List of mayors of Saginaw, Michigan

This is a list of Mayors of Saginaw, Michigan.

City of East Saginaw 1859-1889

The City of East Saginaw was incorporated in 1859 and existed until it was consolidated with the City of Saginaw in 1889 (effective 1890). The City Charter was granted by the legislature. Mayors were elected for one-year terms.

Mayor Start of Term End of Term Notes
William L. P. Little 1859 1859
William J. Bartlow 1860 1860
Charles B. Mott 1861 1862
William F. Glasby 1863 1863
James F. Brown 1864 1864
Samuel W. Yawkey 1865 1865
Dwight G. Holland 1866 1866
Wellington R. Burt 1867 1867
James L. Ketcham 1868 1869
John G. Owen 1870 1870
Leander Siomoneau 1871 1871
Charles L. Ortman 1872 1872
William L. Webber 1873 1873
Herbert H. Hoyt 1874 1874
Chauncey W. Wisner 1875 1876
Bradley M. Thompson 1877 1878
John Welch 1879 1881
Leander Simoneau 1882 1882
Frank Lawrence 1883 1883
John S. Estabrook 1884 1885
Henry M. Youmans 1886 1887
William B. Baum 1888 1889 Last mayor of the City of East Saginaw. Later served as mayor of the (consolidated) City of Saginaw under the 1889 City Charter.

City Charter of 1889

The City of East Saginaw and the City of Saginaw were consolidated by an act of the Legislature of the State of Michigan in 1889 and was given the same name as the former City of Saginaw. The City Charter was granted by legislative act and provided for an elected executive Mayor and a City Council consisting of 21 Aldermen elected from several wards in the City.

Mayor Start of Term End of Term Notes
George W. Weadock 1890 1892 First Mayor of the consolidated City of Saginaw under the 1889 City Charter
William S. Linton 1892 1894
William B. Mershon 1895 1896
William B. Baum 1896 1904
Henry E. Lee 1904 1906
William B. Baum 1906 1908
George W. Stewart, M.D. 1908 1912
Albert William Tausend 1912 1914 Last mayor under the 1889 Charter

City Charter of 1913

The Legislature of the State of Michigan enacted the Home Rule Cities Act in 1909 that permitted cities to frame and adopt their own Charters. In 1913 the electors of the City of Saginaw adopted a Charter following the Commission form of government. It became effective January 1, 1914 at which time the mayor and commissioners took office.

Mayor Start of Term End of Term Notes
Ard E. Richardson January 1, 1914 April 11, 1915
Hilem F. Paddock April 11, 1915 March 1919 Resigned in March 1919.
Robert F. Johnson March 1919 April 1919 Acting Mayor
Ben N. Mercer April 1919
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City Charter of 1936

Under the current city charter, effective January 6, 1936, the mayoral term in Saginaw is two years. The Mayor is chosen by the City Council from among its own members at the first meeting following a regular municipal election which takes place in November of odd-numbered years. The first City Council under the current Charter took office on January 6, 1936 and chose a Mayor at that time to serve until after the 1937 municipal election. Elections were held in April from 1937 through 1971, at which time it was changed to November.

Mayor Start of Term End of Term Notes
Frank Marxer January 6, 1936 April 12, 1937 First Mayor under Council-Manager form of government (City Charter of 1936)
Francis J. McDonald April 12, 1937 April 10, 1939
John W. Symons, Jr. April 10, 1939 April 14, 1941
William J. Brydges April 14, 1941 April 12, 1943
Eric F. Wieneke April 12, 1943 April 9, 1945
Harold J. Stenglein April 9, 1945 April 11, 1949 Two terms served as Mayor. First Mayor to serve more than one term.
Edwin W. Koepke April 11, 1949 April 9, 1951
William R. Hart April 9, 1951 April 13, 1953
George H. Fischer April 13, 1953 April 11, 1955
Maurice E. Brown April 11, 1955 April 8, 1957
R. James Harvey April 8, 1957 April 13, 1959
R. Dewey Stearns April 13, 1959 April 10, 1961
G. Stewart Francke April 10, 1961 April 12, 1965 Two terms served as Mayor.
James W. Stenglein April 12, 1965 April 10, 1967
Henry G. Marsh April 10, 1967 April 14, 1969 First African-American to serve as Mayor
Warren C. Light April 14, 1969 April 12, 1971
Paul H. Wendler April 12, 1971 November 13, 1973 Served an extended length term because elections were moved to November from April during his term.
William F. Nelson, Jr. November 13, 1973 November 10, 1975
Raymond M. Tortora November 10, 1975 November 14, 1977
Joe Stephens November 14, 1977 November 12, 1979
Vacant November 12, 1979 December 10, 1979 The Council was deadlocked for nearly one month in selecting a Mayor.
Paul P. Prudhomme December 10, 1979 November 9, 1981
Ronald M. Bushey November 9, 1981 November 14, 1983
Lawrence D. Crawford November 14, 1983 November 9, 1987 Two terms as Mayor.
Delbert J. Schrems November 9, 1987 November 13, 1989
Henry H. Nickelberry November 13, 1989 November 8, 1993 Two terms as Mayor.
Gary L. Loster November 8, 1993 November 12, 2001 Four terms as Mayor. (Only Mayor under 1936 Charter to serve more than two terms.)
Wilmer Jones Ham November 12, 2001 November 14, 2005 Two terms as Mayor. First female to serve as Mayor. Her son, Darvin Ham, played in the NBA.
Carol B. Cottrell November 14, 2005 November 12, 2007
Joyce J. Seals November 12, 2007 November 9, 2009
Greg Branch November 9, 2009 November 11, 2013 Two terms as mayor.
Dennis Browning November 11, 2013 incumbent (term ends November 14, 2016) A 2013 change in election schedule from odd years to even years means Browning will be the only mayor under this charter to serve a three-year term.

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