About Mayor James

Mayor Keith A. James
City of West Palm Beach

 

Keith James was first elected Mayor of the City of West Palm Beach on March 12, 2019, and re-elected, unopposed, to a second four-year term in 2023.

As Mayor, Keith James has focused on building a "Community of Opportunity for All" by expanding affordable and workforce housing, strengthening public safety, investing in infrastructure, and working to create economic and educational opportunities that improve quality of life for residents throughout West Palm Beach.

Mayor James is the City of West Palm Beach's first African-American "strong mayor," serving as the City's Chief Executive Officer and directing its administrative operations. He is also the fourth African-American mayor in the City's history. Under his leadership, West Palm Beach has emerged as one of the nation's fastest-growing cities and a leading hub for finance, innovation, and technology, while maintaining a strong focus on neighborhood revitalization, workforce development, and small business growth.

Mayor James has led a transformative era of progress in West Palm Beach, advancing strategic investments in public safety, mobility, parks and public spaces, critical infrastructure, and sustainability initiatives. His administration has also exceeded its goal of creating 1,400 affordable and workforce housing units, with more than 1,500 units completed or under development. Through innovation, regional collaboration, and forward-thinking leadership, Mayor James has helped position West Palm Beach as one of the nation's most dynamic and forward-looking cities.

Prior to being elected Mayor, Keith James served as the District 4 City Commissioner from 2011 to 2019, serving as President of the Commission twice. Mayor James has been a part of the leadership that has led West Palm Beach from the depths of the recession to the booming metropolis we have today.

Mayor James is the past president of the Palm Beach County League of Cities, where he championed regional collaboration and municipal advocacy on issues including home rule, transportation, public health, and community well-being. He has also served in numerous leadership roles throughout Florida and the region, including as a board member of the Florida League of Cities and the Palm Beach County League of Cities.

A trailblazer in his own right, Mayor James became the first African American chair of both Leadership Florida and the Quantum Foundation. He also served as Chair of the West Palm Beach Citizens' Ethics Task Force, having been appointed to the position by then-Mayor Lois Frankel.

Born in Wichita, Kansas to a teenage single mother, Mayor James learned at an early age the value of hard work, service and education. As a young man, Mayor James overcame the challenges of segregation and inequality to become accepted and graduate from Harvard College and then Harvard Law School.

Mayor Keith James has been a West Palm Beach resident for more than 35 years. It is where he raised his two children and has dedicated his life to public service. He and his wife, Lorna, remain proud residents of the City they love and serve.