Aubrey James

Aubrey James was the corrupt Mayor of Gotham City, who was in the pocket of mob boss Carmine Falcone, and is a minor recurring villain, being very much a cog in the great machine of corruption that has developed in Gotham.

He truly has very little control of his city, but his lack of proper management is partially why Gotham is such a terrible place to live.

In Season 2 he was abducted and forced to resign by Theo Galavan. However, he was saved by Detective Gordon and named Galavan as his kidnapper, which led to Galavan's arrest.

He is played by Richard Kind.

Season 1
Following the death of Thomas and Martha Wayne, Mayor James appeared to convince the public that the killer would be caught, while putting great pressure on the police force to find the killer. Knowing that the death of the cities only beloved philanthropists could cause outright rioting.

Later on, when child abductions of the homeless kids were going on, the Mayor devised a solution were publically he would be sending the few photogenic children. While the rest he would simply have imprisoned in a juvenile detention facility. Never the less he was genuinely horrified when the kidnapers managed to take a whole school bus of children, and demanded they find them. Especially as it would be bad publicity for himself.

However the Mayor was later caught in a power struggle between Don Falcone and Don Maroni over the Arkham land deal. As such Don Maroni but a hit out for him, and sent professional Hitman Richard Gladwell to kill him. Gordon arrived in time to save him, but the Mayor insisted in taking most of his money with them, delaying them long enough for Gladwell to arrive. Bullock managed to kill Gladwell. But fearful of the two crime lords, the Mayor organized a compromise so that both parties would come away with profits.

Later on, as part of there plan to try and bring down Falcone, believing they were both about to die. Harvey Bullock and Jim Gordon arrested Mayor James, and took him with them when they went after Falcone. Falcone however managed to outmaneuver them, and forced them to let the Mayor go.

He then began putting pressure on Captain Essen to find the Russian mafia, who had kidnapped bomb specialist Ian Hargrove. Gordon however called him out on the fact he used Blackgate prison to keep the insane in despite having no facilities for helping them. Which is how they managed to break Ian out. To quite the criticisms, Mayor James reopened Arkham Asylum, to keep the insane of Gotham in. Despite the place not being fully refurbished yet.

Following the murder of Dick Lovecraft the Mayor forced Harvey Dent to stay out, and framed Gordon for it, pushing the idea that Gordon was an overzealous cop who had driven the man to suicide. He then gave him the choice of either quitting the force, or taking a job as head guard of the newly opened Arkham Asylum. Gordon took the job, but promised he would be back.

Season 2
"Don't fret so! You're part of a great endeavor. A great cleansing. Monsters are coming Mr. Mayor...Monsters who will cleanse this city in blood and fire!"

- Galavan to Mayor James when he asks why Galavan is doing this to him

At the retirement ceremony of Commissioner Loeb, it is noted that Mayor James could not attend, sending his friend Theo Galavan instead. At night at Galavan's appartment it is revealed that Theo had the mayor kidnapped and forces him to wear a box over his head. Galavan then blackmails James into calling his secretary, telling her that he run of with a women and will send written instructions shortly. Mayor James agrees. The next day, James is on the front page of the newspapers.

While Theo Galavan talks to four of the maniax, they are disturbed when Mayor James enters the room, followed by Tabitha and Barbara who whip him just for fun. James, due to the box on his head, can't see where he is going and runs into a wall which knocks him out.

At the gala at the Gotham Children's hospital, Tabitha Galavan asks Deputy Mayor Kane if there is any word on James' disappearance. Kane says that there are no clues at all and that the whole case is a mystery. Weeks later, in a conversation with his sister Theo makes clear that James is still alive. Theo managed to succeed as Mayor as part of his plans for taking over Gotham. However the police managed to track down Aubrey James who gave Theo's name as his kidnapper, subsequently leading to his arrest.

However, while everyone expects James to give the neccessary statement to put Galavan behind bars horever, James instead says that it was Penguin who captured him and forced him to lie. Due to this testimony and the lack of evidence, Theo is released.

Season 3
Aubrey James, mayor again, is present at a GCPD press conference regarding the escaped Indian Hill experiments. He takes issue with reporter Valerie Vale calling the experiments threats, as they are victims by Hugo Strange- He tells the reporters that he approves of the "bounty hunters" searching for the experiments, because the sooner the experiments are captured, the sooner they can get help and proper treatment. He ignores Vale when she reminds him that all the experiments were former Arkham inmates.

Season 1

 * "Pilot"
 * "Selina Kyle"
 * "Arkham"
 * "Penguin's Umbrella"
 * "Harvey Dent"
 * "Lovecraft"

Season 2

 * "Rise of the Villains: Knock, Knock"
 * "Rise of the Villains: Tonight’s the Night"
 * "Rise of the Villains: The Son of Gotham"

Season 3

 * Mad City: Episode 1