Huntington Mayor Steve Williams was first elected in 2012, was re-elected in 2016 and won an unprecedented third term in 2020, making him the longest serving mayor in the city’s history.
When elected mayor, Williams brought to the job a long record of public service and extensive business experience.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Marshall in 1978 and a master's degree in public administration from West Virginia University in 1980. He began serving as the city’s director of economic development in 1984 and later that same year was named city manager, a post he held until Huntington switched to the “strong mayor” form of government in 1985. He also represented Cabell and Wayne counties in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1987 to 1994.
Professionally, Williams spent more than 25 years in investment banking and brokerage. He returned to politics in 2008 when he was elected as an at-large member of Huntington City Council, where he served as Finance Committee chairman.
Under Williams’ leadership, Huntington was named the $3 million grand prize winner of the America’s Best Communities competition in 2017 for a comprehensive plan aimed at transforming Huntington into the economic gateway of the Appalachian region. The nationwide contest sponsored by Frontier Communications aimed to spur economic development in small communities. More than 350 communities entered.
Working with community leaders, Williams’ administration has been able to leverage more than $20 million in additional grants, philanthropic contributions and corporate investment for the city’s Highlawn, Fairfield and West Huntington neighborhoods.
Huntington has also gained nationwide recognition as the “city of solutions” for its innovative programs addressing the opioid epidemic. The Mayor’s Office of Drug Control Policy, established by Williams in 2014, has formed several partnerships focused on reducing drug trafficking and related crime while promoting prevention and treatment options.
Huntington also has become known for its diversity efforts under Williams’ leadership. He created citizen-based advisory committees for diversity and LGBTQ+ issues and launched the Open to All diversity outreach campaign, which received national attention by winning first place in the National League of Cities’ City Cultural Diversity Awards Program in 2018.
Williams also has kept Huntington on the front lines of policymaking decisions for cities nationwide through his active participation on the boards of directors for the National League of Cities and U.S. Conference of Mayors.
