List of mayors of Long Beach, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mayor of Long Beach |
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Flag of Long Beach
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Seal of Long Beach
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| Term length | Four years (two terms with unlimited opportunities to run as a write-in candidate to a maximum of three terms within a lifetime) |
| Precursor | President of the Board of Trustees |
| Inaugural holder | Charles H. Windham |
A mayor is the main leader of a city. They help make important decisions about how the city works. This includes managing public services, planning new projects, and representing the city to others. The mayor of Long Beach, California, has a very important job!
The current mayor of Long Beach is Rex Richardson. He started his job on December 20, 2022. He is the first African American person to hold this position.
How the Mayor's Job Changed
Before the official title of "mayor" was created, the person in charge was called the President of the Board of Trustees. This was like an early version of the mayor's job.
The title of mayor became official in 1908. This happened after the city created a new set of rules called the city charter. For many years, until 1988, the mayor was chosen by the city council from among its own members. This means people didn't vote directly for the mayor.
The first mayor to be chosen directly by the people of Long Beach was Ernie Kell. This change happened in 1988, giving citizens more say in who leads their city.
Who Has Been Mayor?
Here is a list of all the people who have served as mayor of Long Beach:
| Term | Image | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1908 – 1912 | Charles H. Windham | |
| 1912 – 1914 | Ira S. Hatch | |
| 1914 – 1915 | Louis N. Whealton | |
| 1915 – 1921 | William T. Lisenby | |
| 1921 – 1924 | Charles A. Buffum | |
| 1924 – 1926 | Ray R. Clark | |
| 1926 – 1927 | Fillmore Condit | |
| 1927 – 1930 | Oscar Hauge | |
| 1930 – 1933 | Asa E. Fickling | |
| 1933 – 1934 | M. E. Paddock | |
| 1934 – 1936 | Carl Fletcher | |
| 1936 – 1938 | .jpg) |
Thomas M. Eaton |
| 1938 – 1939 | Clarence E. Wagner | |
| 1939 – 1942 | Francis H. Gentry | |
| 1942 – 1945 | Clarence E. Wagner | |
| 1945 – 1947 | Herbert E. Lewis | |
| 1947 – 1953 |  |
Burton W. Chace |
| 1953 – 1954 | Lyman B. Sutter | |
| 1954 – 1957 | George Vermillion | |
| 1957 – 1960 | Ray C. Kealer | |
| 1960 – 1975 | Edwin W. Wade | |
| 1975 – 1980 | Thomas Clark | |
| 1980 – 1982 |  |
Eunice Sato |
| 1982 – 1984 | Thomas Clark | |
| 1984 – 1994 | Ernie Kell | |
| 1994 – 2006 | Beverly O'Neill | |
| 2006 – 2014 |  |
Robert "Bob" Foster |
| 2014 – 2022 |  |
Robert Garcia |
| 2022 – Present |  |
Rex Richardson |
See also
External links
- Longbeach.gov: History of the mayors of Long Beach
