Stephen T. Williams

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.

Steve Williams
Mayor of Huntington, West Virginia
Assumed office
January 1, 2013
Preceded byKim Wolfe
At-Large member of Huntington City Council
In office
2008–2012
Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates for the 16th District
In office
1987–1994
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceHuntington, West Virginia
EducationMarshall University (BA)
West Virginia University (MPA)
ProfessionPolitician

Education

Williams attended Huntington High School, graduating in 1974. He received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Marshall University in 1978 and a Master of Public Administration degree from West Virginia University in 1980.[2]

Steve played four years of football at Marshall University.[3]

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 previously ran for mayor in 1993, defeating incumbent mayor Bobby Nelson in the Democratic primary, but lost to Republican opponent, Councilwoman Jean Dean.[4]

Williams returned to politics in 2008 when he won election as an at-large member of Huntington City Council, where he served until his election as mayor in 2012. On June 19, 2017, Williams announced that he would stand in the 2018 race for West Virginia's 3rd congressional district, which was an open seat after current Congressman Evan Jenkins declared to run against Joe Manchin for the Senate.[5] On January 19, 2018, Williams dropped out of the race.[6]

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In March 2013, Williams signed an ordinance passed by the Huntington City Council which rescinded a 1% occupation tax which had been the subject of a lawsuit filed in 2011 against the city.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.[7][8]

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.[9] 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.[10]

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.[11]

In 2017 under Williams' direction, the City of Huntington sued eight pharmaceutical companies, claiming their products harmed Huntington's welfare, leading to a drug crisis in the city and surrounding county.[12] Included in the lawsuits are companies like McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen Drug Corp, among others.[13]

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]

Williams has been featured on the television adaptation of the podcast My Brother, My Brother and Me. In the show, Williams is consulted by Justin McElroy, Travis McElroy, and Griffin McElroy regularly, including discussions of whether the three can be named honorary mayors or host a tarantula-themed parade in downtown Huntington.[14]

See also

References
  1. Chambers, Bryan (6 November 2012), "Williams elected Huntington mayor", The Herald-Dispatch, retrieved 8 May 2013
  2. "Meet Mayor Steve Williams," City of Huntington (archived at WebCite on 8 May 2013).
  3. Pyles, Katherine. "Right Person, Right Time". Huntington Quarterly.
  4. Chambers, Bryan (9 May 2012), "Wolfe, Williams to vie for mayor", The Herald-Dispatch, retrieved 8 May 2013
  5. Mendez, Josephine (19 June 2017), "Williams announces bid for U.S. House seat", The Herald-Dispatch, retrieved 19 June 2017
  6. "Huntington mayor drops bid for US House seat", Associated Press, 19 January 2018, retrieved 26 June 2020
  7. "Lawmakers propose widening 'home rule' plan: draft bill revamps allowable tax changes", The Charleston Gazette, 7 January 2013, retrieved 8 May 2013
  8. Chambers, Bryan (13 March 2013), "City repeals occupation tax", The Herald-Dispatch, retrieved 8 May 2013
  9. Chambers, Bryan (27 March 2013), "City to kick off cleanup campaign", The Herald-Dispatch, retrieved 8 May 2013
  10. Davis, Clark (11 April 2013), "Huntington implements comprehensive cleanup campaign", West Virginia Public Broadcasting, retrieved 8 May 2013
  11. Chambers, Bryan (29 April 2013), "City eyes Central City Market", The Herald-Dispatch, retrieved 8 May 2013
  12. "The heroin-ravaged city fighting back". Video. BBC. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  13. HESSLER, COURTNEY (15 April 2017). "Drug firms press for dismissal of lawsuits". Print and online. The Herald Dispatch. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  14. lavender@herald-dispatch.com, DAVE LAVENDER. "Comedy TV show, "My Brother, My Brother and Me" films Tarantula Parade" for upcoming show". The Herald-Dispatch. Retrieved 2017-02-16.
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