Wanda Williams

Wanda Williams
Williams in 2023
39th Mayor of Harrisburg
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2022
Preceded byEric Papenfuse
Personal details
Born (1953-07-04) July 4, 1953
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
SpouseJerome Williams
EducationHarrisburg Area Community College
WebsiteCampaign website

Wanda R. D. Williams (born 1953) is an American Democratic politician from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, currently serving as 39th Mayor of Harrisburg. Running as a Democrat and President of the Harrisburg City Council, she won the 2021 Harrisburg mayoral election, becoming the city's second female and second African-American mayor.[1]

Early life

Williams grew up in Harrisburg and attended Harrisburg High School and Harrisburg Area Community College.[2]

Politics

1998 School board

Williams started her political career in 1998 as a member of the Harrisburg school board.[3][2]

2006 City Council

Williams served on the Harrisburg City Council since 2006, with her last two terms serving as the council president.[2] During her time in the City Council, she worked to set term limits for Harrisburg mayors.[4] In 2016 she received criticism as she was accused of politicizing the Harrisburg Environmental Advisory Council.[5]

2021 Mayoral race

Although she had originally planned to run again for city council,[6] Williams announced her candidacy for mayor of Harrisburg in March 2021, running on a platform of infrastructure improvements, affordable housing, and revitalization.[2] She won the Democratic primary for the 2021 Harrisburg mayoral election in an upset[7] with 28.95% of the vote, leading incumbent mayor Eric Papenfuse's 27.93% by only 56 votes, to become the Democratic nominee.[8][9][10] She was seen as the heavy favorite to win in the general election, as the winner of the Harrisburg Democratic primary has gone on to win the mayorship since 1977.[11][3][7][12] She faced a single Republican candidate who faced criminal charges of child abuse.[13] However, on September 15, Eric Papenfuse announced that he would run a write-in campaign in the November General Election.[14] Despite this, Williams won the general election by more than a 2–1 margin.[15][16] Williams became the city's second Black and second female mayor.[7][12][17] On July 31, 2022 Williams transferred mayoral powers to Police Commissioner Thomas Carter due to a medical procedure; Carter served as acting mayor until August 16, 2022.[18]

2025 Mayoral race

In October 2024, Williams announced a run for re-election in the 2025 Harrisburg mayoral election.[19] On May 20, 2025 she won the Democratic Primary in a five-way race.[20] City Treasurer Dan Miller[21] ran as a Democrat and fell 83 votes short of Williams. Miller won the Republican nomination after receiving 112 write-in votes.[20]

During the general election, Williams refused to debate Miller, saying, "I am not engaging in any debates or lengthy election discussions. I have much more pressing issues to tackle that directly affect the residents of this City. Dan Miller has nothing new to say; therefore, I see no need to give him the platform to regurgitate more of the same. He is talking and will continue to talk. He is good at talk- let him."[22]

Williams won reelection in November with 56% of the vote to Miller's 43%.[23] On election night, she was asked by a reporter if she would be able to work with Miller, who remains treasurer of Harrisburg. She replied, "We'll see because guess what, I'm the big cheese in charge. I'm the executive chief of the city of Harrisburg."[23]

Williams was sworn in for a second term on January 5, 2026.[24] She stated her priorities for the next four years include a renewed focus on infrastructure, fiscal responsibility, public safety, and housing stability.[24]

Controversies

Williams is the subject of a federal lawsuit filed against her by a former city employee who alleged that his sudden July 2022 termination was retaliation against refusing to promote unqualified individuals with personal ties to Williams. The lawsuit claims retaliation for his ethical concerns.[25][26] City taxpayers paid over $20,000 in legal fees for Williams from late 2022 to February 2024.[27]

In October 2024, Williams agreed to pay $912.70 to the city of Harrisburg after a state ethics commission found she had improperly used city dumpsters outside her home to dispose of her personal trash.[28] The ethics commission found Williams requested city employees to haul city-owned dumpsters to and from her private residence at least three times around the same time she moved to a new home in 2022.[28][29] Under city law, Harrisburg residents must pay $230 to use a dumpster for 10 days and $214.25 per ton of waste in dumping fees. The waste from Williams' property cost $1,491.18. Williams paid neither the upfront fee nor the dumping fee.[29]

The fine was to be paid within 30 days of September 22, 2025. As of December 11, 2025, Williams had not paid the fine.[28] Documents released by the city showed taxpayers had spent $31,864 on Williams' legal bills for the matter.[28]

Personal life

Williams lost a granddaughter to gun violence in 2013 as a bystander at a shooting.[3] Eighteen-year-old Tiana Dockens was the daughter of Wanda's son, Dion Lamar Dockens. [30] She was struck by a stray bullet while standing on a porch. [31]Michael Gelsinger, a 24-year-old resident of Shippensburg and his brother, 23-year-old Joseph Payne-Casiano of Harrisburg, were charged with first-degree murder. [32] Gelsinger fired the fatal shot in an exchange of gunfire with another man.[32]  Payne-Casiano was driving the vehicle.[32] Gelsinger was found guilty in December 2014 and sentenced to life in prison. [32] Payne-Casiano was acquited. [32]

References

  1. ^ Schad, Ben; Talley, Megan (November 3, 2021). "Wanda Williams secures Harrisburg Mayoral race". WHTM.
  2. ^ a b c d Conley Gittens, Maddie (March 4, 2021). "Harrisburg Council President Wanda Williams announces run for mayor, joins crowded field". The Burg. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Thompson, Charles (March 4, 2021). "Harrisburg Council President Wanda Williams joins crowded mayoral field". PennLive. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  4. ^ McKelvey, Wallace (August 30, 2017). "No more 'mayors for life'? Harrisburg mulls term limits in shadow of Stephen Reed". PennLive. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  5. ^ Vendel, Christine (March 31, 2016). "Harrisburg Environmental Advisory Council collapses under 'dysfunction'". PennLive. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  6. ^ Benscoter, Jana (December 10, 2020). "Harrisburg City Council president says she'll run again, defends her actions during budget process". PennLive. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c Cann, Harrison (June 7, 2021). "What happened in three mayoral primaries and what it means for cities". City and State PA. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  8. ^ Schad, Ben (May 18, 2021). "Wanda Williams wins Harrisburg Democratic Mayoral nomination". ABC 27. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  9. ^ Binda, Lawrance (May 19, 2021). "Wanda Williams narrowly captures Democratic nod for Harrisburg mayor; city council, school board nominees also chosen". The Burg. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  10. ^ Pikora, Jillian (May 19, 2021). "The Votes Are In, Harrisburg Wants New Mayor". Daily Voice. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  11. ^ Thompson, Charles (May 19, 2021). "Tired but happy, an exultant Wanda Williams basks in Harrisburg mayoral primary win". MSN. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  12. ^ a b Thompson, Charles (May 19, 2021). "Wanda Williams wins Democratic primary in Harrisburg mayor's race, Papenfuse concedes". WITF. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  13. ^ Thompson, Charles (April 27, 2021). "GOP candidate for Harrisburg mayor denounces gays on social media, awaits trial in child abuse case". PennLive. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  14. ^ "Papenfuse seeking third term as Harrisburg mayor via write-in campaign". WPMT-TV. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  15. ^ Binda, Lawrance; Conley, Maddie (November 2, 2021). "Wanda Williams elected Harrisburg mayor, beats back write-in challenge". The Burg. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  16. ^ "2021 Municipal Election Results – Unofficial Results". Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Elections. Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  17. ^ Barcaro, Matt (May 19, 2021). "It looks like Harrisburg will have a new mayor". WGAL. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  18. ^ Metrick, Becky (August 1, 2022). "Harrisburg mayor temporarily transfers power to police chief after medical procedure". PennLive Patriot-News. Advance Local Media LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  19. ^ "Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams to run for re-election". ABC27. October 17, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  20. ^ a b Schweigert, Keith (August 11, 2025). "Harrisburg City Treasurer Dan Miller announces he's running for mayor as a Republican". WPMT.
  21. ^ "Wanda Williams wins party nomination, essentially clinching another term as mayor of Harrisburg". fox43.com. May 20, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  22. ^ "Sep 30, 2025, page A2 - The Patriot-News at Newspapers.com™". Newspapers.com. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  23. ^ a b "Nov 05, 2025, page A1 - The Patriot-News at Newspapers.com™". Newspapers.com. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  24. ^ a b Doran, Brady (January 5, 2026). "Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams sworn in for second term". ABC 27. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  25. ^ Hoopes, Zack (December 4, 2023). "Ex-Harrisburg public works chief's suit against city, mayor moves toward trial". pennlive. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  26. ^ "United States Courts Opinion: United States District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania: 22-1474 - Spriggs v. City of Harrisburg et al". Pakistan Law Reporter: NA–NA. July 3, 2023.
  27. ^ Thompson, Charles (March 3, 2025). "Ex-Harrisburg public works director's lawsuit raises questions about the mayor". pennlive. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  28. ^ a b c d "Dec 11, 2025, page A3 - The Patriot-News at Newspapers.com™". Newspapers.com. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  29. ^ a b "Nov 16, 2025, page A5 - The Patriot-News at Newspapers.com™". Newspapers.com. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  30. ^ "Tiana Dockens Obituary (2013) - Harrisburg, PA - Patriot-News". Legacy.com. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
  31. ^ "One brother convicted, another acquitted in shooting death of Tiana Dockens". fox43.com. December 5, 2014. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
  32. ^ a b c d e "One brother convicted, another acquitted in shooting death of Tiana Dockens". fox43.com. December 5, 2014. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.