Amy Shuler Goodwin
Mayor of Charleston
Assumed office
January 7, 2019
Preceded byDanny Jones
Personal details
Born
Amy Shuler

(1971-03-09) March 9, 1971 (age 53)
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
​
(m. 1999)​
[1][2]
Children2
RelativesThais Blatnik (grandmother)
EducationWest Virginia University, Morgantown (BS)

Amy Shuler Goodwin (born March 9, 1971) is an American journalist and politician from the state of West Virginia. She is the first female mayor of Charleston, West Virginia, serving since January 2019.

Early life and career

Goodwin is a native of Wheeling, West Virginia.[3] Her father, Floyd Shuler, is a business owner, and her mother, Pat Shuler, is a teacher.[4] Her grandmother, Thais Blatnik, served in the West Virginia Senate.[5]

Goodwin graduated from Wheeling Park High School and earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from West Virginia University in 1994.[6] She worked for ABC News as a researcher,[5] before working as a reporter and anchor for WCHS-TV in Charleston and WTRF-TV in Wheeling.[7]

Political career

Goodwin served as communications director for Kemp Melton, the mayor of Charleston, in the 1990s,[8] and as state communications director for John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign.[9] She also served as communications director for Governors Bob Wise and Earl Ray Tomblin. In 2014, Tomblin appointed her as commissioner of the West Virginia Division of Tourism and deputy secretary of commerce.[9][10] She served in the role until January 2017, when Governor Jim Justice selected Chelsea Ruby for the position.[11]

In February 2017, Goodwin declared her intention to run for mayor of Charleston in the 2018 election, seeking to succeed Danny Jones, who opted not to run for reelection.[12][13] She defeated Republican J. B. Akers and independent Andy Backus in the November 2018 general election, and won with almost 51% of the vote. She was sworn into office on January 7, 2019, becoming the first female mayor of Charleston.[14]

Goodwin was reelected in November 2022.[15]

Personal life

Goodwin is married to Booth Goodwin, a former United States Attorney and 2016 Democratic candidate for Governor. They wed on April 17, 1999 and have two sons.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Amy Shuler Goodwin - About page". facebook.com.
  2. ^ "Amen. I'm not from Charleston, but I'm for Charleston. Amy Shuler Goodwin and I chose this place to get married,..." twitter.com.
  3. ^ "Wheeling Native Amy Shuler Goodwin Vies for Charleston Mayor". The Intelligencer and Wheeling News Register. October 18, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  4. ^ "Wheeling Native Goodwin Elected Mayor of Charleston". The Intelligencer and Wheeling News Register. November 6, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  5. ^ a b c "Wheeling native Amy Shuler-Goodwin ready to take the reins in Charleston". Weirton Daily Times. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  6. ^ "Candidate profile: Amy Goodwin, Charleston Mayor | Charleston Election 2018". Charleston Gazette-Mail. October 21, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  7. ^ "Amy Shuler Goodwin plans run for Charleston mayor". WV MetroNews. February 23, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  8. ^ "Goodwin to become Charleston's first female mayor". Charleston Gazette-Mail. November 6, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  9. ^ a b "Tomblin picks spokeswoman Amy Goodwin for top tourism spot". Charleston Gazette-Mail. May 1, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  10. ^ "Goodwin ready to promote WV as full-time job". WV MetroNews. May 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  11. ^ "Chelsea Ruby to take over from Amy Shuler Goodwin as W.Va. Tourism commissioner". WV MetroNews. January 6, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  12. ^ "Amy Shuler Goodwin plans run for Charleston mayor". WV MetroNews. February 23, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  13. ^ "Amy Shuler Goodwin files to run for Charleston mayor". WV MetroNews. February 23, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  14. ^ "Amy Goodwin sworn in as mayor of Charleston". Charleston Gazette-Mail. January 7, 2019. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  15. ^ "Amy Shuler Goodwin wins second term as Charleston mayor". November 9, 2022.

External links

Political offices Preceded byDanny Jones Mayor of Charleston 2019–present Incumbent
Mayors of U.S. state and territorial capital cities
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