List of Mayors of San Diego, California
Encyclopedia
This is a list of mayors of San Diego, California
. See also the list of alcaldes (mayors) for the Pueblo of San Diego, prior to statehood.
Party affiliation is shown for each mayor, when known. However, election of mayor under the current charter is officially non-partisan
.
During 1852–1889 a Board of Trustees governed the city.
(*) resigned
In 1872, the Board of Trustees changed from a three-member body, with President, Secretary, and Treasurer, to a five-member body with no president.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. See also the list of alcaldes (mayors) for the Pueblo of San Diego, prior to statehood.
Party affiliation is shown for each mayor, when known. However, election of mayor under the current charter is officially non-partisan
Non-partisan democracy
Nonpartisan democracy is a system of representative government or organization such that universal and periodic elections take place without reference to political parties.-Overview:...
.
During 1852–1889 a Board of Trustees governed the city.
List of mayors
| Mayor | Term | Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joshua H. Bean Joshua Bean Joshua H. Bean was an American political figure.Joshua Bean was born c. 1818 in Mason County, Kentucky to Phantly Roy Bean and his wife Anna Gore. His paternal grandparents were Benjamin Bean and his wife Fernetta Johnston, daughter of Archibald Johnston. Both grandparents were born in Virginia... |
1850–1851 | 1 one-year term | |
| David B. Kurtz David B. Kurtz David Brown Kurtz , aka Daniel Brown Kurtz, was an American Whig and Democratic politician from California.Kurtz was born 1819 in Pennsylvania. He came to San Diego in 1850 where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1856... |
1851–1852 | Whig Whig Party (United States) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic... |
1 one-year term |
| George P. Tebbetts George P. Tebbetts George Parrish Tebbetts was an American politician from California.Tebbetts was born in Concord, New Hampshire and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1848, where he studied medicine. With the California gold rush he sailed to San Francisco... |
1852 | ||
| Board of Trustees | 1852–1889 | Presidents listed below | |
| Douglas Gunn Douglas Gunn Douglas Gunn was an American scholar, publisher, pioneer and Republican politician from California.... |
1889–1891 | Republican | |"Citizens' Non-Partisan" ticket |
| Matthew Sherman Matthew Sherman Matthew Sherman was a land developer and American Republican politician from California.Born in Charleston, Massachusetts, he enlisted the U.S. Navy at age 13 and served on the U.S.S. Columbus and U.S.S. Independence. During the Mexican-American War, his ship briefly visited Monterey, California... |
1891–1893 | Republican | | |
| William H. Carlson William H. Carlson William H. "Billy" Carlson was an American Independent politician and land developer from California.-Personal:William "Billy" Carlson was born 1864 in Sweden. He immigrated to the U.S... |
1893–1896 | Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
|
| David C. Reed David C. Reed Daniel C. Reed was an American Republican politician from California.D. C. Reed was born 1847 in Wisconsin.In 1870, he came to San Diegowhere he became an attorney and real estate and insurance agent.... |
1897–1898 | Republican | | |
| Edwin M. Capps Edwin M. Capps Edwin M. Capps was an American Democratic politician from California.-Biography:Capps was born 1860 in Knoxville, Tennessee. His father was Thomas J. Capps, professor of mathematics at East Tennessee University... |
1899–1901 | Democratic | |
| Frank P. Frary Frank P. Frary Frank P. Frary was an American Republican politician from California.Frank Phineas Frary was born in Fremont, Ohio and moved to San Diego, California, in 1875. He owned a bee ranch at Capitan Grande, near El Cajon, and operated a stage line in San Diego County, including a mail contract between... |
1901–1905 | Republican | | |
| John L. Sehon John L. Sehon John L. Sehon was an American Democratic politician from California.Sehon was born c. 1863 in Georgia. He served in the army as a Captain. Sehon was elected to the city council and set an independent course as a council member... |
1905–1907 | Democratic | | |
| John F. Forward, Sr. John F. Forward, Sr. John F. Forward, Sr. was an American Republican politician from California.John Forward, Sr. was born 1851 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Walter and Elizabeth Forward. His grandfather Walter Forward was U. S... |
1907–1909 | Republican | |
| Grant Conard Grant Conard Grant Conard was an American Republican politician from California.Grant Conard was born c. 1867 in Illinois. He was a real estate developer. He was mayor of San Diego during 1909–1911 and in 1915 he served in the California State Assembly.He died 1919 in San Diego aged 52 years.... |
1909–1911 | Republican | | |
| James E. Wadham James E. Wadham James E. Wadham was an American Democratic politician from California.Wadham was born c. 1865 in Illinois, but moved to San Diego, California around 1870. He was a conservative Democratic attorney who ran for mayor of San Diego in 1903 but was defeated. He ran again a few years later and served... |
1911–1913 | Democratic | | |
| Charles F. O'Neall Charles F. O'Neall Charles F. O'Neall was a real estate agent and an American Democratic politician from California.O'Neall was born 1875 in Birdville, Texas to James E. and Annie E... |
1913–1915 | Democratic | |
| Edwin M. Capps Edwin M. Capps Edwin M. Capps was an American Democratic politician from California.-Biography:Capps was born 1860 in Knoxville, Tennessee. His father was Thomas J. Capps, professor of mathematics at East Tennessee University... |
1915–1917 | Democratic | |
| Louis J. Wilde Louis J. Wilde Louis J. Wilde was an American banker and Republican politician from California. Wilde was born in Iowa City, Iowa in 1865. After living in Rochester, NY, Philadelphia, and St... |
1917–1921 | Republican | | |
| John L. Bacon John L. Bacon John L. Bacon was a civil engineer and Republican politician from California.Bacon was born in 1878 in Illinois. By 1914, he was in San Diego, when he was on a Panama-California Exposition committee... |
1921–1927 | Republican | |
| Harry C. Clark Harry C. Clark Harry Camp Clark was an American Republican politician from California.-Early life:Harry Clark was born 1883 in Bay City, Michigan to Herman and Melissa Clark. In 1907 He graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in Civil Engineering... |
1927–1931 | Republican | |
| Walter W. Austin Walter W. Austin Walter Wolcott Austin was an American Republican politician from California.-Early life:Austin was born 1880 in Kendall, Wisconsin, and moved to Chicago, Illinois with his family, where he was a newsboy at age 7, and to Aberdeen, South Dakota. In 1912, he moved to San Diego, California.In San... |
1931–1932 | Republican | |
| John F. Forward, Jr. John F. Forward, Jr. John F. Forward, Jr. was an American politician from California.-Personal and business life:John F. Forward, Jr. was born 1876 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to John F. Forward, Sr... * |
1933–1934 | Republican | |
| Rutherford B. Irones Rutherford B. Irones Rutherford B. Irones was a physician and an American Republican politician from California.-Early life: military and medical service:Irones was born March 4, 1877 in Oakland, California to John H... * |
1934–1935 | Republican | Appointed |
| Percy J. Benbough Percy J. Benbough Percival "Percy" James Benbough was an American Republican politician from California.Percy Benbough was born 1884 near London, England and came to San Diego when he was four. At first he ran a grocery store and men's clothing store... |
1935–1942 | Republican | Died in office |
| Howard B. Bard Howard B. Bard Howard Burton Bard was a Unitarian minister.- Biography :Bard was born 1870 in Ohio. He was a pastor in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1912 Bard moved to San Diego, where he was pastor of the First Unitarian Church of San Diego for several decades. While pastor he organized several public forums to... |
1942–1943 | Democratic | Appointed |
| Harley E. Knox Harley E. Knox Harley Eugene Knox was an American Independent politician from California.- Biography :Knox was born 1899 in Nebraska... |
1943–1951 | Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
| |
| John D. Butler John D. Butler John D. Butler was an American Republican politician from California. John Butler was born 1915 in San Diego. He played football at San Diego State and was named an All-American. He was a transactional lawyer. During World War II he served as a Navy pilot.Butler was mayor of San Diego from 1951... |
1951–1955 | Republican | |
| Charles C. Dail Charles C. Dail Charles "Charlie" C. Dail was an American Democratic politician from California.Dail was first elected to the San Diego city council for 1943–1955... |
1955–1963 | Democratic | |
| Frank E. Curran Francis Earl Curran Francis Earl "Frank" Curran was an American Democratic politician from California.-Biography:Frank Curran was born in 1912 in Cleveland, Ohio. His father was a boxer under the name "Red Kenney" and operated a wallpaper-hanging business. The family moved to Oceanside, California in 1919... |
1963–1971 | Democratic | |
| Pete Wilson Pete Wilson Peter Barton "Pete" Wilson is an American politician from California. Wilson, a Republican, served as the 36th Governor of California , the culmination of more than three decades in the public arena that included eight years as a United States Senator , eleven years as Mayor of San Diego and... |
1971 – December 1982 | Republican | Three terms (before term limits) |
| William E. Cleator, Sr. William E. Cleator, Sr. William E. "Bill" Cleator. Sr. was an American Republican politician from California.Bill Cleator was born in San Diego, California and served in the Navy. He was a successful industrialist, retiring as CEO of Tool Research Inc. in 1977... |
January – May 1983 | Republican | Acting Mayor |
| Roger Hedgecock Roger Hedgecock Roger Allan Hedgecock is a conservative talk radio host and former mayor of San Diego, California. His show is syndicated by Radio America. Hedgecock still resides in San Diego... * |
1983–1985 | Republican | Partial term |
| Maureen O'Connor Maureen O'Connor (California politician) Maureen Frances O'Connor is an American Democratic politician from California.Maureen O'Connor was born 1946 in San Diego, California. She was one of 13 children; her parents were former local boxer, "Kid Jerome", and Frances Mary O'Connor... |
July 7, 1985 – December 7, 1992 | Democratic | |
| Susan Golding Susan Golding Susan G. Golding is an American Republican politician from California, best known as the former two-term mayor of San Diego. She is currently president and CEO of the Child Abuse Prevention Foundation in San Diego... |
December 7, 1992 – December 4, 2000 | Republican | |
| Dick Murphy Dick Murphy Richard M. Murphy is a former U.S. politician. He served as the 33rd Mayor of San Diego, California from 2000 to 2005-Early life:... * |
December 4, 2000 – July 15, 2005 | Republican | Second term partial |
| Michael Zucchet Michael Zucchet Michael J. Zucchet is a San Diego-born American Democratic politician, a former member of the San Diego City Council, and a former Deputy Mayor of San Diego... * |
July 15, 2005 – July 18, 2005 | Democratic | Deputy Mayor (Acting Mayor) |
| Toni Atkins Toni Atkins Toni G. Atkins is an American Democratic politician and a member of the California State Assembly from San Diego's 76th district. She formerly served on San Diego City Council, leaving office in December 2008 due to term limits... |
July 18, 2005 – December 5, 2005 | Democratic | Deputy Mayor (Acting Mayor) |
| Jerry Sanders Jerry Sanders (politician) Gerald Robert "Jerry" Sanders is an American politician, Mayor of San Diego, California, and former Chief of Police.-Personal life:... |
December 5, 2005 – | Republican |
(*) resigned
Presidents of the Board of Trustees
After San Diego's bankruptcy in 1852, the State of California took over city government and ran the city with an appointed Board of Trustees during 1852–1889. From 1852 to 1871, there was a President of the Board, who was called mayor by courtesy, although there was no official office of mayor.In 1872, the Board of Trustees changed from a three-member body, with President, Secretary, and Treasurer, to a five-member body with no president.
| President | Term | Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles P. Noell Charles P. Noell Charles P. Noell San Diego Democratic politician.Charles P. Noell was born in Bedford County, Virginia February 20, 1812. He came to California in November 1848 and was a San Francisco merchant, but lost all in a fire in 1850... |
1852 | Democratic | |
| James W. Robinson James W. Robinson James W. Robinson was a politician in what became the U.S. states of Texas and California.-Early years:J. W. Robinson was born in what is now Hamilton County, Indiana in c. 1791. He was a lawyer and partnered with William Henry Harrison. He married Mary Isdell in 1820, but abandoned his first... |
1852–1853 | Democratic | |
| Louis Rose Louis Rose Louis Rose was a pioneer developer of San Diego, California. The neighborhood of Roseville in Point Loma is named for him, as are Rose Creek and Rose Canyon.-History:... |
1853–1855 | Democratic | |
| Julian Ames Julian Ames Julian Ames , also known as Jesse Julian Ames and Juliano Ames, was a San Diego pioneer. He was born in North Carolina but arrived as a sailor in San Diego in 1820, from Plainfield, Connecticut.... |
1855–1857 | AKA Jesse Wilbur Ames | |
| Thomas Collins | 1855–1857 | ||
| Henry H. Whaley Henry H. Whaley Henry Hurst Whaley early settler of San Diego.Henry H. Whaley was born c. 1818 in New York Cityto Thomas Alexander Whaley Sr... |
1857–1858 | ||
| Thomas Whaley Thomas Whaley Thomas Whaley early settler of San Diego.Whaley was born in New York City 1823 to Thomas Alexander Whaley Sr. and Rachel Pye. His father died in 1832 and his will said Thomas should receive a liberal education.... |
1858–1859 | Republican in 1882 | |
| Jacob C. Bogart Jacob C. Bogart Jacob C. Bogart was a ship captain and American Democratic politician from San Diego, California.Jacob Bogart was born c. 1820 in New Jersey.Captain J. C... |
1859–1860 | Democratic | |
| Rufus B. Tebbetts Rufus B. Tebbetts Rufus B. Tebbetts early settler of San Diego.Tebbetts was born c. 1828 in New Hampshire and was living in Belknap County, New Hampshire in 1850.By 1860 he was living in San Bernardino, California, but moved the same year to San Diego.... |
1860–1862 | ||
| David B. Kurtz David B. Kurtz David Brown Kurtz , aka Daniel Brown Kurtz, was an American Whig and Democratic politician from California.Kurtz was born 1819 in Pennsylvania. He came to San Diego in 1850 where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1856... |
1862–1865 | Democratic; Whig when previously Mayor |
|
| Andrew Cassidy Andrew Cassidy Andrew Cassidy was an early settler of San Diego, California-Biography:Cassidy was born in County Cavan, Ireland and came to America in 1834 when 17.... |
1865–1867 | Democratic | |
| Joseph S. Manasse Joseph S. Manasse Joseph S. Manasse was an early settler of San Diego, California.Manasse was born 1831 in Filehne, Prussia and came to San Diego in 1853 with his brother Heyman and cousin Moses.... |
1867–1869 | ||
| James McCoy James McCoy James McCoy was an American Democratic politician from California.-Biography:McCoy was born 1821 in County Antrim, Ireland. He was a big, imposing man and came to the U.S. in 1842 and joined the Army in 1846, which was recruiting for the Mexican-American War. He came to San Diego in Summer of... |
1869–1871 | Democratic |