Tony Yarber
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
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| name = Tony Yarber
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| office = 52nd Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi
| term_start = April 24, 2014
| term_end = July 3, 2017
| preceded = Charles Tillman (Interim Mayor)
| succeeded = Chokwe Antar Lumumba
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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|03|17
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| birth_place = Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.
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| party = Democratic
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| alma_mater = {{nowrap|University of Southern Mississippi
Jackson State University}}
| occupation = Pastor
Elementary school principal
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Tony Yarber (born April 16, 1978) is an American pastor, educator and politician in Jackson, Mississippi. He was elected as Mayor of Jackson in April 2014 from special election following the death in office of Chokwe Lumumba.{{cite news|last=Barnes|first=Dustin|title=Yarber New Jackson Mayor|url=http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2014/04/23/yarber-victory/8038901/|newspaper=Clarion-Ledger| date=April 22, 2014}} A native of Jackson and experienced city councilor, Yarber is noted for his passion for youth causes, and has been described as "a consensus builder".{{cite news | last = Lucas | first = Sherry | title = Mayoral Race: Personal Profile of Tony Yarber | newspaper = Clarion-Ledger | date = April 20, 2014 | url = http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2014/04/19/mayoral-race-personal-profile-tony-yarber/7922279/}} He was succeeded as Mayor of Jackson by his predecessor's son Chokwe Antar Lumumba on July 3, 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wapt.com/article/lumumba-to-take-oath-of-office/10253701|title = Chokwe Antar Lumumba sworn in as Jackson mayor|date = 3 July 2017}}
Career and personal life
Yarber was born in Jackson, Mississippi to George and Deloris Yarber in 1978, and grew up in the city's Westside Community.{{cite web | title = Tony Yarber | publisher = City of Jackson, Mississippi | url = https://ms-jackson.civicplus.com/index.aspx?NID=533 | accessdate = April 25, 2014}} He attended Forest Hill High School in Jackson.{{cite magazine | last1 = Ferretti | first1 =Haley | last2 = Nave | first2 = R.L. | title = A Hands-On Tony Yarber Administration? | magazine = Jackson Free Press | date = April 23, 2014 | url = http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2014/apr/23/hands-tony-yarber-administration/}}
Yarber received a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Southern Mississippi and an M.S. in Education Administration and Supervision from Jackson State University. He has taught school and served as an elementary school principal. Yarber served as a committee member for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
He is also Pastor and Founder of the non-denominational Relevant Empowerment Church, started in 2008. He has served on the Board of Directors for Relevant Ministries.
Yarber has a black belt in ninjutsu. He is married and has three children.
Civic groups
Yarber is a founding member of Alignment Jackson, a non-profit organization for improving student achievement.{{cite web | title = About the Mayor | publisher = City of Jackson | url = https://ms-jackson.civicplus.com/index.aspx?nid=245 | accessdate = April 25, 2014}}
He was the second Vice-President of the Mississippi Black Caucus of Locally Elected Officials.
Elected office
=City Councillor=
=Mayor=
Yarber was elected Mayor of Jackson on April 22, 2014, in a runoff election against Chokwe Antar Lumumba, son of deceased former mayor Chokwe Lumumba.
Yarber stated that his goals as mayor would be to improve customer service for residents and to attract new business. Yarber also discussed Jackson's potential for growth as an entertainment hub, and as a "medical corridor."{{cite news | last = Barnes | first = Dustin | title = Mayor Tony Yarber Preaches Plans for Jackson | newspaper = Clarion-Ledger | date = April 24, 2014 | url = http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2014/04/24/mayor-elect-tony-yarber-take-oath-office/8105543/ }}
On May 2, 2017, Yarber was soundly defeated by Chokwe Antar Lumumba in the nine-candidate primary for the Democratic nominee for mayor of Jackson, receiving 5% to Lumumba's 55%.{{Cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/mississippi/articles/2017-05-03/some-mayors-defeated-in-mississippi-municipal-primaries |title=Some Mayors Defeated in Mississippi Municipal Primaries |date=2017-05-03 |website=U.S. News & World Report |access-date=2017-05-04}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://www.jacksonms.gov/index.aspx?nid=245 Office of the Mayor]
{{Mayors of Jackson, Mississippi}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yarber, Tony}}
Category:African-American mayors in Mississippi
Category:21st-century mayors of places in Mississippi
Category:Mississippi Democrats
Category:University of Southern Mississippi alumni
Category:Jackson State University alumni
Category:Mississippi city council members
Category:Mayors of Jackson, Mississippi
Category:21st-century African-American politicians
Category:20th-century African-American politicians
Category:African-American city council members in Mississippi