From the District of Columbia Site:
Anthony A. Williams began serving as the fourth Mayor of the District of Columbia on January 4, 1999, 25 years after the city was granted Home Rule in 1974. On January 2, 2003, Mayor Williams was inaugurated and began serving his second term in office. His second term extends through December 2006.

During his first term in office, Mayor Williams helped spark a renaissance in Washington, DC. He and his administration have consistently produced a balanced budget, while generating economic stability and affordable housing. One of the cornerstones of Mayor Williams' tenure has been creating a friendly government that listens to citizens through town hall meetings and citizen summits. In his January 2003 inauguration speech, Mayor Williams named three key priorities for the city: education, public safety, and expanding opportunity for all the District's citizens. These three priorities will serve as the core of Mayor Williams' vision and action as he and his administration work to serve the citizens of the District of Columbia.

In December 2002, Mayor Williams was elected second vice president of the Washington, DC-based National League of Cities (NLC). This election puts Mayor Williams in line to serve as NLC president in 2005. The National League of Cities is the oldest and largest national organization representing municipal governments throughout the United States. Its mission is to strengthen and promote cities as centers of opportunity, leadership, and governance that work in partnership with 49 state municipal leagues.

Born on July 28, 1951, in Los Angeles, California, Williams is the adopted son of Virginia and the late Lewis Williams, and is one of eight children. He graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Yale College, earned a juris doctorate from Harvard Law and a master's degree in Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He also served in the US Air Force.

Mayor Williams is a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church and several social service organizations, including 100 Black Men, Leadership Washington, and the Washington Urban League. He and his wife, Diane, live in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of the District. They have one daughter, Asantewa Foster.