Irma A. Anderson
Encyclopedia
Irma L. Anderson was the first African American
woman
elected mayor of a major California
city, serving Richmond, California
between 2001 and 2006, she ran for reelection as the incumbent Democrat in the 2006 mayoral race
and lost to Green challenger councilperson Gayle McLaughlin
by 192 votes, her term expired on November 21, 2006.
Anderson earned both RN
and BSN
degrees from Cornell University. She also earned an MPH
at the school of public health of University of California, Berkeley
and was a high school valedictorian
.
Anderson came to Richmond, California with her husband, the late Rev. Booker T. Anderson Jr., in 1959. Anderson has two sons named Ahmad and Wilbert. Anderson's career changed from nursing to politics working for the Contra Costa County Health Department where she began as a nurse and advanced to Director of Public Health Nursing. As mayor, Anderson worked with the West Contra Costa Unified School District
developing after-school programs throughout the city of Richmond.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
woman
Women in politics
Women in government in the modern era are under-represented in most countries worldwide, in contrast to men. However, women are increasingly being politically elected to be heads of state and government...
elected mayor of a major California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
city, serving Richmond, California
Richmond, California
Richmond is a city in western Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city was incorporated on August 7, 1905. It is located in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a residential inner suburb of San Francisco, as well as the site of heavy industry, which has been...
between 2001 and 2006, she ran for reelection as the incumbent Democrat in the 2006 mayoral race
2006 Richmond, California city election
The Richmond, California 2006 city election decided the mayor, four council members, and one measure submitted to the voters of Richmond, California on November 7, 2007. The election also elected the first Green Party mayor of this city, and made Richmond the largest city in the United States to...
and lost to Green challenger councilperson Gayle McLaughlin
Gayle McLaughlin
Gayle McLaughlin is a California politician. She is a member of the Green Party and, since 2006, the mayor of Richmond, California and a member of Richmond's City Council. McLaughlin was elected on November 7, 2006 by a 279-vote margin over incumbent mayor Irma A. Anderson...
by 192 votes, her term expired on November 21, 2006.
Anderson earned both RN
Registered nurse
A registered nurse is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program at a university or college and has passed a national licensing exam. A registered nurse helps individuals, families, and groups to achieve health and prevent disease...
and BSN
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing is an American four year academic degree in the science and principles of nursing, granted by a tertiary education university or similarly accredited school...
degrees from Cornell University. She also earned an MPH
Master of Public Health
The Master of Public Health and the Doctor of Public Health are multi-disciplinary professional degrees awarded for studies in areas related to public health....
at the school of public health of University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
and was a high school valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
.
Anderson came to Richmond, California with her husband, the late Rev. Booker T. Anderson Jr., in 1959. Anderson has two sons named Ahmad and Wilbert. Anderson's career changed from nursing to politics working for the Contra Costa County Health Department where she began as a nurse and advanced to Director of Public Health Nursing. As mayor, Anderson worked with the West Contra Costa Unified School District
West Contra Costa Unified School District
The West Contra Costa Unified School District is the school district for western Contra Costa County, California. It is based in Richmond, California...
developing after-school programs throughout the city of Richmond.