Political career
In 1965, 33-year-old Davis defeated incumbent Clyde Harland to become Compton's first Black City Clerk. In 1967, Davis founded the Daisy Child Development Centers, a non-profit organization helping unwed teenage mothers. [1]
Davis won reelection in May 1972 with 83.8% of the vote. [2] In 1973, she challenged and defeated incumbent Compton Mayor Douglas Dollarhide. By doing so, she became the first female African American Mayor of a major metropolitan city in the United States. She served one term and did not seek re-election. [1]
Davis was succeeded in 1977 by another African-American, Lionel Cade, an accountant and former member of the city council, who also served only one term.
In 1986, Davis unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the California State Assembly, 54th District. She finished third in the Democratic primary.
Until 2013, Davis was the only female mayor in Compton's history. On June 4, 2013, Aja Brown was elected as Compton's second female mayor and the city's youngest mayor. In 2004, Alita Godwin became only the second black woman to serve as Compton City Clerk.
| Political offices |
|---|
| Preceded by Clyde Harland | City Clerk, Compton, California
1965–1973 | Succeeded by Charles Davis |
| Preceded by | Mayor of Compton, California
1973–1977 | Succeeded by |
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