Jay Williams (politician)
| Jay Williams | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development | |
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In office May 20, 2014 – January 20, 2017 |
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| Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs | |
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In office June 11, 2012 – 2013 |
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| Executive Director, Office of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers at the United States Department of Labor | |
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In office August 8, 2011 – June 2012 |
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| 47th Mayor of Youngstown | |
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In office 2005–2011 |
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| Preceded by | George McKelvey |
| Succeeded by | Chuck Sammarone |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 1971 (age 45) Youngstown, Ohio |
| Political party | Independent (first term), Democratic (second term) |
| Spouse(s) | Sonja |
| Residence | Youngstown, Ohio |
| Alma mater | Youngstown State University |
| Profession | banking |
Roy Kojo Jawara "Jay" Williams (born September 1971) is a United States politician and former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. As the administrator of the Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), Williams was charged with leading the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, and preparing American regions for growth and success in the global economy. Previously, he served as the executive director of the federal Office of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers, and also as the mayor of Youngstown, Ohio. His election in 2005 gained local and regional media attention because it brought Youngstown its first African-American mayor as well as its first independent mayor since 1922. He resigned in August 2011 to take a position as the Obama administration's "Auto Czar".
He is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition, a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets". The Coalition is chaired by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg; the late Thomas Menino (1943-2014), Mayor of Boston, was a co-chair.
Williams was born and raised on Youngstown's east side. After earning a degree in finance at Youngstown State University, he reportedly turned down job offers from around the country and remained in Youngstown, where he worked with area banks. Williams also served as an examiner for the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.
He eventually left the banking industry to assume directorship of Youngstown's Community Development Agency. There, Williams was instrumental in implementing Youngstown 2010, a citywide redevelopment plan aimed at re-shaping the city and helping to overturn its negative image.
Williams, who publicly stated on several occasions that he was a "lifelong Democrat", did not run in the April Democratic primary for mayor. On May 3, 2005, he announced his intention to run for mayor as an independent.
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