C. Jack Ellis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. (February 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
| C. Jack Ellis | |
 |
|
|
|
|
|---|---|
| In office December 14, 1999 – December 11, 2007 |
|
| Preceded by | Jim Marshall |
| Succeeded by | Robert Reichert |
| In office 2003 – 2007 |
|
| Succeeded by | Robert Reichert |
|
|
|
| Born | January 6, 1946 Macon, Georgia |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Religion | Islam |
Clarence Jack "C. Jack" Ellis, is the former mayor of Macon, Georgia.
Clarence Ellis, a Macon native, was born on January 6, 1946.[1] Prior to taking office, Ellis served in the United States Army, worked for the United States Census Bureau, hosted a public access television show, and sold used cars. He fathered a son with Mireille Severe, and has been involved in legal action concerning his failure to pay child support. [2] He ran for mayor in 1999, and was elected as the first African-American to hold the position. After a somewhat controversial first term, he was re-elected in 2003 after defeating several challengers in the Democratic primary and substantial write-in opposition in the general election. His second term has led to further conflicts with the city council and several failed attempts to recall him. He is currently the focus of several federal investigations.
Due in part to the sometimes fierce opposition, Ellis has had few major accomplishments during his terms. The city successfully won a federal Hope VI grant to improve public housing, in addition to other grants and federal aid. The use of these funds has been the topic of several investigations and audits[3] [4]. Ellis has also gained personal influence through the use of his position in numerous national conferences relating to city government and urban issues, as well as becoming a frequent international traveler and unofficial goodwill ambassador, mostly to Africa. He has taken several goodwill trips to Africa which are controversial because they take him away from the city for extended time periods at the tax payers' expense[5]. Ellis has repeatedly insisted that previous mayors had similar expenses.
In February 2007, Ellis made headlines by announcing his December 2006 conversion to Islam, including plans to legally change his name to Hakim Mansour Ellis. Ellis, who had previously been a practicing Christian, became a Sunni Muslim during a trip to the west African country of Senegal, saying it was like going "back to [his] roots" — claiming that some West Africans brought to America as slaves practiced Islam. [6][7]
In April of 2007, Ellis announced that he had been appointed honorary consul for the African nation of Uganda, a posting that will begin after his term as mayor ends (per State Department regulations). Ellis expects to use the honorary position to promote Uganda in his territory of the southeastern United States. Honorary consuls typically also help nationals of the country they represent with any problems they have in the country in which they live.
In August of 2007, Ellis sent a message of solidarity to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Many question the motives behind such a message, and it appears the latest in a series of public relations blunders for Mayor Ellis. see story
Ellis's term expired in December of 2007. He was ineligible to run for a third term.[8][9]
[edit] Notes
- ^ The Official City of Macon Web Site - Mayor C. Jack Ellis: About Mayor C. Jack Ellis
- ^ WMAZ, Last-Minute Compromise, <http://www.13wmaz.com/news/local_story.aspx?storyid=16170>. Retrieved on 26 February 2007
- ^ Macon Telegraph: Beall's Hill audit sought
- ^ Associated Press. "Federal investigators probe Macon's finance office", December 17, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-02-26.
- ^ Donila, Mike. "Macon mayor defends trip to Africa; Ellis says Ghana could process city's parking tickets", 2003-08-05. Retrieved on 2007-02-26.
- ^ Mayor Ellis: Call Him Hakim
- ^ CNN: Macon, Georgia, mayor converts to Islam
- ^ "Jack Ellis controversy day 1", ABC Macon News, 2007-08-14. Retrieved on 2007-08-17.
- ^ "Jack Ellis controversy day 2", ABC Macon News, 2007-08-15. Retrieved on 2007-08-17.
[edit] See also
| Preceded by Jim Marshall |
Mayor of Macon 1999-2007 |
Succeeded by Robert Reichert |
|
|||||||
