Robert Henning

Robert Henning (1943/1944[1] – August 2015) is an American politician who served as the first African-American mayor of Lynwood, California.

Robert Henning
Mayor of Lynwood
In office
December 1985 – December 1986
Preceded byJohn Byork
Succeeded byPaul Richards
City Council of Lynwood
In office
December 1, 1983 – December 1, 1997
Personal details
Born1943/1944
California
DiedAugust 2015
Education B.A. California State University, Los Angeles

Biography

Henning graduated with a B.A. in sociology from California State University, Los Angeles.[1] He works as an unemployment insurance adjudication management supervisor for the state Employment Development Department branch office in Compton.[2] In 1978, he moved to Lynwood[2] and ran for a seat on the City Council of Lynwood but lost by 115 votes.[1]

In November 1983, he was narrowly elected (by 120 votes)[1] to the 5-member City Council of Lynwood, the first African-American elected to hold the position.[3] In 1985, he was named vice mayor.[1] Although Lynwood had been historically white, an influx of Blacks and later Hispanics had shifted its racial mix to majority minority.[1] By 1986, Lynwood was 43% Latino, 35% black and 20% white.[1] In November 1985, another African-American was elected to the City Council, Evelyn Wells, who also was the first woman elected to the council in 20 years.[3] Wells promptly nominated him as mayor[3] and in December 1985, the City Council appointed him as mayor of Lynwood, the first African-American to hold the position, succeeding John Byork.[1] After the November 1986 election, Black control of the City Council was solidified after the addition of Paul Richards who was subsequently appointed mayor. Henning continued to serve on the City Council until the November 1997 election when he was defeated.[4]

Henning died in August 2015.[5]

References
  1. Harris, Lee (January 2, 1986). "Mayor Reflects Changing City : 1st Black to Lead Lynwood Once Fought Council". The Los Angeles Times. In 1983 he became Lynwood’s first black council member. And last month Henning, 42, became the first black mayor of this predominantly minority city of 51,000.
  2. Harris, Lee (October 16, 1986). "7 Vie for Votes in Lynwood Council Race". The Los Angeles Times.
  3. Cose, Elise (July 2, 2006). "Black versus Brown". Newsweek.
  4. Leeds, Jeff (November 10, 1997). "A LOOK AHEAD * Latinos in Lynwood recently seized power from another ethnic group, blacks. The change may be a forerunner of votes in Compton and elsewhere, because . . . : After Shift in Demographics Comes Change in City Leaders". The Los Angeles Times.
  5. "Lynwood Centennial Honors Black History Month Original Text". Patch.com. February 28, 2021.
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