Candace Hollingsworth, a native of Memphis, TN, is proud resident of Hyattsville, Maryland, where she was elected to serve as mayor in 2015—the youngest and first African-American to hold the position in the City’s history. Located two miles outside of the District of Columbia, the City of Hyattsville is part of the Prince George’s County Gateway Arts District and is home to a diverse and growing community of families, young professionals, entrepreneurs, artists, public servants, and retirees all working together to make the city a great place to live, work, and play. 

 

Candace has a profound commitment to servant leadership that was sparked by the tradition of “non sibi” (not for one’s self) at her alma mater. After moving to Hyattsville in 2009, she quickly sought opportunities to get involved—serving as a tutor and mentor and by volunteering with local organizations before being first elected to the Hyattsville City Council in 2011.  As mayor, Candace dedicates her efforts on creating a more effective, productive, and high-performing government. Under her leadership the city has attracted over $300M in private investment that will position the city for tremendous growth over the next decade and help realize her vision of building a “world-class city that is a model for excellence by every measure.”

 

Candace holds a Bachelor of Arts from Emory University and a Master of Public Policy from Georgetown University. She lives in Hyattsville, MD with her husband, Nyere, and their two children, Ellis and Zora.