Paul Young (American politician)

Paul Young (born October 7, 1979) is an American politician who has served as the Mayor of Memphis, Tennessee since January 2024. He is the 5th African-American to serve as mayor of Memphis.

Early life and education
Paul Young was born on October 7, 1979, in Memphis, Tennessee. After graduating from East High School, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Tennessee, followed by a Master of Science in urban and regional planning and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Memphis.

Career
From 2003 to 2006, Young served as a planner for the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development. From 2006 to 2010, he worked as a financial analyst for Community Capital Memphis. Young held several positions in Shelby County government before serving as director of the Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development. Since 2021, Young has worked as the president and CEO of the Downtown Memphis Commission.

Mayor of Memphis
Young was elected mayor of Memphis in the 2023 Memphis mayoral election. He was sworn in on January 1, 2024.