Kenny Alexander

Kenneth Cooper Alexander (born October 17, 1966)[1] is an American politician currently serving as mayor of Norfolk, Virginia.

Kenneth Cooper Alexander
167th Mayor of Norfolk, Virginia
Assumed office
July 1, 2016
Preceded byPaul D. Fraim
Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 5th district
In office
September 17, 2012 – June 30, 2016
Preceded byYvonne B. Miller
Succeeded byLionell Spruill
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 89th district
In office
August 2002 – September 17, 2012
Preceded byJerrauld Jones
Succeeded byDaun Sessoms Hester
Personal details
Born
Kenneth Cooper Alexander

(1966-10-17) October 17, 1966
Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
Political partyMayor of Norfolk is a non-partisan position
SpouseDonna Burnley
ChildrenKenneth, II and David
Residence(s)Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
Alma materJohn Tyler Community College, Old Dominion University, Norwich University, Antioch University
ProfessionChancellor (education), Educator and Entrepreneur

Alexander also serves as chancellor for twenty career colleges which includes:[2] (i) Centura College;[3] a healthcare, business, and skilled trade programs school with four campuses in Hampton Roads and one in Richmond, Virginia; (ii) Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM),[4] founded in Norfolk and now operating fourteen campuses nationwide and growing to become the largest system of aviation maintenance schools in the country; (iii) Tidewater Tech,[5] a trade school located in Norfolk which offers welding and automotive mechanics programs and is currently the largest supplier of certified welders and HVAC technicians in the Commonwealth. The growth and work of this trade schools college system led to the establishment of the only Wind Turbine Technician program in the Mid-Atlantic, currently being offered at the Centura Norfolk Campus.

Alexander also serves as president of Metropolitan Funeral Services.[6]

A native of Norfolk, he served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2002 to 2012, representing the 89th District in Norfolk. He served in the Senate of Virginia from 2012 to 2016, representing the 5th District in Norfolk and Chesapeake.

Alexander has been a guest columnist in Virginia newspapers, lecturer on political science and leadership studies, and he is the author of Persistence: Evelyn Butts and the African American Quest for Full Citizenship and Self-Determination (2021).[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]

Early life and education

Born in 1966, Alexander grew up in the neighborhoods of Berkley and South Norfolk, at the crossroads of the cities of Norfolk and Chesapeake. He attended Lake Taylor High School where he was drum major of the marching band and served as parliamentarian of the student body, graduating in 1985.

Alexander next earned an associate's degree in Mortuary Science from Brightpoint Community College, formerly John Tyler Community College, and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Old Dominion University. He later served as a political science instructor at Tidewater Community College after completing a master’s degree in Diplomacy from Norwich University. In 2019, Alexander earned a PhD in Leadership and Change from Antioch University.

Alexander has served as President of the Beacon Light Civic League, vice-chair of Norfolk's Planning Commission, and member of Norfolk's Human Service Commission and Economic Development Authority. He helped found the Norfolk Chesapeake Portsmouth Community Development Federal Credit Union, a financial institution that provides access to low-cost financial services. Alexander was instrumental in developing new single-family homes in Berkley and a shopping center that attracted a major supermarket chain. [18] [19] [20] [21]

Electoral history
DateElectionCandidatePartyVotes %
Virginia House of Delegates, 89th district
Aug 6, 2002[22] Special K C Alexander Democratic 3,927 72.57
L Horsey Republican 1,122 20.74
S W Battle 348 6.43
Write Ins 14 0.26
Jerrauld Jones resigned; seat remained Democratic
Nov 4, 2003[23] General K C Alexander Democratic 5,436 97.75
Write Ins 125 2.25
Nov 8, 2005[24] General K C Alexander Democratic 11.069 76.67
J G Behr Republican 3,350 23.20
Write Ins 18 0.12
Nov 6, 2007[25] General Kenneth Cooper Alexander Democratic 5,265 96.62
Write Ins 184 3.37
Nov 3, 2009[26] General Kenneth Cooper Alexander Democratic 10,659 81.02
Anthony J. "Trip" Triplin 2,448 18.60
Write Ins 49 0.37
Nov 8, 2011[27] General Kenneth Cooper Alexander Democratic 5,821 96.82
Write Ins 191 3.17
Senate of Virginia, 5th district
Sep 4, 2012[28] Special Kenneth Cooper Alexander Democratic 3,643 98.51
Write Ins 55 1.48
Yvonne B. Miller died; seat remained Democratic
Norfolk Mayor
May 3, 2016[29] General Kenneth Cooper Alexander 16,397 51.68
Robert J. McCabe 7,276 22.93
Andy A. Protogyrou 8,022 25.29

General Assembly career

In May 2002, Governor Mark Warner appointed the 89th District incumbent, Delegate Jerrauld Jones, to be Director of the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice. Alexander won the Democratic nomination, and won the special election on August 6 with 72% of the vote in a three-way race.[22]

Alexander was unopposed in two of his three succeeding elections. On December 15, 2008, Alexander was chosen as chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus.[30]

In a special election on September 4, 2012, Alexander was elected to the Virginia Senate representing the 5th Senate District; he succeeded Senator Yvonne Miller, who died in office.[31]

Mayoralty

On May 3, 2016 he was elected mayor of Norfolk, Virginia with 51.6% of the vote in a three-way race.[32] He is the city's first black mayor.

References
  1. Virginia Department of Health; Richmond, Virginia; Virginia, Births, 1864-2016
  2. "Norfolk Mayor Dr. Kenneth Alexander to serve as Chancellor for Centura College". Centuracollege.edu. 26 January 2021.
  3. https://www.centuracollege.edu
  4. https://www.aviationMaintenance.edu
  6. "Metropolitan Funeral – Service". Metropolitanfuneralservice.com. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  7. Alexander, Kenneth C.(2021). Persistence: Evelyn Butts and the African American Quest for Full Citizenship and Self-Determination. Orange Frazier Press
  8. "End the archaic practice of Gerrymandering". pilotonline.com. 8 January 2017.
  9. "Honoring Norfolk's Diversity and History". pilotonline.com. 26 March 2017.
  10. "Opinion: A fitting salute for a true patriotic hero". 25 July 2020.
  11. "Opinion: Toll relief should be part of any tunnel contract deal". 17 October 2020.
  12. "Opinion: Tourism, central to Norfolk's economy, is poised for recovery". Pilotonline.org. May 2021.
  13. "Kenneth Cooper Alexander column: What is critical? Teaching inclusive lessons in history". Richmond.com. 24 July 2021.
  14. "Norfolk fortunate for the civic contributions of veterans through its history". 13 November 2021.
  15. "King recognized fundamental need for voting access". 16 January 2022.
  16. "Alexander: When it comes to sister cities, don't be fooled". Roanoke.com. 12 March 2022.
  17. "NATO Festival theme of "resilience" fits perfectly for Norfolk". pilotonline.com. 23 April 2022.
  18. "Mayor Kenneth Cooper Alexander, Ph.D. | City of Norfolk, Virginia - Official Website". Norfolk.gov. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  19. "Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander has a new gig: Chancellor of a network of trade and technical colleges". Pilotonline.org. 22 January 2021.
  20. "Kenny Alexander: Continuing a Legacy of Leadership – Antioch University Alumni Magazine". Magazine.antioch.edu. 15 October 2019.
  21. "Old Dominion Alumnus Kenny Alexander Elected Norfolk Mayor". Odu.edu.
  22. "Special Election- August 6, 2002". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on May 19, 2009. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
  23. "General Election- November 4, 2003". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on May 5, 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  24. "General Election- November 8, 2005". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2013-05-05. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  25. "November 6, 2007 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on June 12, 2012. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  26. "November 2009 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  27. "November 2011 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2013-05-20. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  28. "September 2012 State Senate Special Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  29. "Results". results.elections.virginia.gov.
  30. Walker, Julian (2008-12-16). "Local delegate picked as chair of Legislative Black Caucus". Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
  31. "VA: Alexander ready to step into Yvonne Miller's place". Watchdog. org. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  32. Hartley, Eric. "With quick win, Kenny Alexander will be Norfolk's first new mayor in 22 years". Pilotonline.com. Archived from the original on 2017-02-05. Retrieved 2016-05-04.

Sources
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