Wallace E. Holland
American politician who served as the first African-American mayor of Pontiac, Michigan
Wallace E. Holland | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mayor of Pontiac, Michigan | |
| In office 1974–1986 | |
| Preceded by | Robert F. Jackson |
| Succeeded by | Walter L. Moore |
| In office 1990–1994 | |
| Preceded by | Walter L. Moore |
| Succeeded by | Charlie Harrison Jr. |
| City Council of Pontiac, Michigan | |
| In office 1970–1974 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Wallace E. Holland 1926 |
| Died | 1998 (age 71) |
| Political party | Democratic |
Wallace E. Holland (1926–1998) was an American politician who served as the first African-American mayor of Pontiac, Michigan, the county seat of Oakland County
Biography
Holland was born in 1926.[1] He was elected to the City Council of Pontiac, Michigan and then was named by the council as mayor in 1974.[2][1][3] He was continuously appointed as mayor by the City Council through 1982.[1][4] After the city changed its government to a strong mayor form of government, he won the general election in 1981 beginning his term in 1982.[1] In the 1985 general election, he was defeated by Walter L. Moore before returning the favor and defeating Moore in the 1989 general election.[5][6] In 1993,[2] he was defeated in the primaries by state representative Charlie Harrison Jr. and former mayor Walter Moore.[7] Voters were upset over the large budget deficit, high crime rates, and a declining population.[7] Harrison would go on to win serving from 1994 until his death in 1995.[6]
He died in 1998 at the age of 71 due to complications from diabetes.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d Smith, Jessie Carney (December 2012). Black Firsts: 4,000 Ground-Breaking and Pioneering Historical Events. Visible Ink Press. ISBN 9781578594245.
- ^ a b c "Wallace E. Holland, First Black Mayor of MI, succumbs at 71". Jet. March 23, 1998.
- ^ Tempest, Rone (January 7, 1974). "New Black Mayor is Aiming to Revitalize Pontiac". Detroit Free Press. pp. 3A, 8A – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Brasier, L.L. (September 8, 1993). "Long time Pontiac mayor faces 9 opponents". Detroit Free Press – via Newspapers.com.
He has held the post since 1974 with the exception of four years in the 1980s when Walter Moore took the job from him
- ^ "1989 elections" (PDF). 1989.
Republican Wally Holland defeated Democratic incumbent Walter Moore in the Pontiac mayor's race {Detroit metropolitan area).
- ^ a b McDiarmid, Hugh (October 30, 1997). "Candidates offer voters two tales of the same city Perception of city quality of life are cited as crucial to the outcome of rematch". Detroit Free Press.
Moore was elected in 1995 to fill the unexpired term of Charlie Harrison, who died in office. He also served as mayor between 1986 and 1990.
- ^ a b "Trouble-plagued Pontiac mayor loses". Historic Images Outlet. 1993. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
The city with a looming deficit, a dwindling tax base, the worst crime rate in Oakland County and one of the highest mileage rates in the state will pick a new mayor in November from state Rep. Charlie Harrison and former Mayor Walter Moore. Harrison polled 2,268 votes, Moore 1,910 and Holland 1,214. None of the other seven candidates won more than 1,000 votes.
