Sly James
Encyclopedia
Sylvester "Sly" James, Jr. (born December 9, 1951, Kansas City
, Missouri
), is the Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri. James lives in Kansas City's Hyde Park
neighborhood. He was inaugurated as Mayor on May 2, 2011.
in 1969. There, he was the lead singer of the Amelia Earhart Memorial Flying Band (later re-named Manchester Trafficway) from 1965 to 1970. The band was the opening act for Jefferson Airplane
when it performed in Kansas City.
In 1971, James joined the Marines and served as a military policeman in California
, Japan
and the Philippines
; he was honorably discharged in 1975.
He received a Bachelor of Arts
degree in English from Rockhurst College in 1980, graduating cum laude. In college, he joined the Tau Kappa Epsilon
fraternity. Thereafter, he attended law school at the Syracuse University College of Law
from 1980 to 1981, but then transferred to the University of Minnesota Law School
, where he received a juris doctor
degree in 1983, again graduating cum laude.
After law school, James returned to Kansas City and joined the law firm of Blackwell Sanders Matheny Weary & Lombardi as an associate; in 1990, he became the firm's first African American
partner. In 1993, he and Nancy Kenner left to form their own firm, Kenner & James, P.C., specializing in personal injury, medical malpractice, and nursing home negligence. In 2002, he left to start the Sly James Firm, where he continued to specialize in personal injury and other civil litigation, as well as mediation. Between 1992 and 2002, he served as a member, secretary, and later the president of the Missouri Board of Law of Examiners. In 2003, he served as president of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association in 2003.
resident Mike Burke finished second with 26 percent, and incumbent mayor Mark Funkhouser
finished third, with 21 percent.
The race for the general runoff election on March 22, 2011, between James and Burke was described as low-key and cordial. Whereas James had been endorsed by the Kansas City Star, Burke had been endorsed by former mayors Charlie Wheeler, Richard L. Berkley
and Kay Barnes
. Ultimately, with only 21 percent of the City's registered voters voting, James defeated Burke by 54 percent to 46 percent. James celebrated his victory at the American Jazz Museum
in Kansas City's 18th and Vine District
.
James is the second African-American mayor in Kansas City's history, after Emanuel Cleaver
.
to investigate a request from Highwoods Properties (which manages the buildings in the Plaza) about imposing a 9 p.m. curfew on the Plaza because of unruly teens gathering there at night. During the tour about 11:30 p.m. gunfire broke out near 47th Street and Wyandotte Avenue, about 50 yards from the mayor. Security pushed him to the ground. Three people were shot—two boys, ages 13 and 16, who were shot in the legs and a 15-year-old girl whose face was grazed by a bullet. Less than a week after the shooting the city council in a 13-0 vote approved a curfew in the city.. The curfew is 9 p.m. will apply from late May through September in five Kansas City entertainment areas (and 10 p.m. elsewhere) for children under 15 and under 11 p.m. for 16 and 17 year olds. The is a 10 p.m. curfew elsewherefor children 15 and under and 11 p.m. for those 16 and 17. Other times of the year will have a 11 p.m. curfew on weeknights and midnight on weekends for everyone under age 18.
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
), is the Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri. James lives in Kansas City's Hyde Park
Hyde Park, Kansas City
Hyde Park is a historic neighborhood and city park in Kansas City, Missouri.-Neighborhood :The historic neighborhood is located north/south from Armour Boulevard to 47th Street and west/east from Gillham Road to Troost Avenue....
neighborhood. He was inaugurated as Mayor on May 2, 2011.
Early life, education, and career
James grew up on the East side of Kansas City, at 44th Street and Montgall Avenue. He graduated from Bishop Hogan High SchoolHogan Preparatory Academy
Hogan Preparatory Academy is a charter high school at 1221 East Meyer Boulevard in Kansas City, Missouri....
in 1969. There, he was the lead singer of the Amelia Earhart Memorial Flying Band (later re-named Manchester Trafficway) from 1965 to 1970. The band was the opening act for Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
when it performed in Kansas City.
In 1971, James joined the Marines and served as a military policeman in 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...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
; he was honorably discharged in 1975.
He received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in English from Rockhurst College in 1980, graduating cum laude. In college, he joined the Tau Kappa Epsilon
Tau Kappa Epsilon
Tau Kappa Epsilon is a college fraternity founded on January 10, 1899 at Illinois Wesleyan University with chapters in the United States, and Canada, and affiliation with a German fraternity system known as the Corps of the Weinheimer Senioren Convent...
fraternity. Thereafter, he attended law school at the Syracuse University College of Law
Syracuse University College of Law
Syracuse University College of Law , founded in 1895, is a Juris Doctor degree-granting law school of Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. It is one of only four law schools in Upstate New York Syracuse University College of Law (SUCOL), founded in 1895, is a Juris Doctor degree-granting law...
from 1980 to 1981, but then transferred to the University of Minnesota Law School
University of Minnesota Law School
The University of Minnesota Law School, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, is a professional school of the University of Minnesota. The school offers a Juris Doctor , Masters of Law for Foreign Lawyers, and joint degrees with J.D./M.B.A., J.D./M.P.A, J.D./M.A., J.D./M.S., J.D./Ph.D.,...
, where he received a juris doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree in 1983, again graduating cum laude.
After law school, James returned to Kansas City and joined the law firm of Blackwell Sanders Matheny Weary & Lombardi as an associate; in 1990, he became the firm's first African American
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...
partner. In 1993, he and Nancy Kenner left to form their own firm, Kenner & James, P.C., specializing in personal injury, medical malpractice, and nursing home negligence. In 2002, he left to start the Sly James Firm, where he continued to specialize in personal injury and other civil litigation, as well as mediation. Between 1992 and 2002, he served as a member, secretary, and later the president of the Missouri Board of Law of Examiners. In 2003, he served as president of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association in 2003.
2011 mayoral election
In 2010, despite having held no previous public elected office, James announced his candidacy for mayor of Kansas City in the city's 2011 non-partisan election. In February 2011, he finished first in in the primary with 27 percent of the vote; Kansas City attorney and Platte CountyPlatte County, Missouri
As of the census of 2000, there were 73,781 people, 29,278 households, and 20,231 families residing in the county. The population density was 176 people per square mile . There were 30,902 housing units at an average density of 74 per square mile...
resident Mike Burke finished second with 26 percent, and incumbent mayor Mark Funkhouser
Mark Funkhouser
Mark Funkhouser is a former mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, serving one four-year term from May 1, 2007 until May 2, 2011. Prior to serving as the city's mayor, Funkhouser served as Kansas City's city auditor.-Early life and education:...
finished third, with 21 percent.
The race for the general runoff election on March 22, 2011, between James and Burke was described as low-key and cordial. Whereas James had been endorsed by the Kansas City Star, Burke had been endorsed by former mayors Charlie Wheeler, Richard L. Berkley
Richard L. Berkley
Richard L. Berkley served as mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, U.S., from 1979 to 1991.Although Kansas City mayors do not officially have political affiliations, Mayor Berkley was the first Republican mayor of the city since the 1920s...
and Kay Barnes
Kay Barnes
Kay Waldo Barnes is a former two-term mayor of Kansas City, Missouri. She was the Democratic nominee for of the United States House of Representatives in the 2008 election against Republican incumbent Sam Graves.-Biography:...
. Ultimately, with only 21 percent of the City's registered voters voting, James defeated Burke by 54 percent to 46 percent. James celebrated his victory at the American Jazz Museum
American Jazz Museum
The American Jazz Museum is a jazz museum in the United States. Located in the historic 18th and Vine district in Kansas City, Missouri, in a building also housing the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, it preserves the history of the American music: jazz. The museum features exhibits on Charlie...
in Kansas City's 18th and Vine District
18th and Vine-Downtown East, Kansas City
18th and Vine in Kansas City is internationally recognized as one of the cradles of jazz. Along with New Orleans's Basin Street, Beale Street in Memphis, 52nd Street in New York City and Los Angeles's Central Avenue - the 18th and Vine area was a midwife to the birth of a new style of jazz...
.
James is the second African-American mayor in Kansas City's history, after Emanuel Cleaver
Emanuel Cleaver
Emanuel Cleaver II is a United Methodist pastor and the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party, and in January 2010 became chair of the Congressional Black Caucus....
.
2011 Plaza shooting incident
On August 13, 2011, James and entourage were touring the Country Club PlazaCountry Club Plaza
The Country Club Plaza is an upscale shopping district and residential neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. It was the first shopping center in the world designed to accommodate shoppers arriving by automobile...
to investigate a request from Highwoods Properties (which manages the buildings in the Plaza) about imposing a 9 p.m. curfew on the Plaza because of unruly teens gathering there at night. During the tour about 11:30 p.m. gunfire broke out near 47th Street and Wyandotte Avenue, about 50 yards from the mayor. Security pushed him to the ground. Three people were shot—two boys, ages 13 and 16, who were shot in the legs and a 15-year-old girl whose face was grazed by a bullet. Less than a week after the shooting the city council in a 13-0 vote approved a curfew in the city.. The curfew is 9 p.m. will apply from late May through September in five Kansas City entertainment areas (and 10 p.m. elsewhere) for children under 15 and under 11 p.m. for 16 and 17 year olds. The is a 10 p.m. curfew elsewherefor children 15 and under and 11 p.m. for those 16 and 17. Other times of the year will have a 11 p.m. curfew on weeknights and midnight on weekends for everyone under age 18.