Andrew Gillum
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Andrew D. Gillum (born on July 26, 1979 in Miami) is a city commissioner in Tallahassee, Florida, USA. At the age of 23, Gillum became the youngest person ever elected to the Tallahassee City Commission in February 2003.
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[edit] Background
Gillum was raised in Gainesville, Florida as the fifth of seven children born to Charles and Frances Gillum. He graduated from Gainesville High School in 1998 and, during that year, was recognized by the Gainesville Sun as one of the city's "Persons of the Year." He then moved to Tallahassee to attend Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU).
[edit] Early Political Activity
From the time he set foot on campus, Gillum became a champion for many issues. Following the 2000 Presidential election, he addressed the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on election violations in the State of Florida. Subsequently, he was instrumental in organizing the historic March on Tallahassee in protest of Governor Jeb Bush's executive order to abolish Affirmative Action in state university admissions and state contracting. As a result of his advocacy efforts, the national Center for Policy Alternatives (Washington, DC) recognized him as the country's top student leader in 2001.
A graduate of College Leadership Florida, Class IV, Gillum was also very active in FAMU's Student Government Association (SGA), serving as a student senator his freshman and sophomore years, and as senate president his junior year. Then, his peers elected him as SGA President, serving from 2001-02. While in office, he was appointed to the following boards and committees: first student member of the FAMU Board of Trustees; FAMU Presidential Search Committee; the State of Florida Higher Education Funding Advisory Board; and the Leon County Civic Center Authority Board. His impact on the local community spread statewide when he accepted the position of Field Organizer with People For the American Way Foundation (PFAWF), Tallahassee Office. In 2002, he organized and led the largest get-out-the-vote campaign - titled "Arrive With 5" - in Florida's history. In 2003, the Florida Democratic Party recruited Gillum as its Deputy Political Director; but his passion for organizing get-out-the-vote campaigns led him back to PFAWF as the statewide Director of the "Arrive With 5" program.
[edit] Political career
At the time of the 2003 election, Gillum was a student at Florida A&M University (FAMU), majoring in political science. In August 2004, Commissioner Gillum was re-elected by the citizens of Tallahassee, to serve for a full four-year term as one of four on the Tallahassee City Commission.
November 2004 garnered him increased prominence in civic leadership responsibilities. Gillum served in the one-year term as Mayor Pro Tem (November 10, 2004 through November 9, 2005). Additionally, the joint body of City and County Commissioners, known as the Capital Region Transportation Planning Agency, elected him to serve as their chairperson for a year (January, 2005 through December, 2005).
[edit] Professional career
As National Director of the Young Elected Officials Network with People For the American Way Foundation, Gillum spearheads a program that seeks to unite elected officials age 35 and under in a network which supports them with leadership and personal development training and public policy support. Gillum was instrumental in inaugurating this PFAWF project initiative in January 2006. With Gillum at the helm, in May 2006, the program evolved into a national network that links young elected officials across the country and helps identify solutions to the challenges facing our communities and states.
[edit] Community Involvement
Gillum serves on the Board of Directors of the Black Youth Vote Coalition, a program of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (Washington, DC); is a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); and a member of the Community of Faith Church. Other board/committee memberships includes but are not limited to the following:
- Boards and Committees - City Government
- Capital Region Transportation Planning Agency - Chair for 2005
- Economic Development Council
- Florida League of Cities
- Cultural Resources Commission Ways and Means Committee
- Boards and Committees - Community
- Big Bend 2006 Heart Walk - Executive Committee Member
- Big Bend Community Based Care - Board of Directors
- Mary Brogan Museum - Board of Directors
- Keep Tallahassee-Leon County Beautiful - Board of Directors
- Kids Inc. - Board of Directors
- Whole Child Leon Leadership Council - Board of Directors
- Riley House Board of Directors Ex Officio Member
- Tiger Bay Club - Member
- Capital City Chamber - Member
- Leadership Tallahassee Class XXII - Member
- Capital City Child Care Consortium - Member
