Mayor Takisha James: Commissioner Interview
These days, true public servants seem hard to come by. People who truly understand that community is currency. Here in Maryland, we are blessed to have community leaders, such as Mayor Takisha James, that do. This month, we had the opportunity to delve into Mayor James’ story, and her path to becoming the Mayor of Bladensburg, as well as the next president of the Maryland Municipal League.
Mayor James was born into a close-knit family in the small town of Lansing, Michigan. She grew up with a desire to move away from home, longing to live in a more diverse community. When the time came to visit schools for her undergraduate education, James fell in love with Howard University, where she majored in psychology. “I thought I was going to change the world by being a therapist,” she recalled. However, shortly after graduating, Mayor James went on to work for a trade association, and developed a great appreciation for the advocacy that trade associations provide for different industry sectors. Today, Mayor James continues this advocacy working for the American Clean Power Association, advocating for policies and investments that grow and strengthen our communities, and cut harmful pollution.
While her work in trade associations was her introduction to the world of advocacy, Mayor James credits her initial front row seat in politics to her husband’s community involvement after their move to Bladensburg. “By virtue, if one family member gets involved, the whole family is involved.” Mayor James watched her husband progress in the community service circuit from volunteering, to running for Town Council, and eventually holding office as Mayor of Bladensburg himself. For Mayor James, her husband’s love for community engagement very much informed her own. She told us that “seeing the compassion, love, and excellent level of service that he gave to the community opened my eyes to how people can really serve from the heart.”
James shared that there were multiple driving forces behind her decision to run for office. At the end of his 12th year as Mayor, her husband, former Mayor Walter Lee James, Jr., encouraged Mayor James to consider running herself. While this was a suggestion he’d made on multiple occasions, Mayor James had never envisioned herself in an elected position. “I thought, ‘this man is crazy. I like volunteering and serving the hot dogs at community events.’” However, James recognized she had to challenge herself, and acknowledge that “fear can’t be an obstacle. Fear is something you recognize, assess, move past, and ultimately step out on in faith to rise beyond it.”
Mayor James expressed that living in the DC metro area was also a major influence, as it exposed her to trade organizations. She liked that they represented a wide range of people from different sectors, and that while they are professional organizations, they offer a bit more flexibility in the way they operate. For her, they were more fun than working in corporate America. James worked at a few different associations in the early 2000’s, but in 2009 she landed at the American Wind Association, which transitioned into the American Clean Power Association in 2021. She still works there today as Senior Director for Industry Education & Training.
When asked about how her career trajectory has shaped her work, James told us that her involvement in community service has provided a sense of groundedness, and a hyper awareness that every decision she makes will affect her community’s future. “When you recognize you have that ability to shape things for good … it gives you a sense of humility [and] gratitude that you can have a voice, [and] influence change.” She went on to explain that while she does have a full time job outside of her role as Mayor, serving her community is what brings her the most satisfaction in life. “This is not a community somewhere else across the United States, this is your back yard.” From building out programs to establishing budgets, the ways in which Mayor James’ decisions affect her neighbors is always at the forefront of her mind.
Similar to her career path, Mayor James shares that there are many influences behind her community service as well. She describes her husband as a “cheat code”, providing her a firsthand look into the role of Mayor, and having confidence that she could push the community beyond what he had already achieved during his time in office. For James, having her husband’s backing was also an important show of allyship, as it is not often that we see men in the political space vouching for women. “What launched me forward was having someone else believe in me, and giving me the courage to say ‘yes, I can do this.’” She notes that her decision to run came on the heels of the 2016 presidential election, when a collective grief and disillusionment discouraged many from believing women were truly supported politically. James recalls how a speaker from a women’s professional networking group also helped influence her decision to run for office. “While speaking about the importance of women taking opportunities to pursue leadership roles, she said, ‘As women, we need to stop second guessing ourselves… You are good enough right now to run for office.’ and I thought, ‘it feels like she is speaking to me directly!’” By January of 2017, her sights were set on running for the mayoral seat.
For Mayor James, her influences consist not only of those who have set an example for her, but also to those she, herself, would like to be a good role model for. James’ daughter has played a significant part in James’ courage to move forward, “ I can’t be a good role model for her if I don’t demonstrate what it’s like to do something afraid.”
When it comes to understanding Maryland municipal government, Mayor James shares that elected officials are “only as strong as our community members, so we need them to be successful.” While those elected to office do rely on their constituents to share their thoughts and ideas, James stressed the importance of community members also stepping into leadership roles within their communities. Mayor James wants Marylanders to know that we all have the capacity to serve, despite what our limiting beliefs may tell us.“If all of us just do a little bit to make our communities better… I can only imagine how strong every community in Maryland would be.” She continues, “there is space, and there is a place for every Marylander to serve.”
Mayor James describes America as a wonderful country to call home, even as she acknowledges its deeply complicated and often painful history. “What I fully appreciate about living in this country is that we can have honest conversations about how far we’ve come, but also how far we still need to go.” She remains grateful to live in a nation where such dialogue is possible, yet she recognizes that “we are not showing up as our best selves in this current moment in 2026,” as political tensions and divisions feel sharper than ever.
Even so, Mayor James urges us to stay focused on what is going right, reminding us that progress—however incremental—can inspire us to continue showing up for our communities. She believes the turbulence we are experiencing is a phase, but a meaningful one that calls for reflection: What lessons are emerging from this moment, and how will we choose to grow from them?
“That’s part of the American story. We face challenges, and if we’re wise, we use those challenges to make ourselves better.” She emphasizes the importance of looking to our history not only to measure how far we’ve come, but to remind ourselves that Americans have repeatedly overcome difficult times—and we are capable of doing so again.
When asked about her hopes for the MD Two Fifty Commission and Maryland’s 250th commemoration, Mayor James shared her desire to leave a lasting impact that extends well beyond the anniversary year. She pointed to the Citizen Academies—now taking root across the state through the Commission’s grant funding—as a powerful example. Mayor James believes these academies provide an accessible entry point into civic engagement, offering residents a clearer understanding of how local government works and inspiring deeper participation. From volunteering to potentially running for office, participants gain the knowledge and confidence needed to become more active citizens. She is optimistic that the program will “spread like wildfire” and hopes that the Maryland Municipal League, which she represents on the Commission, will champion its continued growth—especially as she prepares to assume the MML presidency in June.
She further emphasized that “connections to the various populations [in Maryland] will foster greater opportunities and partnerships.” She noted that the Commission’s recent efforts have “sparked something that will endure well beyond this year’s commemorations.” In reflecting on Maryland’s 250th anniversary, Mayor James expressed her hope that the state will use this moment to both recognize its achievements and acknowledge the shared values that bind its communities. “If we can focus on educating, celebrating, and appreciating this moment we’re sharing in,” she stated, “I believe that will yield meaningful success for the MD Two Fifty Commission.”
As someone who once felt as though they did not have what it takes to make a difference in their community, Mayor James understands how easy it is to feel disillusioned in the face of so much adversity. She encourages us to learn about ways we can get involved. James listed county governments, city halls, and community organizations as great starting points for those looking to become more engaged. She urges Marylanders to ask “how can I help?” Even if you find that the opportunities available do not align with your interests, the option is still open to volunteer and familiarize yourself with what’s going on in your area. As far as Mayor James is concerned, there is no excuse for not serving. She states, “You can’t criticize if you’re not helping to be part of the solution.”
Mayor James is truly a powerhouse of compassion. After hearing her story, you leave feeling not only hopeful, but energized and curious about the ways you can also become a better community member.
We are sincerely honored to have leaders like Mayor James serving in our beloved state of Maryland and on the MD Two Fifty Commission.
Written by Parys Wyatt