Mayor of Monterey

The Mayor of Monterey is an elected member of the Monterey City Council and acts as the Chief Executive Officer of the City Government of Monterey, California. Since the year 1925, Monterey operates through a form of the Council-Manager Government, where the Mayor represents the city but only gets a single vote on the city council. The City Manager, a city government official appointed by the council, runs the daily affairs of the city's managerial tasks.

During the Spanish period and the Mexican period of Monterey, the person who ran this area was known as the Alcalde of Monterey. The duties of an Alcalde were markedly different than that of a modern Mayor; the Alcalde served as Monterey's mayor, magistrate, and commander of the local militia and police forces, in addition to managing sanitation, schools, and coordinating with Customs officials. The first Ayuntamiento was established in 1820, with Téodose Flores serving as the first Alcalde. Alcaldes were elected annually, without the right to reelection for two or three years, by the Ayuntamiento. In 1838, with the Mexican central government changing its structure, the Governor accepted the disbandment of the Ayuntamiento and the Alcalde, and the duties of Alcalde were absorbed by a Juez de Paz (English: Justice of the Peace). Alcaldes were reinstated in 1844. The Alcalde carried their authority from the Baston de Mando, a staff or stick which bore the symbol of the Alcalde, and without the Bastion, they held no power.

The first American Alcalde of Monterey was Walter Colton, at which point term limits were changed. The first Mayor of Monterey was Philip A. Roach, who had been serving as Alcalde when the Ayuntamiento was re-incorporated in 1850. From 1853, the town was unincorporated, the office was abolished and their duties were absorbed by the President of the Board of Trustees. For a decade following 1869, all civic institutions in the town were abolished. The town was re-incorporated in 1890 with another Board of Trustees. In 1911, the position of Mayor of Monterey was reestablished with the election of the "first" Mayor of Monterey, Carmel Martin, in 1911. At some point, the term limits were made every 2 years. In the 1925 Charter of Monterey, the language stated that the Mayor would assume office on the Monday after the election.

Alcalde of Monterey, Nuevo California

Alcalde of Monterey, Nuevo California#ImageNameTerm startTerm endNotesRef.1Téodose Flores18201821AyuntamientoJoaquín de la Torre18211822

Alcalde of Monterey, Alta California (1822–1839) First Mexican Empire#ImageNameTerm startTerm endNotesRef.Marcelino Escobar18221823Mariano Soberanes18231824First Mexican Republic?18251826Juan Alvires18261827José Tiburcio Castro18271828José Tiburcio Castro18281829Mariano Soberanes18291830Marcelino Escobar18301831Antonio Buelna18311832Salvador Espinosa18321833Marcelino Escobar18331834Centralist Republic of MexicoManuel Jimeno Casarin18341835David Spence18351836 José Rafael Gonzalez18351836José Ramon Estrada18361837Marcelino Escobar18361837–Teodoro Gonzalez18361836ActingTeodoro Gonzalez18371838Estévan Munrás18371838Marcelino Escobar18371838Jose Antonio Yorba II18381838

Encargado de Justicia (1839–1839) #ImageNameTerm startTerm endNotesRef.José Simeon Nepomuncena de Castro (Simeon Castro)1838April 1839Feliciano Soberanes1838April 1839

Juez de Paz of Monterey (1839–1842) #ImageNameTerm startTerm endNotesRef.David SpenceMay 18391840Serving in this capacity during the creation of the Monterey Catholic Cemetery.Estévan MunrásMay 18391840José Ábrego1841October 20, 1842

American Alcalde of Monterey (1842) #ImageNameTerm startTerm endNotesRef.Josiah Belden October 20, 1842 October 21, 1842Served for only 24 hours during the Accidental Capture of Monterey.

Juez de Paz of Monterey (1842–1844) #ImageNameTerm startTerm endNotesRef.José ÁbregoOctober 21, 1842?George Allen18421843Theodoro González1842December 31, 1843Elections were forced by the Governor to occur in November 1843, and the office of Alcalde was made to be re-instated in January 1844.

Alcalde of Monterey (1844–1846) #ImageNameTerm startTerm endNotesRef.Jose Amesti January 1, 18441845Personal friend of Thomas Larkin and acquaintance of John C. Frémont.???1845, Santa Anna falls from power, Governor Micheltorena ousted. New Governor re-instates the Prefecture system. Monterey retains Alcalde.???Manuel DiazJanuary 1, 1846July 6, 1846Serving as Alcalde when Commodore Stockton and Governor Sloat, outright refused to serve under the American administration.Joaquin EscamillaJanuary 1, 1846July 6, 1846Second Alcade (similar to Vice Mayor) serving with Manuel Diaz. Also refused to serve under Sloat.

American Alcaldes of Monterey, Interim government of California (1846–1850) #ImageNameTerm startTerm endNotesRef.–Rodman PriceJuly 7, 1846July 30, 1846Appointed as co-Alcalde with Edward Gilchrist.–Edward GilchristJuly 7, 1846July 30, 1846Appointed as co-Alcalde with Rodman Price.–Walter ColtonJuly 30, 1846September 15, 1846Appointed on July 28 by Stockton aboard the USS Congress before stepping foot on land at Custom House.1Walter ColtonSeptember 15, 18461848 / 1849Duly elected after military service expired. First elected Alcalde. Served during the breakout of the California gold rush. Completed the construction of Colton Hall at the end of his service.2Don Florencio Serrano1848 / 18491849Served as Second Alcalde (Vice Mayor) of Monterey during the Mexican-American War. One of the first men who met the Americans when they landed.3Philip A. Roach1849Self, as MayorLast Alcalde of Monterey.

Mayor of Monterey (1850-1853) Mayor of Monterey (1850–1853)#ImageNameTerm startTerm endNotesRef.1Philip A. RoachJanuary 2, 18501951Ayuntamiento chartered in 1850. Town incorporated 1851. In 1951, Roach is elected to the office of Senator for the District of Monterey.2Gilbert MurdockJanuary 13, 18513W. H. McDowellElected but never performed the duties of Mayor. Discrepancy in dates due to conflicts in sources.-Charles HerronMay 11, 1853,Performed the duties of McDowell's position. Discrepancy in dates due to conflicts in sources.3J. B. KnappJanuary 12, 1852Discrepancy in dates due to conflicts in sources.4Jno. M. O’NealJanuary 13, 1853

President of the Board of Trustees

Unincorporated Monterey (1853–1869) #ImageNameTerm startTerm endNotesRef.1Delos R. AshleyMay 11, 1853?Notoriously controversial lawyer, especially noted for his disreputable clientele. Personal attorney for the Monterey gangster David Jacks, namesake of Monterey Jack.Josiah MerrittJanuary 4, 1854?From 1850 to 1854, the first to hold the title of Judge of Monterey County.Delos R. AshleyJuly 25, 1854?John Burke PhillipsJanuary 24, 1859?Manual DiazJune 5, 1865?J. B. SmithDecember 28, 1867?John MyersJune 1, 1868Francis "Frank" DoudJune 7, 1869Samuel B. Gordon??

Civic abolishment (1869–1876) Following a failed attempt to reincorporate Monterey as a city, the decade following 1869 saw no form of government institutions whatsoever.

In May 1869, the Golden spike was hammered in Utah, connecting California to the East by train for the first time.

Town of Monterey (1876–1890) #ImageNameTerm startTerm endNotesRef.Samuel B. Gordon18771883In 1878, Gordon is selected as delegate to the 1878 California Constitutional Convention. The Monterey Fire Department is created in 1882. 1883 County and Township Government Act is passed, redefining governmental structures.???Construction begins on the Monterey–Salinas Railroad. Also begins on Monterey–Fresno Railroad. I. A. SkinnerJune 15, 1887?Louis SchaufeleJune 12, 1888?James B. Snively?15 April 1890

City of Monterey (1890–1911) #ImageNameTerm startTerm endNotesRef.James B. Snively15 April 1890?City re-incorporated in 1890, but Board of Trustees system remained in place.David Rodrick??Prominent mine owner. Died of heart failure August 3, 1909 while still serving as a member of the board.T. J. Fitzgerald1895 (?)Edward Ingram1896 (?)W. W. James1896 (?)Robert F. JohnsonJanuary 18971905 or 1906In 1904, his brother-in-law claimed that Johnson and his wife had abducted Johnson's nephew. The boy was discovered later having had joined the Army without his father's permission.William "Will" Jacks1905 or 19061910 or 1911Son of David Jacks, serving as President / Mayor when his father died. Involved in the distribution of aid to the victims of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

Mayor of Monterey (1911–Present)

Mayor of Monterey (1911–1925) #ImageNameTerm startTerm endNotesRef.1Carmel Martin1911May 6, 1913First Mayor of Monterey elected after re-incorporation.?Robert F. Johnson May 6, 19131915?Walter A. LillieApril 21, 1915April 1919Committed suicide by shotgun in 1921 on exactly the same day as Jacob R. Miller, on the other side of town. His wife claimed that "...being quite deaf..." she didn't hear a sound.?Philip J. DoughertyApril 1919April 1923?Benjamin Franklin WrightApril 1923May 1925

Mayor-Manager of Monterey (1925–Present) #ImageNameTerm startTerm endNotesCity Manager Ref.William George HudsonMay 1925May 1927Randall M. "Dell" DortonJoseph Kurtz OliverMay 1927May 1929Father of Myron Oliver.John P. SandholdtMay 1929May 1933Fenn StewardMay 1933February 9, 1934Died suddenly of a heart attack while in office.Walter Leon TeabyFebruary 9, 19341937Formerly, the City Physician who contained the Smallpox Epidemic.B. J. PardeeEmmet G. McMenamin1937January 1, 1942Left office to become Clerk.John R. PerryJanuary 1, 1942May 16, 1947Also President of the Carmel Canning Company. Resigned early to focus on his business affairs. Mayor during the Centennial Celebrations of Monterey.Christine Raynsford?Hugh F. DormodyMay 16, 1947May 10, 1949Leater K. SmithMay 10, 1949May 1951Manuel Perry?D. H. 'Dan' SearleMay 1951May 1959At 4 terms, longest service of any Mayor until Dan Albert.Walter Hahn Jr.?Shedo "Buck" S. RussoMay 1959May 1961Held a "day job" as the projectionist at the Golden State Theatre.Lawrence "Sparky" M. PollardMay 1961May 1965Also served as President of the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula.?Minnie CoyleMay 1965May 1969First female mayor of Monterey. Oversaw the initial construction of Lighthouse Tunnel.?Al J. MaddenMay 1969May 1973Al CoonsPeter ConiglioMay 1973May 1977Gerald T. “Jerry” FryMay 1977May 1983Served during the creation of Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Monterey Conference Center.John Dunn?Clyde RobersonMay 1983November 1987?Dan AlbertNovember 1987November 2006Served during the End of the Cold War, the closure of Fort Ord, and the creation of the World Wide Web.Fred Meurer?Chuck Della SalaDecember 2006November 2014Mike McCarthy?Clyde RobersonNovember 2014December, 2022Served during the COVID-19 pandemic.Hans Ulsar?Tyller WilliamsonNovember 2022–First black Mayor and first gay Mayor of Monterey.Dante Hall

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