{{short description|Australian-American Democratic politician, born 1963}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Gavin Buckley | image = Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley's Inauguration, December 2021 (51731347739) (cropped).jpg | office = 137th Mayor of Annapolis | term_start = December 7, 2017 | term_end = December 1, 2025 | predecessor = Mike Pantelides | successor = Jared Littmann | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|2|8}} | birth_place = Boksburg, South Africa | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democratic | spouse = {{marriage|Julie Williams|1997}} | children = 2 }} '''Gavin Buckley''' (born February 8, 1963) is a South African-born Australian-American{{#tag:ref|Buckley is a naturalised American citizen, but was raised in Australia, lived with his wife in Perth for five years, and has said "I still consider myself an Australian."<ref name="Knott 2018"/>|group="nb"}} politician and former restaurateur who was the 137th mayor of Annapolis, Maryland from 2017 to 2025. Born in South Africa and raised primarily in Perth, Western Australia, he moved to Annapolis in 1992, eventually opening multiple bars and restaurants in the city.
A Democrat, he was elected mayor in 2017, his first bid at elected office, defeating incumbent Republican mayor Mike Pantelides.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-11/australian-gavin-buckley-elected-mayor-of-annapolis/9139022 |title=Gavin Buckley elected Mayor of Annapolis after jibes about his Australian background |first=Zoe |last=Daniel |work=ABC News |date=November 10, 2017 |publisher=ABC}}</ref><ref>[http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/annapolis/ac-cn-gavin-buckley-inauguration-day-20171204-story.html Inauguration day in Annapolis: Introducing Mayor Gavin Buckley] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214082608/https://www.capitalgazette.com/news/annapolis/ac-cn-gavin-buckley-inauguration-day-20171204-story.html |date=February 14, 2019 }}, Danielle Ohl, ''Capital Gazette'', December 4, 2017.</ref> He was re-elected in 2021.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/ac-cn-annapolis-general-election-canvass-20211103-20211103-wrre4fu2lfhullyq4ulsi7qx5q-story.html|title = Republican Steven Strawn concedes to Democrat Gavin Buckley in Annapolis mayoral race|last1 = DuBose|first1 = Brooks|last2 = Conaway|first2 = Donovan|work = The Baltimore Sun|date = November 3, 2021|accessdate = March 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106110251/https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/ac-cn-annapolis-general-election-canvass-20211103-20211103-wrre4fu2lfhullyq4ulsi7qx5q-story.html|archive-date=November 6, 2021|url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref>
As Annapolis Mayor, Buckley convened the City Dock Action Committee<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=July 28, 2019 |title=Vision of City Dock: Action committee focuses on need for financing authority |url=https://www.capitalgazette.com/2019/07/28/vision-of-city-dock-action-committee-focuses-on-need-for-financing-authority/ |access-date=September 16, 2024 |website=Capital Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref> to crowdsource resiliency solutions to flooding at Historic City Dock (Annapolis' main harbor, which is operated by the City). His administration has undertaken numerous infrastructure projects, including HUD's Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI), a partnership with the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis to revitalize distressed public housing properties at Eastport Terrace and Harbour House.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=November 19, 2021 |title=Annapolis housing authority receives $450,000 grant for housing redevelopment |url=https://www.capitalgazette.com/2021/11/19/annapolis-housing-authority-receives-450000-grant-for-housing-redevelopment/ |access-date=September 16, 2024 |website=Capital Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2021, the City received upgraded financial ratings from all three ratings agencies, which Moody's said "reflects the city's sizable, diverse, and growing tax base with institutional presence, above-average demographic profile, manageable debt burden, and elevated pension burden."<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=August 31, 2021 |title=Annapolis bond score upgraded to second-highest rating by outside company |url=https://www.capitalgazette.com/2021/08/31/annapolis-bond-score-upgraded-to-second-highest-rating-by-outside-company/ |access-date=September 16, 2024 |website=Capital Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref> Buckley was in office during the Capital Gazette shooting on June 28, 2018, and has advocated for stricter gun control laws in its wake.<ref name="Knott 2018"/>
==Early life and education== Gavin Buckley was born in Boksburg, South Africa, and lived briefly in London before growing up in Perth, Western Australia.<ref name="Knott 2018">{{cite web | last=Knott | first=Matthew | title=The Aussie mayor who wants America to get tough on guns | newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=July 7, 2018 | url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/the-aussie-mayor-who-wants-america-to-get-tough-on-guns-20180706-p4zptq.html | access-date=August 5, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707190827/https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/the-aussie-mayor-who-wants-america-to-get-tough-on-guns-20180706-p4zptq.html | archive-date=July 7, 2018 | url-status=live}}</ref> Because their father traveled often for work and then died at an early age, Buckley and his twin, Paul, who died at age 14, were primarily raised by their mother, Pauline Brosnan, an Irish native active in the Australian Labor Party.<ref name="Cook 2017">{{cite web|last=Cook|first=Chase|date=November 3, 2017|title=Gavin Buckley: The Aussie turned Annapolitan who wants to be mayor (seriously)|url=http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/elections/ac-cn-gavin-profile-1102-story.html|access-date=August 5, 2018|website=Capital Gazette|archive-date=September 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902152315/http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/elections/ac-cn-gavin-profile-1102-story.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Gavin was expelled from two Australian high schools, St. Norbert and Belmont Senior High School, for poor attendance;<ref name="Cook 2017"/><ref name="Barass 2017">{{cite web | last=Barass | first=Tony | title=Perth high school drop-out to US city mayor: Gavin Buckley elected Mayor of Annapolis | website=PerthNow | date=November 12, 2017 | url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/perth-high-school-drop-out-to-us-city-mayor-gavin-buckley-elected-mayor-of-annapolis-ng-cadbe174dcfbd9a1a6405998456ee59f | access-date=August 5, 2018}}</ref> and began working in the countries of Scotland and France, and the U.S. State of Florida, where he arrived in 1985.<ref name="Knott 2018"/><ref name="Cook 2017"/>
== Career ==
=== Business === Buckley came to Maryland in 1992 by boat, with only 200 dollars in cash; in the region, he found work as a waiter and farm laborer, among other jobs.<ref name="Knott 2018" /> He overstayed his initial visa, but was granted amnesty under Reagan administration-rules through his agricultural work, and was naturalized in 2009.<ref name="Cook 2017" />
Buckley eventually settled in Annapolis, Maryland, where he began a business career, first opening a coffee shop called The Moon, and later four restaurants in the West Street area (Tsunami Seafood, The Metropolitan Kitchen and Lounge, Lemongrass Thai and Sailor Oyster Bar,).<ref name="Cook 2017" /><ref name="Blackstone">{{cite news |last=Blackstone |first=Andrea | title=Gavin Buckley sworn in as new mayor of Annapolis | newspaper=The Baltimore Times | date=December 7, 2017 | url=http://baltimoretimes-online.com/news/2017/dec/08/gavin-buckley-sworn-new-mayor-annapolis/ | access-date=August 5, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806025026/http://baltimoretimes-online.com/news/2017/dec/08/gavin-buckley-sworn-new-mayor-annapolis/ | archive-date=August 6, 2018}}</ref><ref name="smith 2018">{{cite web |last= Smith |first= Mark R. | title=Q&A With Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley | website=The Business Monthly | date=May 29, 2018 | url=https://www.bizmonthly.com/qa-with-annapolis-mayor-gavin-buckley/ | access-date=August 20, 2018}}</ref> He was one of several partners in West Village LLC, which renovated a strip of dilapidated buildings on West Street near Tsunami in 2001 and restored a variety of businesses to what had become a "relatively desolate" part of the city.<ref>{{cite news | title=Wave of Revitalization Pulsing Through West Street |last=Breningstall |first=Jeremy | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=August 30, 2001 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2001/08/30/wave-of-revitalization-pulsing-through-west-street/0e6dc207-b799-4306-8d27-4bd27d876d13/ | access-date=August 20, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Lewis |first=Nancy| title=Annapolis's Tsunami Provides Wave of Asian Fusion | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=June 10, 2004 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27788-2004Jun9.html | access-date=August 20, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Wiseman | first=Lauren | title=The Arrival of West Street | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=March 30, 2006 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/29/AR2006032900785.html | access-date=August 20, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Lewis | first=Nancy | title=10 Places to Eat That You Should Know About | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=April 26, 2007 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/25/AR2007042500531.html | access-date=August 20, 2018}}</ref> Buckley's businesses accrued several debts and contract disputes between 2006 and 2012, which he attributed to cash flow problems due to the Great Recession. Buckley was also cited by local authorities for failing to display boat registration numbers and failing to obtain a rental license.<ref name="Cook 2017" />
A dispute with the local Historic Preservation Committee in 2015 over a large mural on the outside of Buckley's Tsunami restaurant brought him to public attention in municipal politics.<ref name="Knott 2018"/><ref name="Ohl 2017">{{cite news | last=Ohl | first=Danielle | title=Tsunami mural retroactively approved | website=Capital Gazette | date=September 12, 2017 | url=http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/annapolis/ac-cn-hpc-tsunami-mural-rebricking-20170912-story.html | access-date=August 5, 2018 | archive-date=August 5, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805083011/http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/annapolis/ac-cn-hpc-tsunami-mural-rebricking-20170912-story.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> Throughout the controversy, Buckley argued that Annapolis's economic development depended on loosening historic preservation policies, saying "We have to celebrate our history, but you can't get stuck in it."<ref name="Cook 2017"/>
=== Politics === [[File:Annapolis Women's March 02.jpg|thumb|Buckley speaks at the 2018 Women's March in Annapolis]] Buckley ran for mayor of Annapolis in 2017 with no prior political experience. He defeated longtime Annapolis State Senator John Astle in a Democratic primary with unusually high turnout, a "stunning" result after a primary campaign in which he presented himself as a contributor to the renewal of downtown Annapolis, a fresh voice from outside the political system, and an ally of underprivileged Annapolitans.<ref>{{cite news | last=Cook | first=Chase | title=Gavin Buckley wins Democratic primary over Astle, to face Pantelides | website=Capital Gazette | date=September 19, 2017 | url=http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/government/ac-cn-annapolis-elections-20170919-story.html | access-date=August 5, 2018 | archive-date=August 5, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805083224/http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/government/ac-cn-annapolis-elections-20170919-story.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> In the general election campaign, Buckley proposed a "firestorm" of reform proposals, including replacing curbside parking on busy Main Street with a trolley, that his Republican opponent, incumbent mayor Mike Pantelides, mostly dismissed as unrealistic. The race was unusual for its relative civility, with Buckley and Pantelides dining together publicly.<ref name="Hosler 2017">{{cite web | last=Hosler | first=Karen | title=Annapolis mayor's race: Contrasting styles | publisher=WYPR | date=November 1, 2017 | url=http://www.wypr.org/post/annapolis-mayors-race-contrasting-styles | access-date=August 5, 2018}}</ref> Pantelides's campaign at times contrasted his Annapolis pedigree with Buckley's Australian identity, but Buckley believes this tactic backfired, telling an Australian newspaper "People are very nice to Australians here."<ref name="Knott 2018"/> Buckley defeated Pantelides by over 1,000 votes in the November election.<ref name="CBS Baltimore 2017">{{cite web | title=Business Owner, Democrat Gavin Buckley Elected As Annapolis' Next Mayor | website=CBS Baltimore | date=November 8, 2017 | url=https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2017/11/08/mike-pantelides-democrat-gavin-buckley-elected-annapolis-mayor/ | access-date=August 5, 2018}}</ref>
As Annapolis Mayor, Buckley convened the City Dock Action Committee<ref name=":0" /> to crowdsource resiliency solutions to flooding at Historic City Dock (Annapolis' main harbor, which is operated by the City). Phase one of the project, the rebuild of Hillman Garage, was completed in 2023.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Newman |first=Carol |date=March 22, 2019 |title=Constructing Africa's Cities: Construction workers and conscientiousness training in Dakar Senegal |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1257/rct.4043-1.0 |access-date=September 16, 2024 |website=AEA Randomized Controlled Trials|doi=10.1257/rct.4043-1.0 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> Buckley has worked to strengthen ties with both of the city's two colleges: St. John's College and the United States Naval Academy. Work with the Naval Academy has included the development of a comprehensive flood mitigation plan that addresses the combined effects of land subsidence, sea level rise, coastal flooding/storm surge and stormwater management. Coordinating the Academy's plans with the City Dock Action Committee's work has fostered more consistent coordination on resiliency issues, with USNA leadership serving on the City Dock Action Committee and City personnel as members of the Academy's Sea Level Rise Advisory Council.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Buckley |first1=Gavin |last2=Schwarz |first2=Chris |date=May 1, 2024 |title=Unprecedented cooperation between USNA, Annapolis guides resiliency efforts {{!}} GUEST COMMENTARY |url=https://www.capitalgazette.com/2024/05/01/unprecedented-cooperation-between-usna-annapolis-guides-resiliency-efforts-guest-commentary/ |access-date=September 16, 2024 |website=Capital Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref>
His administration has undertaken numerous infrastructure projects, including HUD's Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI), a partnership with the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis to revitalize distressed public housing properties at Eastport Terrace and Harbour House.<ref name=":1" /> In 2021, the City received upgraded financial ratings from all three ratings agencies, which Moody's said "reflects the city's sizable, diverse, and growing tax base with institutional presence, above-average demographic profile, manageable debt burden, and elevated pension burden."<ref name=":2" />
Buckley was in office during the Capital Gazette shooting on June 28, 2018, in which five people were killed at a local newspaper's office. In the aftermath, Buckley requested a federal proclamation allowing flags to be flown at half-mast; he told the press on July 2, that the administration of President Donald Trump—who had repeatedly described press members as "enemies of the people"— had denied the request.<ref name="Ohl 7/2">{{cite web | last=Ohl | first=Danielle | title=Trump declines request to lower flags in memory of Capital Gazette shooting victims | website=The Baltimore Sun | date=July 2, 2018 | url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/anne-arundel/annapolis/bs-ac-cn-flag-request-denied-20180702-story.html | access-date=August 5, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702211752/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/anne-arundel/annapolis/bs-ac-cn-flag-request-denied-20180702-story.html | archive-date=July 2, 2018 | url-status=live | url-access=limited}}</ref> Trump's press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, called Buckley later that day; on the following day, the White House issued the requested proclamation, saying Trump had ordered it as soon as he learned of Buckley's petition.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Haag |first=Matthew | title=Trump Orders Flags to Half-Staff for Capital Gazette Victims, in Apparent Reversal | journal=The New York Times | date=July 3, 2018 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/03/us/capital-gazette-flags-half-staff.html | access-date=August 20, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703154836/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/03/us/capital-gazette-flags-half-staff.html | archive-date=July 3, 2018 | url-status=live}}{{Subscription required|date=August 2023}}</ref><ref name="AP 7/3">{{cite web | title=Trump orders flags lowered to honor slain journalists | work=Detroit News | agency=Associated Press | date=July 3, 2018 | url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/nation/2018/07/03/newspaper-shooting-trump-orders-flags-lowered/36581233/ | access-date=August 5, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828114138/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/nation/2018/07/03/newspaper-shooting-trump-orders-flags-lowered/36581233 | archive-date=August 28, 2018 | url-status=live}}</ref> In the wake of the shooting, Buckley called for stronger gun control, blaming the National Rifle Association of America for opposing legislation restricting gun sales to certain people with mental illnesses, such as the accused Capital Gazette shooter, and suggested looking into gun buyback programs such as those enacted in Australia.<ref name="Knott 2018" />
Buckley was reelected in November 2021 with 71 percent of the vote, one of the largest vote margins in City municipal elections in more than 70 years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 7, 2021 |title=Final Annapolis ballot canvass could give Mayor Gavin Buckley rare, historic reelection |url=https://www.capitalgazette.com/2021/11/07/final-annapolis-ballot-canvass-could-give-mayor-gavin-buckley-rare-historic-reelection/ |access-date=September 16, 2024 |website=Capital Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref> He remained in office until December 1, 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gavin L. Buckley, Mayor of Annapolis, Maryland |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/37mun/annapolis/mayors/former/html/msa17554.html |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=Maryland State Archives |access-date=February 11, 2026 |date=December 2, 2025}}</ref>
On February 11, 2026, Buckley registered as a candidate for the Anne Arundel County Council.<ref>{{cite web |title=2026 Gubernatorial Primary Election Local Candidates List |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2026/Primary_candidates/gen_cand_lists_2026_1_by_county_ALL.html |publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections |access-date=February 11, 2026 |date=February 11, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Arancibia |first1=Gaby |title=Former Annapolis Mayor To Run For County Council |url=https://patch.com/maryland/annapolis/former-annapolis-mayor-run-county-council |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=Annapolis, MD Patch |date=February 11, 2026 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Byrne |first1=Bridget |title=Ex-Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley running for Anne Arundel County Council |url=https://www.capitalgazette.com/2026/02/11/annapolis-buckley-county-council-election/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=The Capital |date=February 11, 2026 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=http://archive.today/20260211211930/https://www.capitalgazette.com/2026/02/11/annapolis-buckley-county-council-election/ |archive-date=February 11, 2026}}</ref>
==Personal life== In 1996, Buckley underwent surgery for intestinal cancer at 33.<ref name = "Knott 2018" /> A year later, he married Annapolis native Julie Williams and together they have two sons: Dash, an avid runner, and Miles, a two time survivor of pancreatic cancer.
==Electoral history== {{Election box begin no change |title=Annapolis Mayoral Election 2017<ref>{{cite news | last=Ohl | first=Danielle | title=Year in Review: Winners and losers of the city election | website=Capital Gazette | date=December 20, 2017 | url=http://www.capitalgazette.com/yearinreview/ac-cn-year-in-review-election-1230-story.html | access-date=August 20, 2018 | archive-date=August 20, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820141128/http://www.capitalgazette.com/yearinreview/ac-cn-year-in-review-election-1230-story.html | url-status=live | url-access=limited}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | author=City of Annapolis | title=2017 Official General Election Ward Report | website= annapolis.gov | date=November 14, 2017 | url=https://www.annapolis.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8458/11-07-2017-Official-General-Election-Summary-PDF| access-date=August 20, 2018}}</ref>}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = '''Gavin Buckley''' |votes = '''5,787''' |percentage = '''61.1''' }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Mike Pantelides |votes = 3,671 |percentage = 38.7 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change |title=Annapolis Mayoral Election 2021<ref>{{cite web | author=City of Annapolis | title=Annapolis Mayoral Results | website= annapolis.gov | date=November 11, 2021 | url=https://www.annapolis.gov/DocumentCenter/View/20679/Election-Summary---Official---11-9-21-PDF | access-date=April 17, 2022}}</ref>}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = '''Gavin Buckley''' |votes = '''7,124''' |percentage = '''72.6''' }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Steven Strawn |votes = 2,570 |percentage = 26.2 }} {{Election box end}}
==Notes== {{reflist|group=nb}}
==External links== *{{C-SPAN|118346}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Mike Pantelides}} {{s-ttl|title=Mayor of Annapolis|years=2017–2025}} {{s-aft|after=Jared Littmann}} {{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Buckley, Gavin}} Category:1963 births Category:20th-century Australian businesspeople Category:21st-century American businesspeople Category:21st-century Australian businesspeople Category:American people of Irish descent Category:American restaurateurs Category:Australian emigrants to the United States Category:Australian people of Irish descent Category:Businesspeople from Maryland Category:Living people Category:Maryland Democrats Category:Mayors of Annapolis, Maryland Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States Category:People from Boksburg Category:Politicians from Perth, Western Australia Category:Politicians from Annapolis, Maryland Category:South African emigrants to Australia Category:South African emigrants to the United States Category:21st-century mayors of places in Maryland