and governmental agencies including: Model Cities Program; the Northeast Federal Credit Union; the Governor's Office; and Community Action of Greater Wilmington. He was elected to the Wilmington City Council in 1972. In 1984 he became the first African-American elected City Council President.As mayor, he has seen Wilmington memorials erected to Americans killed during World War II and the Korean War.He is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition [cite web| url=http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/about/members.shtml| title=Mayors Against Illegal Guns: Coalition Members Retrieved on June 19, 2007] , an organization formed in 2006 and co-chaired by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston mayor Thomas Menino.

Personal

Mayor Baker is the author of "The Genuine American Music," a two-volume encyclopedia of black musicians, which tells the story of black music in America through text, rare photos, and original illustrations.

References

External links

* [http://www.ci.wilmington.de.us/biography.htm Office of the Mayor homepage]
* [http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org Mayors Against Illegal Guns homepage]