| Richard E. Jackson | |
| Order1: | New York State Commissioner of Motor Vehicles |
| Term Start1: | February 14, 1995 |
| Term End1: | 2000 |
| Governor1: | George Pataki |
| Predecessor1: | Patricia B. Adduci |
| Successor1: | Raymond P. Martinez |
| Office2: | Mayor of Peekskill, New York |
| Term Start2: | December 31, 1984 |
| Term End2: | April 24, 1991 |
| Predecessor2: | George Pataki |
| Successor2: | Vincent C. Vesce |
| Birth Date: | 18 July 1945 |
| Party: | Republican |
| Profession: | Politician, teacher |
| Birth Name: | Richard Ernest Jackson Jr. |
Richard Ernest Jackson Jr. (born July 18, 1945) is an American politician, civil servant, and educator from New York. A Republican, Jackson has served as New York State Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, Mayor of Peekskill, New York, and as a member of the Peekskill City Council.
He is the first African-American to serve as mayor of a city in the history of New York.
Jackson was born in Peekskill on July 18, 1945.
Jackson began his career as a mathematics teacher at Peekskill High School.Jackson later taught calculus at Averill Park High School.
A three-term Peekskill City Councilmember, Jackson was appointed Mayor of Peekskill in December 1984 by a unanimous vote of the City Council when the previous mayor, George Pataki, stepped down to serve in the New York State Assembly.[1] [2] Upon assuming office, he became the first African-American Mayor of Peekskill. According to The New York Times, Jackson was also the first African-American mayor of a city in the State of New York. A Republican, Jackson won a full term as mayor in 1985; he later won re-election to two successive terms with the largest pluralities in the city's 51-year history.[3] He continued to teach mathematics at Peekskill High School while serving in his part-time mayoral post. Jackson stepped down on April 24, 1991.
In 1995, then-Governor Pataki appointed Jackson to the post of New York State Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. Jackson served as Commissioner from 1995 to 2000.[4]