List of mayors of Bloomington, Minnesota facts for kids
A mayor is the leader of a city or town. They work with a city council to make important decisions for the community. This page tells you about the people who have served as mayor of Bloomington, Minnesota.
Bloomington's mayors are chosen by all the voters in the city. They are also full members of the city council.
What Does a Mayor Do?
The mayor is like the chief executive of the city government. They help guide the city's future. Mayors work on things like public safety, parks, and city services. They also represent Bloomington to other cities and the state.
How Long Do Mayors Serve?
For many years, a mayor's term in Bloomington was two years. This changed in 1995. Voters decided to make the term four years long instead. This means mayors now serve for a longer period.
List of Bloomington's Mayors
Here are the people who have led Bloomington as mayor:
- Herman Kossow served from 1953 to 1955. He was the city's first mayor.
- Gordon Miklethun was mayor for three terms, from 1956 to 1961.
- Herbert A. Knudsen served one term, from 1962 to 1963.
- Donald R. Hasselberg was mayor for two terms, from 1964 to 1967.
- John A. Thomasberg served one term, from 1968 to 1969.
- James M. King was mayor for two terms, from 1970 to 1973.
- Robert M. Benedict served from 1974 until early 1977. He resigned to take on a new role in the state government.
- James H. Lindau became mayor in January 1977. He was first appointed and then elected by voters. He served for six terms, until 1987.
- Kurt Laughinghouse was mayor for one term, from 1988 to 1989.
- Neil W. Peterson served from 1990 until early 1995. He resigned mid-term to join a regional planning group.
- Coral Houle became mayor in January 1995. She was appointed to finish the previous term. Later that year, she was elected by the voters. Coral Houle was the first woman to serve as mayor of Bloomington. She served until 1999.
- Gene Winstead was mayor for five terms, from 2000 to 2019. He is the longest-serving mayor in Bloomington's history.
- Tim Busse was elected in November 2019. He became mayor in 2020 and is currently serving his second term.
