Jill Duson
Jill Duson | |
---|---|
Assumed office December, 2001 | |
Personal details | |
Born | 1953 Chester, Pennsylvania |
Political party | Democrat |
Residence(s) | 101 Pennell Ave, Portland, Maine |
Occupation | Attorney, Lobbyist, Retail |
Jill Duson (born 1953) is an American lawyer, lobbyist, and politician from Maine.
Duson has served on both the Portland School Board[1] and the Portland, Maine City Council since 2001. In 2004, Duson became the first African-American mayor of Maine's largest city and the first African-American women mayor in the state when she was elected by her fellow council members to chair meetings under the city's then council-manager system.[2]
In 2011, Duson ran for the newly-created position of mayor. Rep. Anne Haskell was her campaign manager.[3] She finished in sixth place out of fifteen candidates on the ballot.
In 2012, Duson was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention and Democratic elector.[4] She was a supporter of President Barack Obama.[5]
In April 2015, Duson led the charge to reduce the city's minimum wage to $8.75 an hour from the proposed $10.10 per hour proposed by Mayor Michael F. Brennan. Duson's proposal passed the city's Finance Committee before being rejected by the City Council in favor of the original proposal.[6]
In June 2016, Duson ran for the Democratic nomination for State Senate in her district. She lost to Representative and former sheriff Mark Dion.[7]
In November 2017, Duson was re-elected for the fifth time over two challengers.[8] Soon thereafter, she declared her intent to seek the nomination for State Senate in the 2018 election after Dion announced his intention to run for Governor.[9]
Personal
Duson grew up in Chester, Pennsylvania. She grew up in poverty but eventually earned a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.[3]
Duson has had persistent financial troubles, including potential foreclosure on her home in Portland's North Deering neighborhood. According to court records, she "had about $73 in the bank" at the time of her 2012 bankruptcy. In 2017, Duson was still fighting to avoid foreclosure.[10]
Outside of elected office, Duson has worked as a lobbyist for Central Maine Power[1], as compliance director for the Maine Human Rights Commission as well as in retail with L.L.Bean.[4]
References
- ^ a b Harry, David (May 16, 2016). "Election 2016: Portland, Westbrook Democrats tout experience in Senate District 28 primary". The Forecaster. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
- ^ Lee, Maureen Elgersman (2005). Black Bangor: African Americans in a Maine Community, 1880-1950. UPNE. pp. 21–. ISBN 9781584654995. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
- ^ a b Singer, Jason (October 25, 2011). "Jill Duson: Strong resume, plus life experience". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
- ^ a b Delaney, Arthur (September 4, 2012). "Middle Class Meltdown At DNC". HuffPost. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
- ^ "Maine electors cast votes for Obama, Biden". Bangor Daily News. December 17, 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
- ^ McCracker, Carol (April 15, 2015). "Duson's Proposal to Reduce Minimum Wage Passes Finance Committee". Munjoy Hill News. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
- ^ Bridgers, Leslie (June 14, 2016). "Rep. Mark Dion wins Democratic primary for Senate seat in Portland, Westbrook". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
- ^ Koenig, Seth (November 7, 2017). "2 incumbents, 1 newcomer win in Portland council races". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
- ^ "Duson runs for Dion seat in state Senate". Keep Me Current. January 4, 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
- ^ Bleiberg, Jake (April 6, 2017). "Portland city councilor battling credit union to keep her house". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
- 1953 births
- Living people
- People from Chester, Pennsylvania
- University of Pennsylvania Law School alumni
- Portland, Maine City Council members
- Portland, Maine School Board members
- Maine Democrats
- American lobbyists
- African-American mayors
- African-American women in politics
- African-American people in Maine politics
- Women city councillors in the United States
- Women mayors of places in Maine
- Mayors of Portland, Maine