Commissioner Andrew D. Gillum

At the age of 23, Andrew Gillum became the youngest person ever elected to the Tallahassee City Commission. At the time of the election, Gillum was a student at Florida A&M University (FAMU), majoring in political science. In August 2004, Commissioner Gillum was re-elected by the citizens of Tallahassee, to serve for a full four-year term as one of four on the Tallahassee City Commission.

November 2004 garnered him increased prominence in civic leadership responsibilities. Gillum was elected by his fellow City Commissioners to serve in the one-year term as Mayor Pro Tem. Additionally, the joint body of City and County Commissioners, known as the Capital Region Transportation Planning Agency, elected him to serve as their chairperson for a year.

In June 2003, he received the "Emerging Leaders Award" from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. for educating and motivating young adults to become more politically involved and for being an "invaluable source of guidance and inspiration to this generation of leaders."

Gillum's commitment to the City of Tallahassee and the State of Florida is clearly evidenced by the many causes he has championed during his young life. Following the 2000 Presidential election, he addressed the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on election violations in Florida. Subsequently, he was instrumental in organizing the historic March on Tallahassee in protest of Gov. Jeb Bush's executive order to abolish Affirmative Action in state university admissions and state contracting. As a result of his advocacy efforts, the national Center for Policy Alternatives recognized him as the country's top student leader in 2001. Gillum continues to fight for equality for all Americans, no matter race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. He serves on the Red Blue Florida Coalition working to stop anti-marriage bans in the state of Florida.

His impact on the local community spread statewide when he accepted the position of Field Organizer with People For the American Way Foundation (PFAWF), Tallahassee Office. In 2002, he organized and led the largest get-out-the-vote campaign - titled "Arrive With 5" - in Florida's history. As National Director of the Young Elected Officials Network with PFAWF, Gillum spearheads a program that seeks to unite elected officials age 35 and under in a network which supports them with leadership and personal development training and public policy support. Gillum was instrumental in inaugurating this PFAWF project initiative in January 2006. With Gillum at the helm, the program evolved into a national network that links young elected officials across the country and helps identify solutions to the challenges facing our communities and states.

Gillum serves on the Board of Directors of the Black Youth Vote Coalition, a program of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (Washington, DC); is a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; and a member of the Community of Faith Church.