Gwendolyn A. Faison is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 Democratic

Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

 politician. Faison was Mayor of Camden, New Jersey

Mayor of Camden, New Jersey

Mayor of Camden, New Jersey:*Dana Redd 2010 to present *Gwendolyn Faison 2000-2010*Milton Milan 1997-2000 when indicted. Milton Milan was the third mayor of Camden, New Jersey indicted for corruption.*Arnold Webster 1993-1997*Aaron Thompson 1990-1993...

. She was first appointed when Milton Milan

Milton Milan

Milton Milan is an American Democratic politician. He was the first Latino Mayor of Camden, New Jersey, elected in 1997, before being convicted of corruption and subsequently removed from office, becoming the third Camden mayor in 20 years to be found guilty of corruption.-Biography:He was elected...

 was convicted of corruption and forced to leave office in 2000. She had served as City Council President since 1997. She won re-election in 2001 and 2005. Under the State of New Jersey's recovery act for Camden, the Mayor has limited formal responsibilities. Once the act expires in 2007, the office will resume its powers. She left office in 2010.

Biography

Faison was born and raised in Clinton, North Carolina

Clinton, North Carolina

Clinton is the county seat of Sampson County, North Carolina, United States. The population of Clinton is 8,639 according to the 2010 US Census. Clinton is named for American Revolution General Richard Clinton.-History:...

, but lived in Camden for most of her life. She attended Shaw University

Shaw University

Shaw University, founded as Raleigh Institute, is a private liberal arts institution and historically black university in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1865, it is the oldest HBCU in the Southern United States....

, Temple University

Temple University

Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...

 and Rutgers University

Rutgers University

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...

. She was previously a member of the Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders

Board of Chosen Freeholders

In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...

, Camden County Board on Aging, and Legislative Committee of the New Jersey Democratic Women. She is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition

Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition

Mayors Against Illegal Guns is a coalition of over 600 mayors who support a number of gun control initiatives that the group calls "commonsense reforms" to fight illegal gun trafficking and gun violence in the United States...

, a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston

Boston

Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...

 Mayor Thomas Menino

Thomas Menino

Thomas Michael "Tom" Menino is the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, United States and the city's first Italian-American mayor...

 and New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

 Mayor Michael Bloomberg

Michael Bloomberg

Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...

.

In November 2006, a drive to recall Faison began, with activists arguing that the mayor has ignored the city's Latino

Latino

The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...

 neighborhoods and has allowed racial discrimination in the city's fire department.http://www.nj.com/newsflash/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-22/1163606669318380.xml&storylist=jersey

External links

• "Camden Candidates Vow Unity", Elisa Ung, The Philadelphia Inquirer
  The Philadelphia Inquirer
  The Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the...
  
  , May 15, 2005
• Mayor's Office