James M. Baker’s inauguration to a historic third term as Wilmington’s Mayor on Tuesday, January 6, 2009 marks a milestone in his long and distinguished career. The Mayor’s career of service to citizens began in the mid-1960s when he was assigned to Wilmington as a volunteer with the VISTA national community service organization. Mayor Baker initially worked with youth groups, among them the Wilmington Youth Emergency Action Council (WYEAC) as a VISTA volunteer, and then held staff and executive positions with a number of private and governmental agencies during his early years in Wilmington, including the Model Cities Program, the Northeast Federal Credit Union, the Governor's Office, and Community Action of Greater Wilmington.

Prior to beginning his first term as Mayor in 2001, Jim Baker served as President of the Wilmington City Council since 1984, the first African-American elected to that post, and had been a Member of City Council since 1972. During his years in City Council, Mayor Baker led the effort to revitalize Wilmington’s historic Riverfront, created the City’s rainy day budget reserve to safeguard against fiscal crises, introduced tax exemptions for senior residents, and established many innovative programs, including the Wilmington Home Ownership Program, the Design Review Commission, the Advisory Commission on Minority Affairs, and a Community Policing Initiative. Mayor Baker sponsored legislation outlawing discrimination, and established the Wilmington Civil Rights Commission.

Mayor Baker’s first two terms as Mayor have been marked by an emphasis on strong fiscal management, a slate of initiatives to stabilize and strengthen Wilmington’s neighborhoods through increased homeownership, new and expanded business development throughout the City, and continued development of the City’s riverfronts. Mayor Baker also introduced several pioneering initiatives that have been replicated by municipalities across the country, including Delaware’s first rewards-based curbside recycling program, the Instant Ticketing Program, and the Vacant Property Registration Fee Program, all of which produce cleaner, more attractive neighborhoods and communities. The Mayor’s terms in office have resulted in a period of growth and prosperity not seen in the City of Wilmington since World War II.

Born in Fostoria, Ohio in 1942, Mayor Baker completed high school there and enlisted in the Air Force, from which he was honorably discharged in 1966 and joined VISTA, the domestic Peace Corps program.

His decades-long volunteer activities reflect his commitment to active partnerships between government and the private sector, not only to meet basic needs, but also to improve the environment, preserve heritage, enrich culture, provide economic opportunity and to give citizens a active voice in their government and community. Throughout all his remarkable achievements, Mayor Baker has remained a champion of “open government” and has worked hard to help citizens understand the processes of both the legislative and executive branches of Wilmington’s government. Mayor Baker has been honored with over 200 awards for his service to the community.

Mayor Baker’s belief in the value of history and culture has resulted in him playing a key role over many years in a number of projects to preserve and promote the City's heritage. The Mayor is also the author of “The Genuine American Music,” a two-volume encyclopedia of black musicians, which tells the story of black music in America through text, rare photos, and original illustrations.