Mayor of Bakersfield, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mayor of Bakersfield |
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Flag of Bakersfield
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Seal of Bakersfield
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 Karen Goh since January 3, 2017 |
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| Style | Honorable |
| Term length | 4 years |
| Formation | 1915 |
| Salary | $24,000 |
| Website | Mayor & City Council Homepage |
The mayor of Bakersfield is the main elected leader for the city of Bakersfield, California. Think of them as the head of the city's team. Before 1957, the city council chose the mayor. The mayor was in charge of the city's daily operations.
After 1957, things changed. The mayor became a leader chosen by the people. The city council now picks a "city manager" to handle the daily running of the city. The mayor is elected for four years. There is no limit to how many times they can be elected. The mayor's office is at City Hall.
What the Mayor Does
The rules for the mayor's job are written down in the city's official documents. The mayor's main job is to represent Bakersfield. They meet with leaders from other cities and businesses. They also attend important city events and ceremonies.
The mayor has some official powers, too. They lead all the meetings of the city council. However, they cannot stop the council from doing its work. The mayor can also call special meetings if needed.
One very important power is breaking a tie vote on the city council. The council has seven members, which is an odd number. This means ties don't happen very often. A tie can only happen if some members are absent or choose not to vote.
The mayor also votes in a few other situations. They vote when the city manager or city attorney are chosen or removed. They also vote on city construction projects. If a project has no good bids, the mayor can vote to have city employees do the work.
Who Has Been Mayor?
Here is a list of some of the people who have been mayor of Bakersfield. It shows when they served and some interesting facts about them.
- 1918 C. L. Taylor
- 1919 Jay A. Hinman
- 1921 E. L. Hougham
- 1923 George Haberfelde
- 1925 L. K. Stoner
- 1937 George E. Wilson
- 1950 Jake Vanderlei
- 1952–1953 Frank Sullivan
- 1954–1956 Manuel J. Carnakis (1911–1997)
- 1957–1960 Frank Sullivan
- 1968-1981 Donald M Hart (1914-2002) – He was a ranching executive. He also led the California State College & Universities. He was an All-American Football player.
- 1981–1985 Mary K. Shell (1927–2018) – She was the first woman to be mayor of Bakersfield.
- 1992–2001 Robert "Bob" Otis Price (1932–2011)
- 2001–2017 Harvey Hall (1941–2018) – He was the 25th mayor of Bakersfield.
- 2017–present Karen Goh – She is the first mayor of Asian descent. She is also the second woman to be mayor.
