James Knowles III

James Wallace Knowles III (born July 20, 1979) is an American politician who served as the 11th Mayor of the city of Ferguson, Missouri, from April 2011 to June 2020.

Early life and education Knowles received bachelor's degrees in political science and criminal justice from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri in 2002.

Career Knowles is a former chairman of the Missouri Young Republicans. Knowles was a staff member for former Missouri state Senator and Democrat Ted House. He is a former employee of the Ferguson Police Department, serving nearly four years in the department's communications division.

Knowles served on the Ferguson city council prior to becoming mayor.

Mayor of Ferguson Knowles became the youngest mayor in Ferguson's history when he took office at the age of 31. An effort to recall Knowles was filed with the city on March 13, 2015. Knowles was re-elected mayor on April 4, 2017, with 57% of the vote.

Knowles was unable to run for re-election in 2020 due to term limits. He was succeeded by Ella Jones, the first black mayor of Ferguson in the city's history.

Electoral history