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Line 19: + + + + − Ellis is the son of Oliver Gus "Friday" Ellis, Sr. (1934-2008), a native of St. Joseph in Tensas Parish who is interred in Rayville in Richland Parish. The father's obituary does not mention a wife. It is unclear whether Mayor Ellis' middle name is Gus or "Friday." Mayor Ellis has three siblings, Michael Wayne Ellis and wife, Donna of Girard, also in Richland Parish; Patricia Ellis Jones of Rayville, and Angela Sanford and husband, Ronnie, of Girard.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/32434957/oliver-gus-ellis|title=Oliver Gus "Friday" Ellis|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=July 22, 2020}}</ref>The mayor is registered to vote under the name "Oliver Ellis," according to records of the Louisiana Secretary of State. Ellis also formerly resided in Weston, [[Missouri]], and Barstow, [[California]], dates not specified.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.intelius.com/results/?firstName=Friday&middleInitial=&lastName=Ellis&city=&state=LA&age=|title=Friday Ellis|publisher=Intelius.com|accessdate=July 22, 2020}}</ref>+ − − Line 35:
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'''Oliver Friday Ellis, Jr.''', known as '''Friday Ellis''' (born February 15, 1977), is the [[mayor]] of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], [[Louisiana]], a [[Republican Party|Republican]]-turned-[[Independent voter|Independent]].
'''Oliver Friday Ellis, Jr.''', known as '''Friday Ellis''' (born February 15, 1977), is the [[mayor]] of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], [[Louisiana]], a [[Republican Party|Republican]]-turned-[[Independent voter|Independent]].
==Background==
Ellis is the son of Oliver Gus "Friday" Ellis, Sr. (1934-2008), a native of St. Joseph in Tensas Parish who is interred in Rayville in Richland Parish. The father's obituary does not mention a wife. It is unclear whether Mayor Ellis' middle name is Gus or "Friday." Mayor Ellis has three siblings, Michael Wayne Ellis and wife, Donna of Girard, also in Richland Parish; Patricia Ellis Jones of Rayville, and Angela Sanford and husband, Ronnie, of Girard.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/32434957/oliver-gus-ellis|title=Oliver Gus "Friday" Ellis|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=July 22, 2020}}</ref>The mayor is registered to vote under the name "Oliver Ellis," according to records of the Louisiana Secretary of State. Ellis also formerly resided in Weston, [[Missouri]], and Barstow, [[California]], dates not specified.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.intelius.com/results/?firstName=Friday&middleInitial=&lastName=Ellis&city=&state=LA&age=|title=Friday Ellis|publisher=Intelius.com|accessdate=July 22, 2020}}</ref>
==Career==
A [[business]]man, Ellis won the mayoral election held on July 11, 2020, postponed from the previously scheduled April 4 because of the [[coronavirus]] pandemic. He unseated the 19-year incumbent, Jamie Mayo, an [[African-American]] [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] who was seeking a sixth term. Ellis, who is white, polled 6,835 votes (52 percent) to Mayo's 4,987 (38 percent). The remaining 10 percent of the vote was divided by three other candidates.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns (Ouachita Parish), July 11, 2020.</ref> Mayo is a strong [[liberal]] who once gave a "Key to the city" to radical [[Islam]]ist [[Louis Farrakhan]].<ref name=ocitizen/>
A [[business]]man, Ellis won the mayoral election held on July 11, 2020, postponed from the previously scheduled April 4 because of the [[coronavirus]] pandemic. He unseated the 19-year incumbent, Jamie Mayo, an [[African-American]] [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] who was seeking a sixth term. Ellis, who is white, polled 6,835 votes (52 percent) to Mayo's 4,987 (38 percent). The remaining 10 percent of the vote was divided by three other candidates.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns (Ouachita Parish), July 11, 2020.</ref> Mayo is a strong [[liberal]] who once gave a "Key to the city" to radical [[Islam]]ist [[Louis Farrakhan]].<ref name=ocitizen/>
''The Ouachita Citizen'' endorsed Ellis:<blockquote>
''The Ouachita Citizen'' endorsed Friday:<blockquote>
Economic growth in Monroe is virtually invisible. Mayo says he’s in charge of economic development for the city. Accordingly, he bears responsibility for Monroe’s abysmal economic activity, which without a doubt has fueled the city’s loss in population for the past two decades, now far below 50,000 residents (47,000 in a 2019 estimate). Since the mid-2000s we have witnessed the closing of the Guide plant, State Farm’s Mid South Regional office and most recently, Monroe’s only Fortune 150 company, CenturyLink, began moving employees out of the city at a fast clip to CenturyLink offices in other cities in other states. In the not-too-distant past, CenturyLink employed more than 2,300 people here. Today, that figure is possibly as low as 1,500 workers and declining. There’s no denying it. There’s also no denying that while CenturyLink claims Monroe is home for its corporate headquarters, the decision makers. …<ref name=ocitizen>{{cite web|url=https://www.hannapub.com/ouachitacitizen/opinion/editorials/editorial-monroe-needs-friday-ellis/article_faa431bc-b0a3-11ea-a502-3b69ac09b7bc.html|title=Editorial: Monroe needs Friday Ellis|publisher=''The Ouachita Citizen'' (hannapub.com)|date=June 17, 2020|accessdate=July 22, 2020}}</ref> </blockquote>
Economic growth in Monroe is virtually invisible. Mayo says he’s in charge of economic development for the city. Accordingly, he bears responsibility for Monroe’s abysmal economic activity, which without a doubt has fueled the city’s loss in population for the past two decades, now far below 50,000 residents (47,000 in a 2019 estimate). Since the mid-2000s we have witnessed the closing of the Guide plant, State Farm’s Mid South Regional office and most recently, Monroe’s only Fortune 150 company, CenturyLink, began moving employees out of the city at a fast clip to CenturyLink offices in other cities in other states. In the not-too-distant past, CenturyLink employed more than 2,300 people here. Today, that figure is possibly as low as 1,500 workers and declining. There’s no denying it. There’s also no denying that while CenturyLink claims Monroe is home for its corporate headquarters, the decision makers. …<ref name=ocitizen>{{cite web|url=https://www.hannapub.com/ouachitacitizen/opinion/editorials/editorial-monroe-needs-friday-ellis/article_faa431bc-b0a3-11ea-a502-3b69ac09b7bc.html|title=Editorial: Monroe needs Friday Ellis|publisher=''The Ouachita Citizen'' (hannapub.com)|date=June 17, 2020|accessdate=July 22, 2020}}</ref> </blockquote>
https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/01/03/heres-who-qualified-to-run-for-mayor-of-monroe-in-2024/71967617007/|title=Three qualify to run for Monroe Mayor in 2024, including incumbent and former mayor|author=Ian Robinson|publisher=''Monroe News Star''|date=January 3, 2024}}</ref>
https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/01/03/heres-who-qualified-to-run-for-mayor-of-monroe-in-2024/71967617007/|title=Three qualify to run for Monroe Mayor in 2024, including incumbent and former mayor|author=Ian Robinson|publisher=''Monroe News Star''|date=January 3, 2024}}</ref>
==2024 reelection==
===2024 reelection===
When he runs for reelection the March 23, 2024, primary election, Ellis will face two Democrats, former Mayor Jamie Mayo and Betty Ward-Cooper, an African-American member of the Monroe City School Board and a former professor at the [[University of Louisiana at Monroe]].<ref name>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2023/10/19/betty-ward-cooper-enters-monroe-mayors-race/71240491007/|title=Betty Ward-Cooper enters Monroe mayor's race|author=Ian Robinson|publisher=''Monroe News Star''|date=October 19, 2023}}</ref>
When he runs for reelection the March 23, 2024, primary election, Ellis will face two Democrats, former Mayor Jamie Mayo and Betty Ward-Cooper, an African-American member of the Monroe City School Board and a former professor at the [[University of Louisiana at Monroe]].<ref name>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2023/10/19/betty-ward-cooper-enters-monroe-mayors-race/71240491007/|title=Betty Ward-Cooper enters Monroe mayor's race|author=Ian Robinson|publisher=''Monroe News Star''|date=October 19, 2023}}</ref>