Percy Bland
| Percy Bland | |
|---|---|
Speaking at the Meridian Temple Theater (July 1, 2013)
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| Mayor of Meridian, Mississippi | |
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Assumed office July 1, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Cheri Merritt Barry |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
September 23, 1970 Crystal Springs, Mississippi |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Deidre Bland (m. 1999) |
| Residence | Meridian, Mississippi |
| Alma mater |
Xavier University of Louisiana (B.S.) University of Southern Mississippi (M.P.H.) |
| Profession | State Farm Insurance Agent |
| Website | Official Website |
Percy Bland is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who currently serves as the mayor of Meridian, Mississippi.
Percy Bland was born in Crystal Springs, Mississippi on September 23, 1970. Bland grew up in Jackson, Mississippi and attended St. Joseph High School, Bland later earned a B.S in Chemistry at Xavier University of Louisiana of New Orleans, and played collegiate basketball. Bland also earned a Master’s of Public Health (MPH) degree at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Bland went on to work for the Fulton County Health Department in Atlanta, Georgia where he served as an epidemiologist in the Tuberculosis Control Department. Bland met his wife Deidre in Atlanta and the couple was married on August 15, 1999. Deidre Bland currently works as a teacher at Ross Collins in the Meridian Public School District. Bland returned to Mississippi and began employment as the Human Resources Director and Marketing Director with the G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center. Bland came to Meridian to own and operate a State Farm Insurance Agency. Bland continues to run and manage a very successful insurance Agency.
In 2007, Bland served as co-chair to pass a bond issue for the first major renovations and improvements to Meridian’s public schools in more than 20 years. The bond issue was for $19.5 million. The bond issue passed on March 27, 2007 with 71.3%. Bland also helped establish the Magnolia Youth Sports Association and still runs his own Summer Basketball Camp. Bland helped establish the First Tee Golf Program in Meridian, the first in the state, a golf program aimed at improving the quality of life of primarily inner-city children.
On June 4, 2013, Percy Bland won the election for mayor of Meridian by 54% of the vote. Before he took office, Bland formed a 29 member transition team from the community to study five issues - education, community development, public safety, infrastructure and city partnerships - and make recommendations about how to move improve those areas in Meridian. Bland was sworn in as the first African-American mayor of the city of Meridian on July 1, 2013.
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