Wallace E. Holland | |
---|---|
Mayor of Pontiac, Michigan | |
In office 1974–1986 | |
Preceded by | Robert F. Jackson |
Succeeded by | Walter L. Moore |
In office 1990–1994 | |
Preceded by | Walter L. Moore |
Succeeded by | Charlie Harrison Jr. |
City Council of Pontiac, Michigan | |
In office 1970–1974 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Wallace E. Holland 1926 |
Died | 1998 (age 71) |
Political party | Democratic |
Wallace E. Holland (1926–1998) was an American politician who served as the first African-American mayor of Pontiac, Michigan, the county seat of Oakland County
Holland was born in 1926.[1] He was elected to the City Council of Pontiac, Michigan and then was named by the council as mayor in 1974.[2][1] He was continuously appointed as mayor by the City Council through 1982.[1][3] After the city changed its government to a strong mayor form of government, he won the general election in 1981 beginning his term in 1982.[1] In the 1985 general election, he was defeated by Walter L. Moore before returning the favor and defeating Moore in the 1989 general election.[4][5] In 1993,[2] he was defeated in the primaries by state representative Charlie Harrison Jr. and former mayor Walter Moore.[6] Voters were upset over the large budget deficit, high crime rates, and a declining population.[6] Harrison would go on to win serving from 1994 until his death in 1995.[5]
He died in 1998 at the age of 71 due to complications from diabetes.[2]