Jerry Abramson
From Sunshine Review
Jerry Abramson is the mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, representing 700,000 citizens.[1]
[edit] Career
Abramson has been elected to the position of mayor five times, leading to his nickname, “Mayor for Life.” He is also the longest serving mayor in the 231-year-old city’s history.
Abramson served three terms as mayor of the City of Louisville in the 1980s and 1990s. In November 2002, he was elected for his fourth term as the first Mayor of Louisville Metro with nearly 74 percent of the vote.
His website states that in the years since his reelection in 2002, the city has:
- reduced in government size by nearly 20 percent
- added police officers and launched MetroSafe – a $70 million communications network that links more than 4,000 police, fire, EMS and other emergency responders throughout the region
- added to the development of Waterfront Park, adding 4,000 acres of suburban parkland thorough a public-private partnership, developing a 100-mile Louisville Loop trail and investing millions of dollars in improvements to existing parks.
- developed Liberty Green, a $230 million transformation of the former Clarksdale public housing project east of downtown into a mixed-income neighborhood. It
- expanded Louisville International Airport by $700 million.
- Created a new neighborhood of homes and apartments in the Park DuValle neighborhood.
- developed partnerships with the private sector to enhance parks and green space.[1]
[edit] Awards
| Year | Award | By whom |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Kentucky’s best civic leader (5-time) | Kentucky Monthly magazine |
| 2003 | Local Public Official of the Year | Governing magazine |
| 1993 | President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors | U.S. Conference of Mayors |
| 1993 | Distinguished Public Service Award | U.S. Conference of Mayors |
| 1987 | Top 20 Mayors in America | U.S. News & World Report |
| 1986 | Top 25 Most Dynamic Mayors in America | Newsweek |
[edit] Biography
Abramson has lived in Louisville all of his life, as he was born east of downtown Louisville. His family operated a neighborhood grocery and he attended public schools. He received a Bachelor of Science/Business Economics degree from Indiana University and a law degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C..
Abramson served two years in the U.S. Army from 1969-1971 and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service.
Abramson also was elected twice to Louisville’s Board of Aldermen and served as General Counsel to Kentucky Governor John Y. Brown. During that time, he practiced law as a partner with the Louisville firm of Greenebaum Doll and McDonald LLC.
Abramson returned to practice of law at Frost Brown Todd LLC after ending his third term as Louisville mayor in 1998. He also taught government classes at Bellarmine University. He also formed The Abramson Group, specializing in urban and regional economic development and business strategies.
He and his wife, Madeline Abramson, have a son, Sidney.[1]
[edit] External links
- Mayor's website
- Indiana University
- Georgetown University
- U.S. Army
- Greenebaum Doll and McDonald LLC
- Frost Brown Todd LLC
- Bellarmine University
