C. Jack Ellis (born January 6, 1946) is a politician and the former mayor of Macon, Georgia.
C. Jack Ellis | |
|---|---|
 Ellis in 2002 | |
| Mayor of Macon, Georgia | |
| In office December 14, 1999 – December 12, 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Marshall |
| Succeeded by | Robert Reichert |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 6, 1946 Macon, Georgia |
| Political party | Democratic |
Early life and career
editPrior to taking office, Ellis served 20 years in the United States Army as an airborne infantryman and airborne instructor; having served two tours in Vietnam with the 101st and 5th infantry divisions; earning the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army commendation medal for valor, Combat Infantryman Badge and Master Parachutist badge. Ellis also served in the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg. Ellis finished the last eleven of his over twenty year military career as a recruiter, serving to help transition the U.S. Army to an all-volunteer force. [citation needed] Upon retirement from the U.S. Army, Ellis served as an executive for the United States Census Bureau, and hosted a public access television show focusing on public and political affairs in the black community. [1] Ellis also ran a youth summer basketball training camp in the U.S. Virgin Islands, hosting then-future NBA and professional basketball players.
Mayor of Macon
edit1999 and 2003 campaigns
editEllis ran for mayor of Macon in 1999.[1] He defeated former Macon Mayor Buck Melton in the 1999 Democratic primary election,[2] and was elected as the city's first African-American mayor in the mayoral general election.
After his first term, he was re-elected in 2003 after defeating several challengers in the Democratic primary and write-in opposition in the general election.
2011 campaign
editOn April 16, 2011, Ellis officially began a third campaign for mayor of Macon against incumbent mayor Robert Reichert.[3] In the July 19 Democratic primary, he placed second in the four-way race, with 37.6% of the vote. Because Reichert fell just shy of 50% of the vote, a run-off election was scheduled for August 16 between Ellis and Reichert.[4] Ellis lost the election by 537 votes, receiving 9,770 of the 20,077 votes cast.[5] Ellis did not rule out a future run for office.[6]
2013 campaign
edit
Controversies
editIn August 2007, C. Jack Ellis sent a letter of solidarity to Hugo Chávez, socialist President of Venezuela and vocal ally of Iran and Cuba. Public reaction in and around Macon was largely negative, with some residents calling for demonstrations and boycotts. Ellis maintained that the declaration was about Chávez's humanitarian efforts, not his political policies.[1]
On April 2, 2008, Macon mayor Robert Reichert received a letter from U.S. Attorney Max Wood accusing the City of Macon, under the Ellis administration, of misusing federal funds and making false statements to government officials. The accusation was in regard to the $900,000 "Safe Schools Initiative grant" given to the city in 2002. The government could also demand that much of the grant money be returned, as well as impose a civil penalty, which the letter stated could be in excess of one million dollars. Ellis stated his confidence that the city had correctly spent the money, and that no wrongdoing had occurred. Despite efforts from his political rivals, No criminal charges were filed, and no evidence of wrongdoing was ever found or admitted by the state.
Religious views
editEllis was born into a Baptist family in Macon, Georgia and is a member of Unionville Missionary Baptist Church.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Divisive Georgia mayor nears end of tenure". NBC News. Associated Press. September 25, 2007. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
- ^ Fabian, Liz (March 6, 2014). "Melton lauded for helping shape 'the modern era in Macon'". The Telegraph (Macon). Archived from the original on March 9, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
- ^ GRANT, CARYN (April 17, 2011). "Ellis officially launches mayoral campaign". Macon.com. The Macon Telegraph. Archived from the original on April 20, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2012.
- ^ GAINES, JIM (July 20, 2011). "Mayor vs. ex-mayor: Reichert, Ellis to vie for repeat". Macon.com. The Macon Telegraph. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2012.
- ^ GAINES, JIM (August 16, 2011). "UPDATE: Reichert re-elected as Macon mayor". Macon.com. The Macon Telegraph. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2012.
- ^ GAINES, JIM (August 18, 2011). "Turnout surge key in tight Macon mayoral race". Macon.com. The Macon Telegraph. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2012.
- ^ "Reichert vs/ Ellis 2013 Runoff Results: http://www.13wmaz.com/news/elections/results/results.aspx?raceid=100 Archived October 16, 2013, at archive.today"
- ^ GAINES, JIM (July 1, 2011). "Democratic Macon mayoral candidates attend debate". Macon.com. The Macon Telegraph. Archived from the original on August 4, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2012.