Mayor of San Diego

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Mayor of the City of San Diego
Flag of San Diego, California.svg
Flag of San Diego, California
Bob Filner mayoral portrait.jpg
Incumbent
Bob Filner
since 2012
Term length Four years, renewable once
Inaugural holder Joshua H. Bean
Formation 1850
Salary $100,464 annually
Website Office of the Mayor

The Mayor of the City San Diego is the official head and chief executive officer of the City of San Diego, California. The mayor has the duty to enforce and execute the laws enacted by the San Diego City Council. The mayor serves a four-year term and is limited to two successive terms.

Contents

History [edit]

The position of mayor was created when San Diego was first incorporated on March 27, 1850. Due to an 1852 bankruptcy, the State of California dissolved the government and a board of trustees governed the city instead of a mayor. The mayoral position was reestablished with a new charter in 1887.[1] This charter was replaced with a more permanent City Charter on May 6, 1889, using the strong Mayor form of government.

In 1931 a new charter was adopted using a council–manager government with a citywide mayor as leader of the city council. In November 2004, voters approved Proposition F, returning San Diego to the strong mayor form of government on a five-year trial basis. This was made permanent in June 2010 with the passage of Proposition D.[2]

Duties and powers [edit]

The mayor serves as the official head of the City of San Diego for all ceremonial and civil purposes. The mayor has the authority to approve or veto council actions, subject to a two-thirds majority veto overrule. Under the strong mayor system, the mayor has sole authority to appoint and dismiss the city manager and to direct and control the city manager as permitted by the city charter. The mayor also has the authority to dismiss the chief of police or the chief of the fire department subject to a council overrule. The mayor may recommend measures and ordinance to the city council, but may not vote on these items.

On or before January 15, the mayor is obligated to communicate a State of the City address to the city council. The mayor must also propose a budget to the city council and for public review no later than April 15.[3]

The mayor currently earns an annual salary of $100,464. In March 2012, the city's Salary Setting Commission proposed that the mayor be paid $235,000, but the city council unanimously rejected the recommendation.[4]

Election and succession [edit]

The mayor is elected in citywide election. Elections follow a two-round system. The first round of the election is called the primary election. If a candidate receives a majority of the vote in the primary, they are elected outright. If no candidate receives a majority, the top-two candidates advance to a runoff election, called the general election. Write-in candidates are only allowed to contest the primary election and are not allowed in the general election. The mayor is elected to a four-year term, with a limit of two consecutive terms.[5] The mayor is officially non-partisan by state law, although most mayoral candidates identify a party preference.

If the office of the mayor becomes vacant with one year or less remaining in the term, the city council appoints a person to fill the vacancy. If the vacancy occurs with more than one year remaining, the city council is obligated to call a special election. The candidate with the majority of the votes in the special election is declared Mayor. If no candidate receives a majority, a special run-off must be held between the two candidates with the highest number of votes. While the mayor's office is vacant pending a special election, the president of the city council serves as the acting Mayor as required by law. If for any reason a Mayor serves a partial term of two years or more, it will count as one full term.[3]

The most recent election was held in November 2012. The next election will be held in 2016.

List [edit]

David B. Kurtz, 2nd mayor of San Diego
Charles Dail, 27th mayor of San Diego
Pete Wilson, 29th mayor of San Diego
Jerry Sanders, 34th mayor of San Diego
For the mayors of San Diego before statehood, see List of pre-statehood mayors of San Diego.

To date, 34 individuals have served as mayor. There have been 35 mayoralties due to Edwin M. Capps's serving two non-consecutive terms: he is counted chronologically as both the ninth and sixteenth mayor. The longest term was that of Pete Wilson, who served for twelve years over three terms prior to the establishment of term limits. Percy J. Benbough is the only mayor to have died in office. Two women have been elected mayor: Maureen O'Connor and Susan Golding consecutively.

From 1852 until 1888, San Diego was governed by a board of trustees, so there was no official mayor. Likewise, although acting mayors are included on this list, they are not included in the count of mayors.

Party affiliation is shown for each mayor, when known. However, election of mayor under the current charter is officially non-partisan.

# Mayor Term start Term end   Party
1 Bean, Joshua H.Joshua H. Bean 01850-01-011850 01851-01-011851 Independent
2 Kurtz, David B.David B. Kurtz 01851-01-011851 01852-01-011852 Whig
3 Tebbetts, George P.George P. Tebbetts 01852-01-011852 01852-01-011852 Independent
— Board of Trustees[a] 01852-01-011852 01888-01-011888 N/A
4 Hunsaker, William J.William J. Hunsaker[b] 01888-01-011888 01888-01-011888 Workingman
5 Gunn, DouglasDouglas Gunn[c] 01889-01-011889 01891-01-011891 Republican
6 Sherman, MatthewMatthew Sherman 01891-01-011891 01893-01-011893 Republican
7 Carlson, William H.William H. Carlson 01893-01-011893 01896-01-011896 Independent
8 Reed, David C.David C. Reed 01897-01-011897 01898-01-011898 Republican
9 Capps, Edwin M.Edwin M. Capps 01899-01-011899 01901-01-011901 Democratic
10 Frary, Frank P.Frank P. Frary 01901-01-011901 01905-01-011905 Republican
11 Sehon, John L.John L. Sehon 01905-01-011905 01907-01-011907 Democratic
12 Forward, Sr., John F.John F. Forward, Sr. 01907-01-011907 01909-01-011909 Republican
13 Conard, GrantGrant Conard 01909-01-011909 01911-01-011911 Republican
14 Wadham, James E.James E. Wadham 01911-01-011911 01913-01-011913 Democratic
15 O'Neall, Charles F.Charles F. O'Neall 01913-01-011913 01915-01-011915 Democratic
16 Capps, Edwin M.Edwin M. Capps 01915-01-011915 01917-01-011917 Democratic
17 Wilde, Louis J.Louis J. Wilde 01917-01-011917 01921-01-011921 Republican
18 Bacon, John L.John L. Bacon 01921-01-011921 01927-01-011927 Republican
19 Clark, Harry C.Harry C. Clark 01927-01-011927 01931-01-011931 Republican
20 Austin, Walter W.Walter W. Austin 01931-05-04May 4, 1931 01933-05-08May 8, 1933 Republican
21 Forward, Jr., John F.John F. Forward, Jr.[d] 01933-05-08May 8, 1933 01934-08-22August 22, 1934 Republican
22 Irones, Rutherford B.Rutherford B. Irones[d] 01934-08-22August 22, 1934 01935-02-01February 1, 1935 Republican
23 Benbough, Percy J.Percy J. Benbough[e] 01935-05-06May 6, 1935 01942-11-04November 4, 1942 Republican
24 Bard, Howard B.Howard B. Bard[e] 01942-11-30November 30, 1942 01943-05-03May 3, 1943 Democratic
25 Knox, Harley E.Harley E. Knox 01943-05-03May 3, 1943 01951-05-07May 7, 1951 Independent
26 Butler, John D.John D. Butler 01951-05-07May 7, 1951 01955-05-02May 2, 1955 Republican
27 Dail, CharlesCharles Dail 01955-05-02May 2, 1955 01963-12-02December 2, 1963 Democratic
28 Curran, Frank E.Frank E. Curran 01963-12-02December 2, 1963 01971-12-06December 6, 1971 Democratic
29 Wilson, PetePete Wilson[f] 01971-12-06December 6, 1971 01983-01-03January 3, 1983 Republican
— Cleator, Sr., William E.William E. Cleator, Sr.[f] 01983-01-03January 3, 1983 01983-05-03May 3, 1983 Republican
30 Hedgecock, Roger A.Roger A. Hedgecock[g] 01983-05-03May 3, 1983 01985-12-05December 5, 1985 Republican
— Struiksma, EdEd Struiksma[g] 01985-12-05December 5, 1985 01986-06-03June 3, 1986 Republican
31 O'Connor, Maureen F.Maureen F. O'Connor 01986-06-03June 3, 1986 01992-12-07December 7, 1992 Democratic
32 Golding, Susan G.Susan G. Golding 01992-12-07December 7, 1992 02000-12-04December 4, 2000 Republican
33 Murphy, Dick M.Dick M. Murphy[h] 02000-12-04December 4, 2000 02005-07-15July 15, 2005 Republican
— Zucchet, Michael J.Michael J. Zucchet[h] 02005-07-15July 15, 2005 02005-07-18July 18, 2005 Democratic
— Atkins, Toni G.Toni G. Atkins[h] 02005-07-18July 18, 2005 02005-12-05December 5, 2005 Democratic
34 Sanders, Jerry R.Jerry R. Sanders 02005-12-05December 5, 2005 02012-12-03December 3, 2012 Republican
35 Filner, Bob E.Bob E. Filner 02012-12-03December 3, 2012 Incumbent Democratic

Presidents of the Board of Trustees [edit]

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.[6]

# President Term start Term end   Party Notes
1 Noell, Charles P.Charles P. Noell 01852-01-011852 01852-01-011852 Democratic
2 Robinson, James W.James W. Robinson 01852-01-011852 01853-01-011853 Democratic
3 Rose, LouisLouis Rose 01853-01-011853 01855-01-011855 Democratic
4 Ames, JulianJulian Ames 01855-01-011855 01857-01-011857 AKA Jesse Wilbur Ames
5 Collins, ThomasThomas Collins 01855-01-011855 01857-01-011857
6 Whaley, Henry H.Henry H. Whaley 01857-01-011857 01858-01-011858
7 Whaley, ThomasThomas Whaley 01858-01-011858 01859-01-011859 Republican in 1882
8 Bogart, Jacob C.Jacob C. Bogart 01859-01-011859 01860-01-011860 Democratic
9 Tebbetts, Rufus B.Rufus B. Tebbetts 01860-01-011860 01862-01-011862
10 Kurtz, David B.David B. Kurtz 01862-01-011862 01865-01-011865 Democratic Whig when previously Mayor
11 Cassidy, AndrewAndrew Cassidy 01865-01-011865 01867-01-011867 Democratic
12 Manasse, Joseph S.Joseph S. Manasse 01867-01-011867 01869-01-011869
13 McCoy, JamesJames McCoy 01869-01-011869 01871-01-011871 Democratic

Notes [edit]

  • a There was no official mayor during the time San Diego was run by the Board of Trustees.
  • b William J. Hunsaker resigned from office.
  • c Douglas Gunn ran as a Republican on the "Citizens' Non-Partisan" ticket.
  • d John F. Forward, Jr. resigned from office. Rutherford B. Irones was appointed to finish the balance of his term. However, Irones himself would later resign as well.
  • e Percy J. Benbough died in office of natural causes. Howard B. Bard was appointed to finish the balance of his term.
  • f Pete Wilson resigned from office to join the United States Senate. William E. Cleator, Sr. served as acting mayor until a new election could be held.
  • g Roger Hedgecock resigned from office. Ed Struiksma served as acting mayor until a new election could be held.
  • h Dick Murphy resigned from office. Michael Zucchet briefly served as acting mayor before he too resigned. Toni Atkins then served as acting mayor until a new election could be held.

References [edit]

  1. ^ Larson, Thomas (28 October 2004). "Elections San Diego Style". San Diego Reader. Retrieved 22 December 2012. 
  2. ^ "A History of San Diego Government". City of San Diego. Retrieved 22 December 2012. 
  3. ^ a b "ARTICLE XV Strong Mayor Form of Governance". City of San Diego City Charter. City of San Diego. Retrieved 22 December 2012. 
  4. ^ "City Council Rejects Salary Hikes For Mayor, Council". 10news.com. 5 March 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2012. 
  5. ^ "How To Run For Office Details". City of San Diego. Retrieved 14 December 2010. 
  6. ^ "Selected Chronological List of San Diego City Officials". San Diego History Center. Retrieved 23 December 2012. 

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mayors of San Diego, California
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mayor_of_San_Diego&oldid=553884645"