List of mayors of Tampa, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mayor of Tampa |
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Flag of the City of Tampa
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Seal of the City of Tampa
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 Jane Castor since May 1, 2019 |
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| Style | The Honorable |
| Term length | 4 years limited to two consecutive terms |
| Inaugural holder | Joseph B. Lancaster |
| Formation | 1856 |
| Salary | $160,384 |
The Mayor is the top elected leader in Tampa, Florida. They are in charge of the city government. Since Tampa became a city in 1856, 59 different people have served as mayor. There was a time from 1862 to 1866 when Tampa didn't have a mayor. This happened during and right after the American Civil War.
How Tampa's Mayors Are Elected
Choosing a mayor in Tampa has changed over time. For many years, a group called the White Municipal Party existed. This group made it very difficult for African Americans to vote or have a say in who became mayor. This unfair system lasted from 1910 until 1947.
Since 1953, mayoral elections in Tampa have been non-partisan. This means candidates do not run as members of a political party. All qualified people can run in the main election. They do not have a separate primary election first. Candidates must still say which party they usually support.
If no candidate wins more than half of the votes, a runoff election is held. This second election is just between the top two candidates. It helps decide who will be the next mayor.
How Long Mayors Serve
The length of a mayor's term has changed over the years. When Tampa first became a city in 1856, mayors served for only one year. In 1896, this was changed to two-year terms. Then, in 1924, it became four-year terms.
For a long time, from 1856 to 1920, mayors could not serve two terms in a row. They had to take a break before running again. This meant some mayors served multiple times, but not back-to-back. In 1920, this rule was removed.
However, since 1983, there have been term limits again. Mayors can serve a maximum of two terms in a row. After that, they must wait at least four years before they can run for mayor again.
Who Are Tampa's Mayors?
Tampa has had many mayors throughout its history. The first mayor was Joseph B. Lancaster, who started his term in 1856. The current mayor is Jane Castor, who began her term on May 1, 2019. She is the 59th person to hold this important position.
Many mayors have served Tampa, helping the city grow and change. Some served for short periods, while others, like Curtis Hixon, served for many years. The list below shows some of the people who have been mayor of Tampa.
| # | Mayor | Term start | Term end | Terms | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joseph B. Lancaster † | February 14, 1856 | November 25, 1856 | 1⁄2 | American | |
| 2 | Darwin A. Branch (1st term) | November 25, 1856 | December 6, 1856 | Acting | American | |
| 3 | Alfonso DeLaunay | December 6, 1856 | February 9, 1857 | Partial | Democratic | |
| 4 | Darwin A. Branch (2nd term) | February 9, 1857 | February 10, 1858 | 1 | American | |
| 5 | Madison Post | February 10, 1858 | February 12, 1859 | 1 | American | |
| 6 | James McKay Sr. | February 12, 1859 | February 1, 1860 | 1 | Democratic | |
| 7 | John P. Crichton | February 1, 1860 | February 2, 1861 | 1 | Democratic | |
| 8 | Hamlin V. Snell | February 2, 1861 | February 3, 1862 | 1 | Democratic (Southern) | |
| 9 | John Jackson | February 3, 1862 | February 22, 1862 | Acting | Democratic (Southern) | |
| 10 | Edward A. Clarke | October 25, 1866 | January 1, 1867 | 1 | Democratic | |
| 11 | Josiah A. Ferris | January 1, 1867 | March 1, 1869 | 1 1⁄2 | Democratic | |
| 12 | John T. Lesley | March 1, 1869 | October 4, 1869 | 1⁄2 | Democratic | |
| / | John A. Henderson 1 | July 6, 1870 | mid 1872 | 2 | Democratic | |
| 13 | James E. Lipscomb | August 11, 1873 | August 13, 1876 | 3 | Democratic | |
| 14 | Harlan P. Lovering | August 14, 1876 | August 14, 1877 | 1 | Democratic | |
| 15 | Thomas Jackson (1st term) | August 14, 1877 | August 14, 1878 | 1 | Democratic | |
| 16 | John P. Wall | August 14, 1878 | August 14, 1880 | 2 | Democratic | |
| 17 | Henry C. Ferris | August 14, 1880 | February 19, 1881 | 1 | Democratic | |
| 18 | Matthew E. Haynsworth | February 19, 1881 | March 22, 1881 | Acting | Democratic | |
| 19 | George B. Sparkman (1st term) | March 22, 1881 | August 14, 1883 | 2 | Democratic | |
| 20 | Duff Post (1st term) | August 14, 1883 | August 13, 1886 | 3 | Democratic | |
| 21 | Herman Glogowski (1st term) | August 13, 1886 | July 15, 1887 | 1 | Republican | |
| 22 | George B. Sparkman (2nd term) | July 15, 1887 | March 8, 1888 | 1 | Democratic | |
| 23 | Herman Glogowski (2nd term) | March 8, 1888 | March 6, 1889 | 1 | Republican | |
| 24 | Thomas Jackson (2nd term) | March 6, 1889 | March 5, 1890 | 1 | Democratic | |
| 25 | Herman Glogowski (3rd term) | March 5, 1890 | March 4, 1891 | 1 | Republican | |
| 26 | Duff Post (2nd term) | March 4, 1891 | March 4, 1892 | 1 | Democratic | |
| 27 | Herman Glogowski (4th term) | March 4, 1892 | March 10, 1893 | 1 | Republican | |
| 28 | Frederick A. Salomonson (1st term) | March 10, 1893 | March 9, 1894 | 1 | Republican | |
| 29 | Robert W. Easley | March 9, 1894 | March 8, 1895 | 1 | Democratic | |
| 30 | Frederick A. Salomonson (2nd term) | March 8, 1895 | June 5, 1896 | 1 | Republican | |
| 31 | Myron E. Gillett | June 5, 1896 | June 5, 1898 | 1 | Republican | |
| 32 | Frank C. Bowyer | June 5, 1898 | June 8, 1900 | 1 | Democratic | |
| 33 | Francis L. Wing (1st term) | June 8, 1900 | June 4, 1902 | 1 | Independent | |
| 34 | James McKay Jr. | June 5, 1902 | June 5, 1904 | 1 | Democratic | |
| 35 | Frederick A. Salomonson (3rd term) | June 5, 1904 | June 7, 1906 | 1 | Republican | |
| 36 | William H. Frecker | June 8, 1906 | June 4, 1908 | 1 | Republican | |
| 37 | Francis L. Wing (2nd term) | June 4, 1908 | June 6, 1910 | 1 | Independent | |
| 38 | Donald B. Mckay (1st term) | June 6, 1910 | June 10, 1920 | 3 | White Municipal Party | |
| 39 | Horace Cadwell Gordon | June 10, 1920 | January 4, 1921 | 1⁄2 | White Municipal Party | |
| 40 | Charles H. Brown | January 4, 1921 | January 8, 1924 | 1 | White Municipal Party | |
| 41 | Perry G. Wall | January 8, 1924 | January 3, 1928 | 1 | White Municipal Party | |
| 42 | Donald B. Mckay (2nd term) | January 3, 1928 | October 27, 1931 | 1 | White Municipal Party | |
| 43 | Thomas N. Henderson | October 27, 1931 | November 3, 1931 | Partial | White Municipal Party | |
| 44 | Robert E. Lee Chancey | November 3, 1931 | November 3, 1943 | 3 | White Municipal Party | |
| 45 | Curtis Hixon † | November 3, 1943 | May 21, 1956 | 3 1⁄2 | White Municipal Party/Democratic | |
| 46 | Junie L. Young Jr. | May 21, 1956 | October 2, 1956 | Acting | Democratic | |
| 47 | Nick Nuccio (1st administration) | October 2, 1956 | October 1, 1959 | 1 | Democratic | |
| 48 | Julian Lane | October 1, 1959 | October 1, 1963 | 1 | Democratic | |
| 49 | Nick Nuccio (2nd administration) | October 1, 1963 | October 3, 1967 | 1 | Democratic | |
| 50 | Dick A. Greco (1st administration) | October 3, 1967 | April 1, 1974 | 2 | Democratic | |
| 51 | Richard L. Cheney † | April 1, 1974 | June 19, 1974 | Acting | Democratic | |
| 52 | Lloyd Copeland | June 19, 1974 | October 3, 1974 | Acting | Republican | |
| 53 | William F. Poe | October 3, 1974 | October 1, 1979 | 1 | Republican | |
| 54 | Bob Martinez | October 3, 1979 | July 16, 1986 | 1 1⁄2 | Democratic | |
| Republican | ||||||
| 55 | Sandra Freedman | July 16, 1986 | April 1, 1995 | 2 | Democratic | |
| 56 | Dick A. Greco (2nd administration) | April 1, 1995 | April 1, 2003 | 2 | Democratic | |
| 57 | Pam Iorio | April 1, 2003 | March 31, 2011 | 2 | Democratic | |
| 58 | Bob Buckhorn | April 1, 2011 | May 1, 2019 | 2 | Democratic | |
| 59 | Jane Castor | May 1, 2019 | Incumbent | 1 | Democratic |
- Notes
† Deceased in office (meaning they passed away while still serving as mayor). 1 After the city's rules (charter) ended in October 1869, Hillsborough County took over many city services. However, Tampa still needed a local government. So, an election was held on July 6, 1870, and Henderson was elected mayor.
See Also
