Robert R. Williams (politician)
Robert R Williams | |
|---|---|
Miami-Dade County 's 9th district | |
| In office 1928 – January 1933 | |
| Succeeded by | Position disestablished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ocala, Florida, US |
| Died | July 18, 1966 (aged 72) Miami, Florida, US |
Robert R Williams was the City of Miami's 18th Mayor serving from May 13, 1937 until his successful recall on March 2, 1939.
Williams entered
Mayor of Miami
. After he was charged and acquitted of bribery in 1938, a successful recall election removed him from office in 1939. Although he promised a political comeback, Williams did not return to office and died in 1966.
Early life and career
Williams was a native of
Ocala, but moved to Miami in the 1910s. He worked as a grocery clerk before opening his own grocery store. He later entered the real estate business.[1]
Miami politics
In 1928, Williams ran unopposed for the 9th
Miami-Dade County.[2] In November 1931, the 8th district was combined with his district after the resignation of A. E. Moore.[3] Although reelected in 1932, the county commission eliminated his district and a state court ruled his district had ceased to exist in January 1933.[4][5] He ran for the Miami City Commission in May 1935, placing third in the May 7 primary and advancing to the top six runoff a week later.[6] He was elected to the Miami City Commission on May 14, 1935, alongside Orville H. Rigby and Alexander Orr Jr. with the most votes of any candidate.[7]
Mayor of Miami and recall
He was elected
Mayor of Miami on May 13, 1937.[8] Williams and two other city commissioners, John W. DuBose and Ralph B. Ferguson, were charged with soliciting a bribe from Florida Power & Light. All three were acquitted after a few minutes of jury deliberations on November 18, 1938.[9] A recall election against Williams, DuBose, and Ferguson succeeded on March 2, 1939.[10][11] The trio were known locally as the "termite administration."[10] During the recall election he appointed his secretary, Anna Perry, as the first woman to serve on the Miami City Commission.[1]
Later life and death
In 1939, he opened a tire shop and promised a political "comeback."[12] He died on July 18, 1966.[1]
See also
Notes
- ^ During Williams tenure, the mayor of Miami was elected from amongst the Miami City Commissioners by the city commissioners.
References
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Jury Clears Miami Officials". The New York Times. Associated Press. November 19, 1938. p. 34. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ a b Viglucci, Andres (November 14, 2009). "Miami power vacuum is big break for new mayor Tomás Regalado". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "Ousted by 4 to 1 in Miami". The New York Times. Associated Press. March 3, 1939. p. 16. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- Newspapers.com.