Derek Slaughter

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Derek Slaughter

| office = Mayor of Williamsport

| termstart = January 6, 2020

| incumbent =

| predecessor = Gabriel J. Campana

| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1981}}

| birth_place = Williamsport, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| alma_mater = Pennsylvania State University B.S.
University of Maryland M.S.

| residence = Williamsport, Pennsylvania

| children = 3

| party = Democratic

| spouse = Vanessa Slaughter (m. 2011)

}}

Derek Slaughter (born 1981) is an American politician who is the mayor of Williamsport, Pennsylvania,{{Cite web|url=https://www.sungazette.com/news/top-news/2019/10/mayoral-candidates-debate-safety-finances/|title=Mayoral candidates debate safety, finances {{!}} News, Sports, Jobs – Williamsport Sun-Gazette|language=en-US|access-date=January 7, 2020}} the first African-American to hold the position.{{Cite news|first= Carrie|last= Pauling |authorlink= |title= Williamsport's new mayor discusses challenges and the positive impact he can make |newspaper=NorthcentralPa.com|date=January 9, 2020|url=https://www.northcentralpa.com/news/williamsports-new-mayor-discusses-challenges-and-the-positive-impact-he-can-make/article_6b3206c4-330a-11ea-bb08-bb4bab1891cb.html |accessdate=}} Prior to this, Slaughter served as city councilman and taught mathematics at Pennsylvania College of Technology.{{Cite web|url=https://webbweekly.com/articles/2019/03/20/this-weeks-lion-williamsport-mayor-candidate-derek-slaughter/|title=This Week's LION Williamsport Mayor Candidate Derek Slaughter – Webb Weekly Online|language=en-US|access-date=January 7, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pahomepage.com/top-stories/slaughter-elected-williamsport-mayor/|title=Slaughter Elected Williamsport Mayor|date=November 6, 2019|website=PAhomepage.com|language=en-US|access-date=January 7, 2020}}

Early life

Slaughter was born and raised in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. He attended Williamsport Area High School where he graduated in 1999. In 2003 Slaughter graduated with a bachelor's degree in Information Science and Technology and a minor in Spanish language. He then attended the University of Maryland, College Park where he obtained a Masters in Education. Slaughter returned to Williamsport where he taught mathematics at Williamsport Area High School and the Pennsylvania College of Technology. He also coached the girls high school basketball from 2007 until 2016. Slaughter continued to teach high school and college courses throughout his campaign for mayor.{{Cite web|url=https://wnep.com/2019/11/05/williamsport-elects-slaughter-as-first-democratic-mayor-in-over-20-years/|title=Williamsport Elects Slaughter as First Democratic Mayor in Over 20 Years|date=November 6, 2019|website=WNEP.com|language=en|access-date=January 7, 2020}}

Mayor of Williamsport

In March 2019, Slaughter announced he'd be running for mayor as a Democrat. On November 6, 2019, it was announced Slaughter had won the 2019 election for mayor.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sungazette.com/news/top-news/2019/11/slaughter-wins-mayor/|title=Slaughter wins mayor {{!}} News, Sports, Jobs – Williamsport Sun-Gazette|language=en-US|access-date=January 7, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://wnep.com/2019/11/06/slaughter-prepares-for-new-role-as-williamsport-mayor/|title=Slaughter Prepares for New Role as Williamsport Mayor|date=November 6, 2019|website=WNEP.com|language=en|access-date=January 7, 2020}} On January 6, 2020, Slaughter was officially sworn in and assumed office as the mayor of Williamsport.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sungazette.com/news/top-news/2020/01/slaughter-takes-oath/|title=Slaughter takes oath {{!}} News, Sports, Jobs – Williamsport Sun-Gazette|language=en-US|access-date=January 7, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sungazette.com/news/top-news/2020/01/12-years-of-campana-republican-mayors-tenure-ends/|title=12 years of Campana: Republican mayor's tenure ends {{!}} News, Sports, Jobs – Williamsport Sun-Gazette|language=en-US|access-date=January 7, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://wnep.com/2019/11/06/slaughter-prepares-for-new-role-as-williamsport-mayor/|title=Slaughter Prepares for New Role as Williamsport Mayor|date=November 6, 2019|website=WNEP.com|language=en|access-date=January 7, 2020}} Slaughter was re-elected in 2023.{{Cite web |date=7 November 2023 |title=Williamsport mayor re-elected |url=https://www.sungazette.com/uncategorized/2023/11/williamsport-mayor-re-elected/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=sungazette.com |language=en-US}}

Personal life

Slaughter has one son and two daughters. He also has a wife named Vanessa Slaughter. Derek's mom is Judy Slaughter.{{Cite web|url=https://www.slaughterforwilliamsport.com/what-we-do|title=About Derek|website=Slaughter for Mayor|language=en-US|access-date=January 7, 2020}}