p Sly James | Midwest Democracy

Midwest Democracy Project

The races. The candidates. The issues. From zero to savvy in under 6 seconds.

Advertisement

Sly James

Ran for Kansas City Mayor

March 22, 2011 Follow

Party
Democrat
Online

Website

Facebook

Date of Birth
Sept. 12, 1951
Education

Sly attended Bishop Hogan High School in Kansas City and graduated in 1969. While there, he was the president of his junior class. After completing his service in the United States Marine Corps, Sly returned home to Kansas City and graduated cum laude from Rockhurst College. Following that he earned his law degree, also cum laude, from the University of Minnesota in 1983.

Work experience

During his 26-year legal career, Sly has developed a proven record of success as a leader, an effective coalition builder, and a fierce advocate. He joined Blackwell, Sanders, Matheny, Weary & Lombardi in 1983, and became the first African-American partner in the firm’s history in 1990. In February, 2002, Sly started his own successful small business, The Sly James Firm, where he works with victims to seek justice and positive outcomes to disputes.

In 1992, the Missouri Supreme Court appointed Sly to the Missouri Board of Law Examiners. Between 1992 and 2002, he was a member, secretary, and later the president of the board.

He was president of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (KCMBA) in 2003, as well as the director of the Kansas City Bar Foundation, and vice president of the Public Interest Litigation Clinic.

Sly was formerly the vice-president of the board of directors of Legal Aid of Western Missouri and treasurer of the Jackson County Bar Association.

In 2003, while president of the KCMBA, Sly established the Diversity Initiative with 26 managing partners of the largest law firms in the city. He remains active in the KCMBA Diversity Committee. He is a Fellow of the American Bar Association.

Family

Sly is married to Licia Clifton-James. They have four children.

In The News

Comments

No comments have been posted. Perhaps you'd like to be the first?

Sign in with Facebook to comment.

Full Survey Responses
Supports raises for city workers. ✘
Supports elimination of ethics commission ✘
Supports considering privatization of city services ✘
Favors freezing mayoral and council pay ✔
Supports design of Polsinelli offices ✔
Supports funding for more police? ✘
Supports sales tax increase to fund sewer projects ✔
Supports TIFs for economic development ✔
Supports giving full pension benefits to new ambulance workers ✘
Supports local control of city police ✘
Supports elimination of earnings tax ✘
Favors reducing council and mayor pension benefits ✔
Supports using some city funds to help school district ✔
Supports making Schulte permanent city manager ✔