{{Short description|American politician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Orlando Paden | birth_date = {{birth date and age|June 5, 1984}} | party = Democratic | birth_place = Clarksdale, Mississippi, U.S. | education = Coahoma Community College (AAS)<br>Alcorn State University (BA) | office = Mayor of Clarksdale, Mississippi | term_start = June 30, 2025 | preceded = Chuck Espy | state_house1 = Mississippi | district1 = 26th | term_start1 = January 5, 2016 | term_end1 = June 30, 2025 | predecessor1 = Chuck Espy | successor1 = Otha Williams }}
'''Orlando W. Paden''' (born June 5, 1984)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Orlando Paden|url=http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/members/house/paden.xml|access-date=2021-05-06|website=billstatus.ls.state.ms.us}}</ref> is an American politician who is the current mayor of Clarksdale, Mississippi.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://magnoliatribune.com/2025/06/03/democrats-have-good-night-in-mississippi-mayor-elections/|title=Democrats have good night in Mississippi mayor elections|first=Frank|last=Corder|publisher=Magnolia Tribune|date=June 3, 2025|accessdate=June 5, 2025}}</ref> He previously served as a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from the 26th district. He assumed office on January 5, 2016 and served until June 30, 2025.
== Early life and education == Paden was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He earned an Associate of Arts and Sciences in social sciences from Coahoma Community College and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Alcorn State University.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Orlando Paden's Biography|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/156250/orlando-paden|access-date=2021-05-06|website=Vote Smart}}</ref>
== Career == Since 2007, Paden has worked as a Federal Work-Study Program coordinator at Coahoma Community College. He was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives and assumed office on January 5, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Orlando Paden|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Orlando_Paden|access-date=2021-05-06|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}}</ref>
Paden was elected as mayor of Clarksdale on June 3, 2025.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pressregister.com/paden-elected-mayor-clarksdale-russell-wins-jonestown-fair-wins-friars-point-monroe-wins-lula|title=Paden Elected Mayor of Clarksdale, Russell Wins Jonestown, Fair Wins Friars Point, Monroe Wins Lula|publisher=The Clarksdale Press Reader|date=June 3, 2025|accessdate=June 5, 2025}}</ref><ref>[https://www.supertalk.fm/state-rep-orlando-paden-voted-to-replace-chuck-espy-as-clarksdale-mayor/ State Rep. Orlando Paden voted to replace Chuck Espy as Clarksdale mayor]</ref>
==Mayor of Clarksdale== On June 30, 2025, Paden was officially sworn in as Mayor of Clarksdale.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Leadership Ushers in Historic Change in Greenwood and Clarksdale |publisher=Delta Daily News |url=https://www.deltadailynews.com/local/new-leadership-ushers-in-historic-change-in-greenwood-and-clarksdale/ |access-date=2025-07-01 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== References == <references />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Paden, Orlando}} Category:Living people Category:1984 births Category:African-American mayors in Mississippi Category:African-American state legislators in Mississippi Category:21st-century African-American politicians Category:People from Clarksdale, Mississippi Category:Coahoma Community College alumni Category:Alcorn State University alumni Category:Democratic Party members of the Mississippi House of Representatives Category:21st-century members of the Mississippi Legislature
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