Derrick L. Henry

Derrick Henry was born and raised in Daytona Beach. He attended Mainland High School where he was elected class president his junior and senior year. He later attended Rollins College, earning a bachelor's degree in philosophy and psychology, before later graduating from Stetson University with a masters in educational leadership.{{Cite web |title=Mayor Derrick Henry's bio |url=https://www.daytonabeach.gov/689/Mayor-Derrick-Henrys-bio |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=www.daytonabeach.gov}} Henry served in several educational and administrative positions throughout his career and time as mayor.{{Cite web |last=Breunlin |first=Erica |title=Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry returns to Volusia schools |url=https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/education/2017/08/11/daytona-beach-mayor-derrick-henry-returns-to-volusia-schools/19785503007/ |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=Daytona Beach News-Journal Online |language=en-US}}

Henry was first elected to the Daytona Beach City Commission, before running for mayor in 2012. He campaigned on the slogan "One City, One Vision," where he argued in favor of business development aimed at improving the city's quality of life.{{Cite web |last=Frederick |first=Henry |date=13 April 2014 |title=Volusia County Movers & Shakers Snapshot: Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry |url=https://www.headlinesurfer.com/content/volusia-county-movers-shakers-snapshot-daytona-beach-mayor-derrick-henry |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=www.headlinesurfer.com}} Upon his election he transitioned from previous administrations and aimed to increase the number of visitors and tourists to the area. He has also aimed at improving the city's economy.{{Cite web |last=WRITER |first=EILEEN ZAFFIRO-KEAN STAFF |title=Derrick Henry takes office as Daytona mayor |url=https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/2012/11/15/derrick-henry-takes-office-as-daytona-mayor/30602242007/ |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=Daytona Beach News-Journal Online |language=en-US}} Since taking office he has presided over a significant increase in the city's population.{{Cite web |last=Brumley |first=Cecil G. |date=2024-05-23 |title=Volusia Business News: Daytona population continues to boom |url=https://www.hometownnewsvolusia.com/business/volusia-business-news-daytona-population-continues-to-boom/article_1d5859d2-1463-11ef-9bcd-23a584eea7a6.html |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=Hometown News Volusia |language=en}} Infrastructure policies and urban projects has been a central piece of the mayors goals as has park renovations.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdzZdzRdNFk&ab_channel=DaytonaBeachTV |title=Meet your Mayor Derrick L. Henry |date=2023-10-27 |last=Daytona Beach TV |access-date=2024-10-05 |via=YouTube}} During the COVID-19 pandemic he pushed for mask mandates throughout Daytona Beach.{{Cite web |date=2020-06-25 |title=Mayor Derrick Henry pushing for mask mandate |url=https://www.957thehog.com/mayor-derrick-henry-pushing-for-mask-mandate/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=95.7 The Hog |language=en-US}} During his time as mayor it was learned that his grandfather was cousins with Arthur Henry, an African American man who was lynched in Orlando, Florida, in 1925. Derrick Henry's maternal grandfather, a civil rights activists, had also been lynched in the 1950's.{{Cite web |title=Daytona Beach mayor discovers personal tie to a 1925 Orlando lynching |url=https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2024/02/19/daytona-beach-mayor-discovers-personal-tie-to-a-1925-orlando-lynching- |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=mynews13.com |language=en}}

Derrick Henry is married to Stephanie Henry and has 3 kids. In 2017 it was reported that Stephanie Henry had been charged for petit theft from a beauty parlor following an altercation over the stores return policy. However the state attorney declined to prosecute the case.{{Cite web |last=Holt |first=Tony |title=Daytona mayor's wife denies allegations made by beauty store owner |url=https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/crime/2017/09/01/daytona-mayors-wife-denies-allegations-made-by-beauty-store-owner/18917851007/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=Daytona Beach News-Journal Online |language=en-US}} Derrick Henry's brother Patrick Henry has previously served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-10 |title= Patrick Henry 2016{{endash}}2018 (Speaker Corcoran) |url=https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4663 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810175145/https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4663 |archive-date=2022-08-10 |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=www.myfloridahouse.gov}} His sister, Dannette Henry, currently serves as a member of the Daytona Beach City Commission.{{Cite web |title=City Commission {{!}} Daytona Beach, FL - Official Website |url=https://www.daytonabeach.gov/384/City-Commission |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=www.daytonabeach.gov}}

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Category:Living people

Category:African-American mayors in Florida

Category:African-American city council members in Florida

Category:Florida Democrats

Category:Mayors of Daytona Beach, Florida

Category:Stetson University alumni

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:21st-century African-American politicians