James E. Coates (born ) is an American Baptist minister and former Democratic politician in Washington, D.C.
Early years James E. Coates was born to Louise and George E. Coates."Marcia Hall Otey to Marry the Rev. James E. Coates". The Washington Post. December 10, 1986. p. B9. He attended Howard University's School of Religion, and he graduated with honors.
Religious career In 1954, Coates was ordained as a minister and became the pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church on October 5, 1957."Baptist Church To Install Pastor". The Washington Post. October 4, 1958. p. B7."About Bethlehem". Bethlehem Baptist Church. Retrieved May 10, 2016. In 2019, the D.C. council passed a resolution commemorating the 65th anniversary of his ordination.
Political career District of Columbia Board of Education Nomination in 1967 In 1967, Coates was nominated for one of three open seats on the District of Columbia Board of Education."Candidates For School Board Posts". The Washington Post. May 14, 1967. p. F2.Filson, Susan. "School Board Selections Due: Choice to Have Big Impact On System's Policy-Making". The Washington Post. May 14, 1967. p. F1. Coates had served as staff director of the Congress Heights Neighborhood Development Center. Coates supported opening schools year-round. He also supported privatizing the operation of vocational schools. Coates' candidacy was endorsed by Americans for Democratic Action and D.C. Citizens for Better Public Education. At the time, federal district judges appointed the members of the District of Columbia Board of Elections. The federal judges decided to appoint other individuals to the District of Columbia Board of Education.Valentine, Paul W. "3 Named To Board of Education: Group to Have Negro Majority For First Time". The Washington Post. June 13, 1967. p. A1.
Candidacy in 1968 The first public election for members of the District of Columbia Board of Education was held in 1968. Coates was a candidate to represent Ward 8 on the District of Columbia Board of Education."7 Contenders Seek 8th-Ward Seat: 8th Ward--Far Southeast". The Washington Post. October 3, 1968. p. G9. Coates' nomination was endorsed by the Washington Baptist Ministers Conference."Baptists Endorse 20 For School Board". The Washington Post. October 26, 1968. p. D32. Coates supported more training for teachers and contracting with a private developer to build new schools."New Ides Abound In Anacostia's 8th". The Washington Post. October 27, 1968. p. E9. Coates' candidacy was endorsed by the Washington Teachers Union, the District Republicans, the Baptist Ministers Conference of Washington, D.C.,MacKaye, William R. "Baptists Back School Slate". The Washington Post. November 21, 1968. p. B4. the D.C. Education Association,"Two Endorsed". The Washington Post. November 22, 1968. p. C8. and the editorial board of The Washington Post."School Board Elections—Final Round" (editorial). The Washington Post. November 24, 1968. p. B6. Coates and Edward E. Saunders both advanced to a run-off election.Asher, Robert L.; Milius, Peter. "Upsets in 2 Nearby States Divide House Sets Evenly: District". The Washington Post. November 6, 1968.p. A1. The D.C. Democrats declined to endorse him.West, Hollie I. "Voters Raising the Issues in 8th Ward Race". The Washington Post. November 23, 1968. p. B2. Coates won the run-off election,"Negro May Head D.C. School Board: Militant Likely to Get Post on First Elected Body". The New York Times. November 28, 1968. p. 48. receiving 1,584 votes to Saunders' 1,187 votes."School Board Runoff Vote Confirmed". The Washington Post. December 5, 1968. p. E2.
First term Coates' term in office began on January 26, 1969."City to Pick School Board Today". The Washington Post. November 26, 1968. p. A1. The members of the District of Columbia Board of Education elected Coates president.Denton, Herbert H. "School Board Elects Coates As President: Coates Elected President of School Board". The Washington Post. January 28, 1969. p. D1.
In February 1969, Coates joined other members of the Board of Education to review school textbooks for examples of racism and outdated content.Hoffman, Ellen. "'Racial' Examination Of Text Books Ordered". The Washington Post. February 20, 1969. p. B6. A high-school textbook described Southerners during the Civil War as "ready to defend the Southern way of life...slavery or no slavery". Another textbook described Ho Chih Minh as the leader of an "independent movement".
Council of the District of Columbia Coates was elected as one of the original members of the Council of the District of Columbia in 1974 when D.C. gained home rule. Coates represented Ward 8 on the council from 1975 to 1977."Elected Officials: Ward 8 Member of the Council of the District of Columbia". District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. Retrieved on July 29, 2008. Archived from the original on July 23, 2008.
Personal life Coates married Marcia Hall Otey in January 1987.Fisher, Fab. "Over The River: Anacostia-Southeast". Washington Informer. January 28, 1987. p. 20.
References