Richard E. Jackson

Richard E. Jackson
New York State Commissioner of Motor Vehicles
In office February 14, 1995 – 2000
Preceded by	Patricia B. Adduci
Succeeded by	Raymond P. Martinez
Personal details
Born	July 18, 1945
Political party	Republican
Profession	Teacher Former Mayor

Richard Ernest Jackson, Jr. (born July 18, 1945) is an American politician and mathematics teacher, who made black history in 1984 when he became Mayor of the City of Peekskill. Peekskill was the first city in all of New York State to have an African American Mayor, making Jackson - as reported by both the New York Times .^[1] and Ebony Magazine.^[2] - New York State's first African American Mayor. In 1974, the Village of Bridgewater (population 574) laid some claim that their Village elected an African American Mayor, Everett T. Holmes, prior to Mayor Jackson's appointment. Everett served as mayor from 1974-1976 and from 1979 until his death in 1982. However, the village of Cleveland in Oswego County can claim the first African American to be elected its chief executive. Edward "Ned" Sherman was elected in a special election in May, 1878 to fill the unexpired term of the chief executive, called President of the village, who quit a month after being elected.^[3]

After serving eight years as mayor, Richard E. Jackson later became a member of Governor Patakiʼs Gubernatorial cabinet when he was appointed by the Governor in 1995, to become New York State's Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. Jackson served Commissioner from 1995 to 2000.^[4]

Richard Jackson is married to Ruth Jackson, an elementary school music teacher, and the couple has four children; Tara, Alice, Abigail, and William, and four grandchildren, Ava, Kale, Claire and Madison.

Jackson taught Calculus and Pre-Calculus at Averill Park High School in the 2014-2015 school year, filling in for a teacher on maternity leave.

References

1. Williams, Lena. "" New York Times. December 23, 1984.
2. "" Ebony Magazine. April, 1985
3. "" Cleveland Historical Society. January 29, 2016
4. Fisher, Ian. "article Proponent of Work for Welfare Is Among 9 Pataki Appointments." New York Times, December 29, 1994.

• Jackson, Alice. Personal interview. 20 Jun. 2008
• Student of Jackson's. 7 May 2015