James Lee Purnell Jr.
James Lee Purnell Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Worcester County Board of County Commissioners | |
| In office December 3, 1995 – 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Floyd Bassett |
| President, Worcester County Board of County Commissioners | |
| In office 2005–2008 | |
| Vice President, Worcester County Board of County Commissioners | |
| In office 1995–2005 | |
| In office 2010–2012 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Lee Purnell Jr. July 26, 1937 Berlin, Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | December 27, 2021 (aged 84) |
| Spouse | Clemeth Hardy (m. 1961) |
| Occupation | Politician, social activist |
| Known for | First African-American elected to public office in Worcester County, Maryland |
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James Lee Purnell Jr. (July 26, 1937 – December 27, 2021) was an American politician and social activist. He was most known as the first African-American elected to public office in Worcester County, Maryland. Prior to his election he was one of the lead plaintiffs, along with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in a voting rights lawsuit to end at-large voting and create a majority "minority" voting district in Worcester County, Maryland. At the time, Purnell was President of the NAACP's Worcester County branch.