Parker Selected Mayor Of Paradise Valley
By Danny L. White
 Attorney Vernon B. Parker, has been selected mayor of the Town of Paradise Valley. Parker, a former special assistant to the president of the United States (1992-93) and the first assistant secretary for civil rights at the United States Department of Agriculture, is the first African American to serve on the town council and as mayor of Paradise Valley.
“Being elected mayor in a town with an African-American population of less than 1 percent says a lot about the town,” Parker stated in response to a series of questions posed by this writer. When asked if the constituency of PV might have been influenced by the popularity of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, Parker responded: “I truly believe the citizens based their decision on my qualifications. I know there will be challenges, yet I am well equipped to take them on.” Paradise Valley is one of the few cities that entrust the selection of its mayor, town manager, town attorney, municipal judges and members of the town’s various committees and boards to those elected to the Paradise Valley Town Council. “The residents of Paradise Valley scrutinize those running for office. Check them from
head to toe, and trust those that are elected to the town council to select the most qualified to serve the town. “One election and it is done,” shared a political pundit who studies city and state government. Parker was elected to the town council on March 11, and on June 19, his peers selected him mayor and Ronald B. Clarke, vice mayor. Paradise Valley’s Town Council is composed of seven members, who serve four-year terms. Parker is president and CEO of the VBP Group, LLC, a consulting firm with a stated, “matchless network of talented professionals to serve clients with diverse needs.” Parker earned his law degree at Georgetown University and his bachelors from Cal State Long Beach. On June 17, 1992,
Parker was appointed by George Bush, Sr., as special assistant to the President and associate director of presidential personnel, a position that charged him with boards and commissions. Previously Parker had served as general counsel of the Office of Personnel Management; counselor to the director of the OPM and as director of Policy OPM. The 47-year-old Parker began his political career with the Fund for America’s Future and during the 1988 presidential primaries, chaired a key research team by serving as the GOP national director of Democrats for Bush-Quayle during the general election. What is the biggest challenge facing Parker and the new town council? Parker foresees the need to bring about institutional change as far as town policy is concerned, especially in the areas of budget and resort development. “I am tremendously blessed to be able to take on the responsibility of serving as mayor of PV. I look forward to working with the other council members and the town manager to bring about changes to benefit our community and its residents,” Parker said.
|
