Office of the Mayor
The Honorable James L. Walls, Jr., was re-elected Mayor of the City of District Heights, Maryland on May 3, 2010. He is the youngest person in the City's History to be elected as a Mayor, as well as the youngest person to ever serve as Vice Mayor and City Commissioner.
Mayor Walls has received accolades from many Cities and States from around the United States and the World for his outstanding commitment and dedication to public and community service. In 2008, Mayor Walls received the Distinguished "Martin Luther King Foundation" of Prince George's County, "Civic Engagement Award".
He holds memberships in many organizations such as the Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc., National League of Cities, National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO), Maryland Municipal League, U.S. Conference of Mayors, National Conference of Black Mayors, World Conference of Mayors, Maryland Black Mayors, and the Maryland Mayors Association to name a few.
Mayor Walls serves on the Executive Board of Directors for the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO) he currently serves as the National Treasurer of the Caucus. He is the Past President of the Maryland Black Mayors Association.
In 2003, Mayor Walls received a United States Presidential Appointment to serve on the United States Selective Service Board for Maryland. Mayor Walls is also a Former Commissioner on the Maryland State Board of Foresters. In 2009, He was elected President-Elect of the World Conference of Mayors and Serves as the Chairman of the Tourism Committee.
Mayor Walls is an Alumnus of the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL). Mayor Walls has traveled and Headed delegations to West Africa, Eastern Europe, Central America, and the Caribbean. In 2003, he was selected out of National, State and Local elected official candidates to travel with a U.S. delegation to the Republic of Hungary and the Republic of Romania in Eastern Europe. In 2005, he was asked to serve as a US Representative to the Balkans for the first historic Europe & Eurasia Young Leaders Conference in Macedonia. The conference concluded with the dedication of a "Liberty Pavilion" at Southeast European University, erected as a symbol of democracy to commemorate this pioneer gathering of Young political leaders working to expand freedom's frontier across Europe and Eurasia. Mayor Walls has fostered sister cities international agreements with the Republic of the Congo, Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Republic of Haiti.
In 2006, Mayor Walls was selected as one of the most progressive young Leaders in the Country under 40 by People for the American Way Foundation (YEO). Also in 2007, he was recognized by the International Democratic Institute for Leadership Change as 100 Top Young Leaders in the country. He has also been featured in numerous articles and magazines.
Mayor Walls is a graduate of Bowie State University and did further studies at Sojourner Douglass College in Baltimore, MD. He has also studied and earned certificate's in Leadership Development from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government and is an Academy Fellow of the University of Maryland's Institute of Local Governance.
Mayor Walls attended the Richmond Virginia Seminary. He has a Masters of Arts in Theology and a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Counseling. He is also a Licensed and Ordained Baptist Minister. He serves as the Minister for seniors and Families ministries at Forestville New Redeemer Baptist Church in Forestville, MD. In 2008, Dr. Walls was honored by the President of Coppin State University and was a Guest Lecturer in the School of Professional Studies, Department of Applied Psychology and Rehabilitation Counseling in Baltimore, Maryland.
Mayor Walls is an active member of International Free & Accepted Modern Masons and Order of the Eastern Stars. He currently serves as the District Deputy Grand Master of The Most Worshipful Hugo B. Ings Grand Lodge of Washington, DC., and is the Worshipful Master of Frederick Douglass Lodge #10., the Royal Arch and Knights Templar, he currently is a 32nd Degree Mason.
Mayor Walls formerly worked in the Maryland House of Delegates as a Legislative Director to Delegate Griffith, 25th Legislative District and currently serves as Town Manager for the Historical Town of Fairmount Heights, Maryland. The Town of Fairmount Heights is one of the Oldest African American Communities in the United States of America.
Mayor Walls is working hard to make a difference in our community, especially in the pursuit of his primary issues of seniors, youth, family, housing, economic development, and cultural enrichment. He is a public servant who is committed to serving the needs of the residents of the City of District Heights, Maryland and the State of Maryland.
Mayor Walls can be reached via email at wallsj@districtheights.org
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