Stephen T. Williams

Steve Williams
Mayor of Huntington, West Virginia
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2013
Preceded by Kim Wolfe
Personal details
Political party Democratic
Profession Politician

Stephen T. "Steve" Williams is the current mayor of Huntington, West Virginia. His campaign against his predecessor, Kim Wolfe, in the 2012 mayoral election marked the first time a sitting city official challenged an incumbent mayor since Huntington switched to a strong mayor form of government in 1985.[1] Williams previously served as Huntington's city manager, a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, and a member of the Huntington City Council.

Education

Mayor Williams graduated Huntington High School in 1974. He received Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Marshall University in 1978 and a Master's of Public Administration from West Virginia University in 1980.[2]

Career

Williams served as Director of Economic Development for Huntington in 1984 and worked as city manager from 1984 to 1985. From 1987 to 1994, he was a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates for Cabell County and Wayne County.[2] He ran for mayor of Huntington in 1993, but lost to Republican opponent Jean Dean.[3]

Williams returned to politics in 2008 when he won election as an at-large member of Huntington's City Council, where he served until his election as mayor in 2012.

Mayor of Huntington

In March 2013, Williams signed an ordinance passed by the Huntington City Council which rescinded a 1% occupation tax which had been the subject of a lawsuit filed in 2011 against the city. The tax had been imposed under a West Virginia initiative which granted several cities, including Huntington, increased home rule, including increased powers to change their tax structures.[4][5]

During the spring and summer of 2013, Williams's administration organized a citywide cleanup effort and planned increased enforcement of local ordinances like those that prohibited tall grass and the storage of furniture and construction materials in yards or on porches.[6] The city planned to hire additional code enforcement officers, reinstate the Fire Department's Fire Prevention Bureau and seek the ability to issue citations on-the-spot, rather than after a ten-day warning period, from the West Virginia State Legislature. The mayor directed the city government to design and implement a system to ensure all new graffiti in the city is removed within 24 hours.[7]

Williams has supported the continued redevelopment of the Central City Market in Huntington's West End, drawing inspiration from the management of the Capitol Market in Charleston.[8]

Personal life

Williams is married to Mary Poindexter Williams and has two step-daughters. He serves as an officer of various organizations affiliated with Marshall University and attends Trinity Episcopal Church.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Chambers, Bryan (6 November 2012), "Williams elected Huntington mayor", The Herald-Dispatch, retrieved 8 May 2013
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Meet Mayor Steve Williams," City of Huntington (archived at WebCite on 8 May 2013).
  3. ↑ Chambers, Bryan (9 May 2012), "Wolfe, Williams to vie for mayor", The Herald-Dispatch, retrieved 8 May 2013
  4. ↑ "Lawmakers propose widening 'home rule' plan: draft bill revamps allowable tax changes", The Charleston Gazette, 7 January 2013, retrieved 8 May 2013
  5. ↑ Chambers, Bryan (13 March 2013), "City repeals occupation tax", The Herald-Dispatch, retrieved 8 May 2013
  6. ↑ Chambers, Bryan (27 March 2013), "City to kick off cleanup campaign", The Herald-Dispatch, retrieved 8 May 2013
  7. ↑ Davis, Clark (11 April 2013), "Huntington implements comprehensive cleanup campaign", West Virginia Public Broadcasting, retrieved 8 May 2013
  8. ↑ Chambers, Bryan (29 April 2013), "City eyes Central City Market", The Herald-Dispatch, retrieved 8 May 2013

External links