Background
Williams was born in Tallahassee, and attended Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, where he graduated with a Bachelor"s degree in 1998, and a Master of Business Administration in 2003.
Williams was born in Tallahassee, and attended Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, where he graduated with a Bachelor"s degree in 1998, and a Master of Business Administration in 2003.
Bachelor of Science, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, 1998. Master of Business Administration, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, 2003.
After graduation, he began working for Sprint Nextel in sales, but quit to work as a community outreach aide for John Marks, the Mayor of Tallahassee. In 2008, following the inability of State Representative Curtis Richardson to seek re-election due to term limits, Williams ran to succeed him in the Democratic primary in the 8th District, which included northern Gadsden County and parts of Tallahassee in Leon County. He defeated Carolyn Roberson, Rudy Maloy, Sean Shaw, Anthony Viegbesie, Hubert R. Brown and Rodney South. Moore in a crowded primary with 41% of the vote.
Williams encountered independent candidate Robert Maddox in a landslide, winning 84% of the vote.
He was re-elected without opposition in 2010. Following the reconfiguration of Florida House districts, the redrawn 8th District included most of the territory that Williams had previously represented, but now included all of Gadsden County in exchange for fewer sections of Leon County.
While serving in the legislature, Williams strongly supported legislation that would expand early voting opportunities, despite viewing it as a less-than-perfect bill, declaring "Let"s make this state we are proud of from the elections standpoint. A lot of individuals work at a number of different facilities, whether it"s in corrections or here in Tallahassee." Additionally, Williams attempted to serve in a leadership role for the 2014-2016 term, when State Representative Darryl Rouson, who was set to become the Florida House Democrats" leader for the 2014-2016 session, was ousted by the caucus.
Williams ran to be the floor leader in Rouson"s place, but was defeated by Mark Pafford in a 29-12 vote.
In 2014, Williams was challenged in the Democratic primary by Dianne Williams-Cox, a retired state employee. Williams-Cox argued that he had used his time in office to advance his own interests rather than those of his constituents, while he criticized Williams-Cox for lacking the requisite experience to serve in the legislature. Williams campaigned on his support for giving state employees raises and for increasing access to online voter registration.
He ended up defeating Williams-Cox handily, winning 68% of the vote to her 32%.
Board governors & chairman Leadership Tallahassee. Council advisory Leadership Florida. Board directors Challenger Learning Center.
Member of National Forum for Black Public Administrators, League Women Voters Florida, United Way Big Bend (board directors), Tallahassee Boys Choir (board member), FAMU Alumni Association (life. Chapter president).
Married Opal McKinney-Williams. Children: Adrianna, Alan-Louis.