James Perkins Jr.

This article is about the Alabama mayor. For other people named James Perkins, see James Perkins.
James Perkins Jr.
Perkins in 2004
Mayor of Selma, Alabama
In office
2000–2008
Preceded byJoseph Smitherman
In office
2020–present
Personal details
Born1952 or 1953
EducationBachelor's degree in Mathematics
Alma materAlabama A&M University, Auburn University at Montgomery
OccupationBusinessman, Pastor, Educator

James Perkins Jr. (born 1952 or 1953) is an American politician who is the incumbent mayor of Selma, Alabama. The first African American mayor of the city, he won a runoff election in 2000 and served two terms, lost his second bid for reelection in 2008, and won a third non-consecutive term in 2020.

Perkins grew up in Selma, where his parents were an elementary school principal and a nurse, and graduated in 1971 in the first racially integrated class at Selma High School; he organized an unsuccessful effort to use the former black high school as the integrated school, rather than the former white school.[1][2] He has a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Alabama A&M University and took business courses at Auburn University at Montgomery. He is a businessman and pastor and has also taught mathematics and computer science at Selma University.[3] In December 2015 he was elected presiding pastor of Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in Selma, succeeding F. D. Reese.[4]

After working as a computer consultant out of state, Perkins returned to Selma as manager of Reese's unsuccessful 1980 campaign against the long-term mayor of Selma, Joe Smitherman, a former segregationist. He returned again in 1991 and ran against Smitherman himself in 1992 and 1996[1] before succeeding in a run-off in September 2000 in defeating Smitherman's bid for his tenth consecutive term. He was Selma's first African American mayor.[2][5][6][7][8] In 2008 he was elected president of the National Conference of Black Mayors.[9]

Perkins served two terms in office; in 2008, George Evans, who was Selma's first African American City Council president, defeated his bid for reelection.[5] He ran again in 2016 after Evans's second term but was defeated by State Representative Darrio Melton.[8] Perkins was elected in a run-off over Miah Jackson to secure a third non-consecutive term in 2020.

  1. ^ a b Gettleman, Jeffrey (October 22, 2000). "To Mayor, It's Selma's Statue of Limitations". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  2. ^ a b DeMonia, Robin (October 2, 2000). "Selma steps away from its troubled past". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  3. ^ "Perkins seeks another term as Selma mayor". Selma Times-Journal. August 17, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  4. ^ Benn, Alvin (January 24, 2016). "Selma minister pickets own church over presiding pastor". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  5. ^ a b Benn, Alvin (January 12, 2012). "Selma's former mayor wants his job back". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved January 15, 2012.[permanent dead link‍]
  6. ^ "After 36 years in office, Selma mayor voted out". CNN. September 12, 2000. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  7. ^ Johnson, Bob (September 13, 2000). "Selma Elects First Black Mayor". ABC news. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  8. ^ a b Benn, Alvin (October 4, 2016). "Melton becomes Selma's new mayor". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  9. ^ "Black Mayors conference names new leader". Jet. July 21, 2008. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2017 – via Highbeam.