Irma Anderson
Irma Anderson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mayor of Richmond, California | |
| In office 2001–2006 | |
| Preceded by | Rosemary Corbin |
| Succeeded by | Gayle McLaughlin |
| City Council of Richmond, California | |
| In office 1993–2000 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Irma Louise Husbands Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | (aged 93) Richmond, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Rev. Booker T. Anderson Jr. |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of California, Berkeley |
Irma Louise Anderson (Green Party challenger councilperson Gayle McLaughlin by 192 votes.[3]
Before serving as mayor she was a member of the city council from 1993 through 2000. She was the first black woman to serve on the
woman elected mayor of a major California city (although Doris A. Davis served as mayor of slightly smaller Compton, California in 1973).[5]
Anderson, born and raised in
MPH at the school of public health of University of California, Berkeley.[citation needed
]
In 1954, Anderson came to Richmond, California, with her husband, the late Rev. Booker T. Anderson Jr. (who served as Mayor of Richmond from 1973 to 1974). The couple had two sons, Ahmad and Wilbert. Ahmad ran for Richmond City Council in 2020.[6]
Her 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.[citation needed
]
Anderson died from pancreatic cancer at her home in Richmond, on January 28, 2024, at the age of 93.[7][8]
See also
References
- ^ Engagement Announcement, The Boston Globe, June 21, 1957, pg. 18
- ^ Obituary, mercurynews.com. Accessed February 4, 2024.
- ^ Profile, ca-richmond.civicplus.com; accessed January 17, 2016.
- ^ Contra Costa Times profile; December 18, 2006.
- ^ "Woman, 70, wins Richmond race", San Francisco Chronicle via sfgate.com, November 8, 2001; retrieved December 12, 2011.
- ^ "Q&A: Ahmad Anderson is a 'Native Son' of Richmond Politics". Richmond Pulse. Richmond Pulse. September 3, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
- ^ Kinney, Mike (January 30, 2024). "Irma Anderson, trailblazing former Richmond mayor, dies at 93". The Richmond Standard. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
- ^ Lauer, Katie (January 30, 2024). "Irma Anderson, former Richmond Mayor and political trailblazer, dies at 93". The Mercury News. Retrieved January 30, 2024.