Tito Jackson (politician) explained

Tito Jackson
Birth Date:11 April 1975
Birth Place:South End, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation:Politician
Residence:Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts
Party:Democratic
Alma Mater:University of New Hampshire (BA)
Member of the Boston City Council
from District 7
Term Start:March 2011
Term End:December 2017
Predecessor:Chuck Turner
Successor:Kim Janey

Tito Jackson (born April 11, 1975) is an American politician who was a member of the Boston City Council. He represented council District 7, representing parts of the Roxbury neighborhood and parts of Dorchester, South End, and Fenway.[1] In 2017, he ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Boston against incumbent mayor Marty Walsh. After leaving the Boston City Council, Jackson worked in the cannabis industry. In 2022, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu appointed Jackson to the city's Commission on Black Men and Boys.

Jackson is considered to be a political progressive.

Early life, family, and education

Jackson was born to a young teenager who had been sexually assaulted. He was adopted by Rosa and Herb Jackson after months in foster care.[2] Jackson is African American. His adoptive father was a community activist and his adoptive mother ran a home day care.[3] In his activism, Jackson's father supported the election of political candidates of color through voter registration campaigns and applied pressure to construction companies in the city to employ more local workers and minorities. Jackson's father died in 2002. Jackson has credited his adoptive parents' progressive politics for shaping his own progressive politics.[4]

Jackson grew up in the Grove Hall neighborhood.[5] As of 2017, he was living in the same Grove Hall home that he had grown up in. The home is located in the border-area of the Roxbury and Dorchester community areas. Jackson has identified himself with the Roxbury neighborhood, and his city council district was centered around Roxbury.

Jackson attended Brookline High School and later graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history.[6] At university, Jackson founded a "Black Student Union" group which urged the university to work to diversify the makeup of its student body. Jackson was also elected the student body president.[4] His alma mater granted him an additional honorary degree in 2018.[7]

In 2018, Jackson reunited with his biological mother.[8] His biological mother is one of the subjects of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book Common Ground by J. Anthony Lukas, which focused on desegregation busing in Boston.

Early career

From 2004 until 2006, Jackson worked as a marketer for the drug manufacturer Alpharma.[9]

In 2007, Jackson served as the industry director for information technology in Governor Deval Patrick’s Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development. Later, Jackson worked as the political director of Governor Patrick's successful 2010 reelection campaign.[10]

Boston City Council

In the Boston City Council election of 2009, Jackson ran as an at-large candidate. He lost in this first attempt at running for elected office by 11,676 votes.[11]

Jackson ran in the 2011 special election for the 7th district Boston City Council seat to succeed Chuck Turner, who had been expelled from the City Council after a public corruption investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Jackson finished first out of seven candidates in the nonpartisan primary election[12] and defeated Cornell Mills, the son of former State Senator Dianne Wilkerson, 82 percent to 16 percent in the general election.[13]

Councillor Jackson was the Chair of the Committee on Education, and the Chair of the Special Committee on the Status of Black and Latino Men and Boys. Councillor Jackson also served as the Vice Chair of the Committee on Healthy Women, Families and Communities. In addition, he was a member of six other Committees: City, Neighborhood Services and Veteran Affairs; Homelessness, Mental Health and Recovery; Housing and Community Development, Jobs, Wages and Workforce Development; Public Safety and Criminal Justice; and together with all other Councillors, the Committee of the Whole.

In 2012, after Mayor Thomas Menino vetoed the City Council's first two proposals for its redistricted map, Jackson made his own proposal amending the previously proposed map. The City Council passed Jackson's map, which was then approved by Mayor Menino.[14] [15] [16]

In 2014, the City Council passed an ordinance by Jackson to create a commission on Black men and boys. Mayor Marty Walsh vetoed the ordinance, arguing that such a commission would, "duplicate and complicate efforts that my administration is already engaged in", and that the ordinance was written in such a way that he believed it would violate the Boston City Charter.[17] [18] [19] Such a commission would eventually be formed in 2021; with the City Council passing a resolution to form a similar commission that was signed into effect by the acting mayor, Kim Janey, in September 2021.[17] [20]

In 2015, Jackson applied pressure to the non-governmental committee behind Boston's bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics for them to release the non-redacted copy of its original bid for the games.[21] After the collapse of Boston's bid for the Olympics, the organization No Boston Olympics (which had opposed the bid) endorsed Jackson and three other incumbent Boston City Council members for re-election, praising them as "demonstrat[ing] leadership by asking tough questions" to the leaders behind Boston's Olympic bid.[22]

Jackson partnered with Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins to organize a city council committee hearing at the South Bay House of Correction. The hearing, held in September 2015, focused on soliciting input on strategies to decrease recidivism, and was the first hearing in the history of the Boston City Council to be held in a prison.[23]

Jackson was a prominent opponent of 2016 Massachusetts Question 2,[24] [25] which would have authorized an expansion of the number of charter schools in the state. In August 2016, the City Council voted 11–2 to adopt a resolution by Jackson and Matt O'Malley that voiced the council's opposition to the ballot measure.[26]

2017 mayoral campaign

See main article: 2017 Boston mayoral election.

In January 2017 Jackson announced he would run for Mayor of Boston in the 2017 mayoral election against the incumbent, Marty Walsh.[27] In launching his candidacy, Jackson positioned himself as the "progressive" candidate in the race, and cited issues such as income inequality and housing as being central to his candidacy.[28]

In the nonpartisan primary election held on September 26, 2017, Jackson received 29 percent of the votes to Walsh's 63 percent. Jackson moved onto the general election on November 7, 2017. Only 14 percent of the city's voting population cast votes compared to 31 percent in the previous preliminary mayoral contest.[29]

Jackson focused much of his efforts on aiming to win the city's Black vote.[30]

Jackson lost the general election race with 34 percent of the votes to Walsh's 65 percent.

Post-City Council activities and career

Following his city council tenure, Jackson has been involved in ventures related to legal marijuana sales.[31] Jackson has served as the chief executive of Verdant Medical, a Massachusetts medical and recreational marijuana company.[32] He has also worked as the chief executive officer of the Apex Noire marijuana company.[33]

Jackson tested positive for COVID-19 in March 2020, early into the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States[34]

In the 2021 Boston mayoral election, Jackson endorsed the unsuccessful primary election campaign of Acting Mayor Kim Janey.[35] After Janey was eliminated in the primary, he endorsed the successful general election campaign of Michelle Wu.[36]

On March 16, 2022, Jackson was one of fourteen names put forth by the Boston City Council as nominees serve on the newly-established Boston Commission on Black Men and Boys. Mayor Wu had the authority to select seven of those nominees to appoint to the commission.[37] The commission has 21 members, seven of which are selected by the mayor after being first recommended from the Boston City Council, while the remainder are selected by the mayor independently from a pool of applicants. On May 19, 2022, Mayor Wu announced that she would appoint Jackson to the commission.[38]

In October 2022, Jackson spoke before the Boston City Council in support of a proposal by the City Council to raise the pay of city councilors by 20%. He claimed in his remarks that after his election to the city council, he nearly lost his house to foreclosure.[39] While the amendment was passed by the council, Mayor Wu vetoed it. Wu supported an 11% increase, which had been the recommendation of Boston’s compensation advisory board, but opposed a 20% increase.[40]

Electoral history

City Council

2009 Boston City Council at-large election
CandidatesPreliminary Election[41] General Election[42]
Votes%Votes%
John R. Connolly (incumbent)35,18218.0851,36218.35
Stephen J. Murphy (incumbent) 30,36515.6151,00818.22
Felix G. Arroyo25,85913.2945,14416.13
Ayanna Pressley16,8668.6741,87914.96
Tito Jackson12,535 6.4430,20310.79
Andrew Kenneally12,653 6.5024,2498.66
Tomás González10,122 5.2018,3106.54
Doug Bennett10,529 5.4116,8426.02
Ego Ezedi9,260 4.76
Hiep Quoc Nguyen7,691 3.95
Sean H. Ryan6,665 3.43
Jean-Claude Sanon5,386 2.77
Robert Fortes5,0712.61
Bill Trabucco3,1321.61
Scotland Willis2,6391.36
all others5950.319510.34
2011 Boston City Council district 7 election
CandidatesPreliminary Election[43] General Election[44]
Votes%Votes%
Tito Jackson (incumbent)1,87676.074,81884.35
Sheneal Parker 27311.0779913.99
Althea Garrison2168.76470.82
Roy Owens853.45
all others160.65480.84
Total2,4661005,712100
write-in votes
2015 Boston City Council district 7 election
CandidatesPreliminary Election[45] General Election[46]
Votes%Votes%
Tito Jackson (incumbent)1,40966.402,98366.64
Charles L. Clemons Jr. 38117.951,44432.26
Haywood Fennell Sr.1044.90160.36
Althea Garrison984.6200.00
Roy Owens743.49
Kevin A. Dwire341.60
all others221.04330.74
Total2,1221004,476100
write-in votes

Mayor

2017 Boston mayoral election
CandidatesPreliminary election[47] General election[48]
Votes%Votes%
Marty Walsh34,882 62.52%70,19765.37%
Tito Jackson 16,21629.07%36,47233.97%
Robert Cappucci3,736 6.70%
Joseph Wiley529 0.95%
all others4280.777080.66
Total55,791100107,377100

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Martin. Phillip. Replacing Turner, Tito Jackson Wins City Council Spot. WGBH. WGBH. 6 June 2011.
  2. News: Irons . Meghan E. . I want to become the 55th mayor of the City of Boston . . 2017-01-11 . 2017-04-05 .
  3. Web site: Meghan E.. Irons. April 14, 2021. Tito Jackson found his birth mother. Their family’s journey is a tale of Boston history. The Boston Globe. 2021-05-11. en-US.
  4. Web site: Brooks . Anthony . Tito Jackson Aims To Be Boston's First Black Mayor . www.wbur.org . WBUR . 6 April 2023 . en . September 28, 2017.
  5. Web site: Tito Jackson . City of Boston . 2017-04-05 .
  6. Web site: Welcome titojacksonformayor.com - BlueHost.com. Titojacksonforboston.com. 16 July 2018.
  7. Web site: UNH announces 2018 Granite State Award and honorary degree recipients . Foster's Daily Democrat . 18 July 2023 . April 24, 2018.
  8. Web site: Meghan E. . Irons . Tito Jackson found his birth mother. Their family’s journey is a tale of Boston history . . April 14, 2021 . limited . April 15, 2021.
  9. Web site: O’Sullivan . Jim . Tito Jackson once worked for drug maker . The Boston Globe . 8 January 2024 . April 4, 2017.
  10. Web site: White . Anna . Mayor of Boston Candidate Profile: Tito Jackson . Caught In Southie . 20 October 2021 . 25 September 2017.
  11. News: Guilfoil. John M.. Tito Jackson set sights on City Council seat. 6 June 2011. The Boston Globe. December 21, 2010.
  12. Web site: Special Preliminary Municipal Election - City Councillor District 7. City of Boston.gov. City of Boston. 6 June 2011.
  13. Web site: Special Municipal Election - City Councillor District 7. City of Boston.gov. City of Boston. 6 June 2011.
  14. Web site: Dumcius . Gintautas . Council approves third redistricting map with 11-2 vote . www.dotnews.com . Dorchester Reporter . 7 April 2023 . en . October 31, 2012.
  15. Web site: Conti . Matt . New City Council Redistricting Map Impacts North End / Waterfront; Downtown & Wharf District Joins Southie – NorthEndWaterfront.com . northendwaterfront.com . North End Waterfront . 7 April 2023 . November 10, 2012.
  16. Web site: Bernstein . David S. . Boston Mayoral Candidates and Their Council Votes . Boston Magazine . 7 April 2023 . 21 September 2013.
  17. Web site: Gavin . Christopher . Boston councilors again approve Commission on Black Men & Boys . Boston.com . 23 September 2021 . September 16, 2021 . September 20, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210920043831/https://www.boston.com/news/racial-justice/2021/09/16/after-walsh-veto-boston-councilors-again-approve-commission-on-black-men-boys/ . live .
  18. Web site: Van Zuylen-Wood . Simon . Marty Walsh Is Not Tom Menino . Boston Magazine . 20 October 2021 . April 3, 2016.
  19. Web site: Miller . Yawu . Tito Jackson spearheads Boston commission on black boys and men . The Bay State Banner . 21 October 2021 . 5 March 2014.
  20. Web site: MAYOR JANEY SIGNS ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING BLACK MEN AND BOYS COMMISSION . Boston.gov . 23 September 2021 . en . 22 September 2021.
  21. Web site: Moore . Mary . City councilor sets deadline for Boston Olympics group to produce information . www.bizjournals.com . Boston Business Journal . 20 October 2021 . July 14, 2015.
  22. Web site: Arsenault . Mark . Olympics opponents weigh in on city elections . The Boston Globe . 9 July 2023 . October 6, 2015.
  23. Multiple sources:
  24. Web site: McNamara . Brittney . Passing Question 2 irresponsible, opponents say . MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA . 20 October 2021 . en . October 3, 2016.
  25. Web site: Dezenski . Lauren . Advocates stake out positions on charter ballot question . Politico PRO . 20 October 2021 . en . September 13, 2016.
  26. Web site: McKeirnan . Kathleen . Council votes against more charter schools . Boston Herald . 11 July 2023 . 4 August 2016.
  27. News: Atkinson . Dan . Tito Jackson declares he's running for mayor . . 2017-01-11 . 2017-01-12 .
  28. Web site: Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson Is Running For Mayor . WBUR . 20 October 2021 . en . January 12, 2017.
  29. News: Irons . Meghan E. . Walsh, Jackson proceed to general mayoral election in Boston . . 2017-09-26 . 2017-09-27 .
  30. Web site: Brooks . Anthony . Push To Unite Black Vote Behind Janey Prompts Pushback In Boston Mayoral Race . www.wbur.org . WBUR . 26 August 2021 . en . 23 August 2021.
  31. Web site: Tito Jackson seeks to put a 'sophisticated, high-end lounge' atop his State Street cannabis shop . Universal Hub . 8 January 2024 . May 25, 2022.
  32. News: Former city councilor tells of plans for marijuana business . Dan . Adams . . limited . January 17, 2019 . June 22, 2019.
  33. Web site: Dearing . Tiziana . Toci . Bart . The ancillary businesses that support Mass. cannabis dispensaries . WBUR . 10 November 2022 . en . October 18, 2022.
  34. Web site: Bowker . Brittany . March 29, 2020. Former Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson tests positive for coronavirus . 2020-12-04. The Boston Globe.
  35. Web site: Kashinsky . Lisa . JACKSON endorses JANEY — Campaigns SPLIT on STAFF VAX requirements — Climate report prompts CALLS for ACTION . Politico.com . 10 August 2021 . 10 August 2021.
  36. Web site: Boston mayor’s race sours. politico.com. Politico . 18 October 2021 . en . 18 October 2021 .
  37. Web site: Wintersmith . Saraya . City Council nominates candidates for Boston Commission on Black Men and Boys . WGBH . 10 November 2022 . en . 16 March 2022.
  38. Web site: Hill . Marta . Mayor Wu announces members of Black Men and Boys Commission . www.boston.com . 10 November 2022 . May 19, 2022.
  39. Web site: Wu raises prospect of veto after Council okays pay hikes . www.dotnews.com . Dorchester Reporter . 10 November 2022 . en . October 12, 2022.
  40. Web site: Wintersmith . Saraya . Mayor vetoes Boston City Council’s 20% pay hike . WGBH . 31 October 2022 . en . 17 October 2022.
  41. Web site: CITY OF BOSTON MUNICIPAL ELECTION - SEPTEMBER 22, 2009 CITY COUNCILOR AT LARGE. City of Boston.gov. City of Boston. September 21, 2021.
  42. Web site: CITY OF BOSTON MUNICIPAL ELECTION - NOVEMBER 3, 2009 CITY COUNCILOR AT LARGE . City of Boston.gov. City of Boston. September 21, 2021.
  43. Web site: CITY OF BOSTON PRELIMINARY MUNICIPAL ELECTION - SEPTEMBER 27, 2011 CITY COUNCILOR DISTRICT 7. cityofboston.gov. City of Boston. September 21, 2021.
  44. Web site: CITY OF BOSTON MUNICIPAL ELECTION - NOVEMBER 8, 2011 CITY COUNCILOR DISTRICT 7 . cityofboston.gov . City of Boston. September 21, 2021.
  45. Web site: CITY OF BOSTON PRELIMINARY MUNICIPAL ELECTION - SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 CITY COUNCILOR DISTRICT 7. cityofboston.gov. City of Boston. September 21, 2021.
  46. Web site: CITY OF BOSTON MUNICIPAL ELECTION - NOVEMBER 3, 2015 CITY COUNCILOR DISTRICT 7 . cityofboston.gov . City of Boston. September 21, 2021.
  47. Web site: PRELIMINARY MUNICIPAL ELECTION - SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 MAYOR . Boston.gov. 2017-11-14 .
  48. Web site: MUNICIPAL ELECTION - NOVEMBER 7, 2017 : MAYOR CITY OF BOSTON. Boston.gov. 16 July 2018.