List of mayors of San Diego

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.

Contents

List of mayors

Mayor Term Party Notes
Joshua H. Bean 1850–1851 1 one-year term
David B. Kurtz 1851–1852 Whig 1 one-year term
George P. Tebbetts 1852
Board of Trustees 1852–1889   Presidents listed below
Douglas Gunn 1889–1891 Republican "Citizens' Non-Partisan" ticket
Matthew Sherman 1891–1893 Republican
William H. Carlson 1893–1896 Independent
David C. Reed 1897–1898 Republican
Edwin M. Capps 1899–1901 Democratic
Frank P. Frary 1901–1905 Republican
John L. Sehon 1905–1907 Democratic
John F. Forward, Sr. 1907–1909 Republican
Grant Conard 1909–1911 Republican
James E. Wadham 1911–1913 Democratic
Charles F. O'Neall 1913–1915 Democratic
Edwin M. Capps 1915–1917 Democratic
Louis J. Wilde 1917–1921 Republican
John L. Bacon 1921–1927 Republican
Harry C. Clark 1927–1931 Republican
Walter W. Austin 1931–1932 Republican
John F. Forward, Jr.* 1933–1934 Republican
Rutherford B. Irones* 1934–1935 Republican Appointed
Percy J. Benbough 1935–1942 Republican Died in office
Howard B. Bard 1942–1943 Democratic Appointed
Harley E. Knox 1943–1951 Independent
John D. Butler 1951–1955 Republican
Charles C. Dail 1955–1963 Democratic
Frank E. Curran 1963–1971 Democratic
Pete Wilson 1971 – December 1982 Republican Three terms (before term limits)
William E. Cleator, Sr. January – May 1983 Republican Acting Mayor
Roger Hedgecock* 1983–1985 Republican Partial term
Maureen O'Connor July 7, 1985 – December 7, 1992 Democratic
Susan Golding December 7, 1992 – December 4, 2000 Republican
Dick Murphy* December 4, 2000 – July 15, 2005 Republican Second term partial
Michael Zucchet* July 15, 2005 – July 18, 2005 Democratic Deputy Mayor (Acting Mayor)
Toni Atkins July 18, 2005 – December 5, 2005 Democratic Deputy Mayor (Acting Mayor)
Jerry Sanders 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 1852 Democratic
James W. Robinson 1852–1853 Democratic
Louis Rose 1853–1855 Democratic
Julian Ames 1855–1857 AKA Jesse Wilbur Ames
Thomas Collins 1855–1857
Henry H. Whaley 1857–1858
Thomas Whaley 1858–1859 Republican in 1882
Jacob C. Bogart 1859–1860 Democratic
Rufus B. Tebbetts 1860–1862
David B. Kurtz 1862–1865 Democratic;
Whig when previously Mayor
Andrew Cassidy 1865–1867 Democratic
Joseph S. Manasse 1867–1869
James McCoy 1869–1871 Democratic

See also

External links