HOUSTON – Mayor Sylvester Turner was selected as the new president of the African American Mayors Association, an organization that represents over 500 African American mayors across the United States.
Turner replaced outgoing president McKinley L. Price, mayor of Newport News, Virginia. He was virtually sworn in on Wednesday.
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“I am honored to lead the African American Mayors Association. The nation’s 500+ Black mayors play a crucial role in advancing our nation forward. We have a unique understanding of the needs of our local communities and the tailored policies necessary to address them. We are also deeply in tune with the challenges communities of color face and the support needed to overcome those obstacles,” Turner said in a press release. “As I look to the future of AAMA, I look forward to elevating our voices on the most pressing issues facing our nation. Black political leaders can and should be a driving force on climate change, voting rights, and so much more.”
As president of AAMA, Turner will uplift Black mayors’ voices on critical policy issues, particularly those that disproportionately affect communities of color, according to the press release. He will support efforts to tackle climate change, support Black businesses, bolster funding for infrastructure, expand voting access, and address policing reform. He will also elevate innovative, effective programs from Black mayors nationwide that bolster communities of color and can be replicated elsewhere.
As mayor of Houston since 2015, Turner has lead efforts to curb homelessness, implement policing reform recommendations, address budget deficits and create jobs, per the release. He also heads the Climate Mayors, a bipartisan group of more than 470 mayors dedicated to combating climate change.
“It was an honor to lead the African American Mayors Association. As I reflect on the past year, I am deeply proud of how our organization and mayors led on policing reform, support of HBCUs, COVID recovery and so much more. We speak on behalf of those who are often overlooked and marginalized and advocate for the change our nation needs to create strong equitable communities. I am excited to see Mayor Turner advance the organization even further,” said Price, the outgoing AAMA president.