Richard E. Jackson


Richard Ernest Jackson Jr. is an American politician, civil servant, and educator New York. A Republican, Jackson has served as New York State Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, Mayor of Peekskill, New York, and as a member of the Peekskill City Council. He was the first African-American mayor of a city in the history of New York.

Early life

Jackson was born in Peekskill on July 18, 1945.

Career

Jackson began his career as a mathematics teacher at Peekskill High School.
A three-term Peekskill City Councilmember, Jackson was appointed Mayor of Peekskill in December 1984 by a unanimous vote of the City Council when the previous mayor, George Pataki, stepped down to serve in the New York State Assembly. Upon assuming office, he became the first African-American Mayor of Peekskill. According to The New York Times, Jackson was also the first African-American mayor of a city in the State of New York. A Republican, Jackson won a full term as mayor in 1985; he later won re-election to two successive terms with the largest pluralities in the city’s 51-year history'. He continued to teach mathematics at Peekskill High School while serving in his part-time mayoral post. Jackson stepped down on April 24, 1991.
In 1995, then-Governor Pataki appointed Jackson to the post of New York State Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. Jackson served as Commissioner from 1995 to 2000.

Personal life

He and his wife, the former Ruth Sokolinsky, have two daughters.