James M. Baker (mayor)

James M. Baker ( born 1942 in Fostoria, Ohio ) is an American politician of the Democratic Party. From 2 January 2001 to January 8, 2013, he served as the 54th mayor of the city of Wilmington in Delaware.

After completion of the High School Baker joined the U.S. Air Force, where he served until 1966. He was elected to the City Council (Wilmington City Council ) in 1972 and from 1984 he was finally the first African-American president of the city council. On 2 January 2001 he was sworn in as Mayor; He succeeds James Sills. During his tenure, it came to the construction of memorials to the fallen in World War II and the Korean War the Americans and the government buildings of the city or of the county was by Louis L. Redding (1901-1998), a prominent lawyer and civil rights representatives, renamed.

In 2012, Baker was unable to run again due to term limits. His successor Dennis P. Williams was elected. Shortly before leaving his office Baker was awarded by Governor Jack Markell of Delaware's Order of the First State, the highest honors of the state.

Baker is the author of a two-volume encyclopedia of African- American musicians entitled The Genuine American Music.