Mayor of San Diego

{{Short description|Head of the executive branch of the San Diego city government}}

{{for|Mayors of San Diego prior to 1850|List of pre-statehood mayors of San Diego}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2014}}

{{Infobox political post

|post = Mayor

|body = the City of San Diego

|insignia = Seal of San Diego, California.svg

|insigniasize = 100px

|insigniacaption = Seal of San Diego

|flag = Flag of San Diego, California.svg

|flagsize = 100px

|flagcaption = Flag of San Diego

|image = Todd Gloria 2022.jpg

|alt =

|incumbent = Todd Gloria

|incumbentsince = December 10, 2020

|termlength = Four years, renewable once

|formation = 1850

|salary = $206,000 annually

|inaugural = Joshua Bean

|website = [http://www.sandiego.gov/mayor/ Office of the Mayor]

}}

The mayor of the City of San Diego is the official head and chief executive officer of the U.S. city of San Diego, California. The mayor has the duty to enforce and execute the laws enacted by the San Diego City Council, the legislative branch. The mayor serves a four-year term and is limited to two successive terms.

There have been 36 people who have served as mayor in San Diego since 1850, when California became a state following the Conquest of California. Prior to the conquest, Californios served as mayor of San Diego during the Spanish and Mexican eras since 1780. From 1852 to 1888, the city was run by a board of trustees and there was no elected mayor. However, the president of the board was called mayor as a courtesy.

The most recent election was held in November 2024, and Todd Gloria was re-elected as the 37th mayor of San Diego.

History

The position of mayor was created when San Diego was first incorporated on March 27, 1850. However, the city went bankrupt in 1852, only two years after incorporation. As a result of the bankruptcy, the State of California dissolved the government and replaced the mayor and city council with a board of trustees.{{cite book|last=Smythe|first=William|title=History of San Diego, 1542-1908: The modern city|date=1907|publisher=History Co.|url=http://www.sandiegohistory.org/books/smythe/5-2.htm|access-date=February 25, 2014|chapter=Part Five: Chapter II Political Affairs and Municipal Campaigns}} The mayoral position was later re-established with a new charter in 1887.{{cite news|last=Larson|first=Thomas|title=Elections San Diego Style|url=http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2004/oct/28/elections-san-diego-style/|access-date=December 22, 2012|newspaper=San Diego Reader|date=October 28, 2004}} This charter was replaced with a permanent City Charter on May 6, 1889, using the strong mayor form of government.

In 1931, a new charter was adopted using a council–manager government with a citywide mayor as leader of the city council.

In November 2004, voters approved Proposition F, returning San Diego to the strong mayor form of government on a five-year trial basis. This was made permanent in June 2010 with the passage of Proposition D.{{cite web|title=A History of San Diego Government|url=http://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/aboutus/history.shtml|publisher=City of San Diego|access-date=December 22, 2012}}

= Scandals =

Then-mayor Roger Hedgecock was forced to resign his post in 1985, after he was found guilty of one count of conspiracy and 12 counts of perjury, related to the alleged failure to report all campaign contributions.{{cite news|author=Horstman, Barry|date=December 6, 1987|title=Man About Town : San Diego's Ex-Mayor Roger Hedgecock Hasn't Let His Felony Conviction Get Him Down. But This Week, the Past May Catch Up With Him.|work=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-12-06-tm-27105-story.html|access-date=April 2, 2011}}{{cite news|author=Abrahamson, Alan|date=February 2, 1992|title=Bailiff's Bias in Hedgecock Trial Disclosed|work=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-02-02-mn-1802-story.html|access-date=April 3, 2011}} After a series of appeals, the 12 perjury counts were dismissed in 1990 based on claims of juror misconduct; the remaining conspiracy count was reduced to a misdemeanor and then dismissed.{{cite news|date=January 1, 1991|title=Hedgecock has clean slate; judge erases felony record|newspaper=San Diego Union-Tribune|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=11782F5483FF36EF&p_docnum=4&s_dlid=DL0111060115504727581&s_ecproduct=SUB-FREE&s_ecprodtype=INSTANT&s_trackval=&s_siteloc=&s_referrer=&s_subterm=Subscription%20until%3A%2012%2F14%2F2025%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docsbal=%20&s_subexpires=12%2F14%2F2025%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docstart=&s_docsleft=&s_docsread=&s_username=sdubsub&s_accountid=AC0110122214325408110&s_upgradeable=no|access-date=June 1, 2011}}

A 2002 scheme to underfund pensions for city employees led to the San Diego pension scandal. This resulted in the resignation of newly re-elected Mayor Dick Murphy{{cite web|date=June 13, 2005|title=San Diego's Widening Pension Woes|url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_24/b3937087.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050606234800/http://businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_24/b3937087.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 6, 2005|access-date=July 1, 2010|work=Bloomberg BusinessWeek}} and the criminal indictment of six pension board members.Strumpf, Daniel (June 15, 2005) [https://web.archive.org/web/20090219224628/http://www.sdcitybeat.com/cms/story/detail/?id=3244 San Diego's Pension Scandal for Dummies], San Diego City Beat via Internet Archive. Retrieved April 3, 2011. Those charges were dismissed by a federal judge in 2010.{{cite web|last=Hall|first=Matthew T.|date=April 8, 2010|title=Five cleared in San Diego pension case|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/apr/08/five-cleared-in-pension-case/|access-date=July 1, 2010|work=San Diego Union-Tribune}}

In 2005, two city council members, Ralph Inzunza and Deputy Mayor Michael Zucchet – who briefly took over as acting mayor when Murphy resigned – were convicted of extortion, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for taking campaign contributions from a strip club owner and his associates, allegedly in exchange for trying to repeal the city's "no touch" laws at strip clubs.{{cite news|last1=Moran|first1=Greg|last2=Thornton|first2=Kelly|name-list-style=amp|date=July 19, 2005|title=Councilmen Guilty|newspaper=San Diego Union-Tribune|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=10B7E53625734BA8&p_docnum=1&s_dlid=DL0111040622315622760&s_ecproduct=SUB-FREE&s_ecprodtype=INSTANT&s_trackval=&s_siteloc=&s_referrer=&s_subterm=Subscription%20until%3A%2012%2F14%2F2025%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docsbal=%20&s_subexpires=12%2F14%2F2025%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docstart=&s_docsleft=&s_docsread=&s_username=sdubsub&s_accountid=AC0110122214325408110&s_upgradeable=no|url-status=dead|access-date=April 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809033803/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=10B7E53625734BA8&p_docnum=1&s_dlid=DL0111040622315622760&s_ecproduct=SUB-FREE&s_ecprodtype=INSTANT&s_trackval=&s_siteloc=&s_referrer=&s_subterm=Subscription%20until%3A%2012%2F14%2F2025%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docsbal=%20&s_subexpires=12%2F14%2F2025%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docstart=&s_docsleft=&s_docsread=&s_username=sdubsub&s_accountid=AC0110122214325408110&s_upgradeable=no|archive-date=August 9, 2011}} Both subsequently resigned. Inzunza was sentenced to 21 months in prison.{{cite news|date=January 20, 2012|title=Ralph Inzunza Goes to Prison (Soon)|work=NBC San Diego|url=http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/politics/Ralph-Inzunza-Prison-Atwater-137790888.html|access-date=July 8, 2012}} In 2009, a judge acquitted Zucchet on seven out of the nine counts against him, and granted his petition for a new trial on the other two charges;{{cite web|title=Appeals Court opinion, Sept. 1, 2009|url=http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2009/09/01/05-50902.pdf|access-date=July 1, 2010}} the remaining charges were eventually dropped.{{cite news|author=Greg Moran|date=October 14, 2010|title=Seven Years Later, Zucchet Cleared|newspaper=San Diego Union-Tribune|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=132E15958E125350&p_docnum=3&s_dlid=DL0111040622192220299&s_ecproduct=SUB-FREE&s_ecprodtype=INSTANT&s_trackval=&s_siteloc=&s_referrer=&s_subterm=Subscription%20until%3A%2012%2F14%2F2025%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docsbal=%20&s_subexpires=12%2F14%2F2025%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docstart=&s_docsleft=&s_docsread=&s_username=sdubsub&s_accountid=AC0110122214325408110&s_upgradeable=no|access-date=April 6, 2011}}

In July 2013, three former supporters of Mayor Bob Filner asked him to resign because of allegations of repeated sexual harassment.[http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/Jul/11/filner-backers-news-conference-resign/?#article-copy Filner apologizes, gets professional help], San Diego Union Tribune, July 11, 2013 Over the ensuing six weeks, 18 women came forward to publicly claim that Filner had sexually harassed them,{{cite news|last=Lah|first=Kyung|date=August 21, 2013|title=Another sex harassment accusation for San Diego Mayor Bob Filner|work=CNN|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/21/us/san-diego-mayor-bob-filner-scandal|access-date=August 22, 2013}} and multiple individuals and groups called for him to resign. Filner agreed to resign effective August 30, 2013, subsequently pleaded guilty to one felony count of false imprisonment and two misdemeanor battery charges, and was sentenced to house arrest and probation.{{cite news|date=August 23, 2013|title=San Diego Mayor Resigns in Sexual Harassment Scandal|work=NY Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/24/us/san-diego-mayor-resigns-in-sexual-harassment-scandal.html|access-date=August 23, 2013}}{{cite news|date=October 15, 2013|title=Ex-San Diego mayor Bob Filner pleads guilty to 3 charges|work=USA Today|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/10/15/bob-filner-charged-san-diego-mayor/2987005/|access-date=October 15, 2013}}

In 2016, Mayor Kevin Faulconer entered into a lease-to-own agreement for San Diego's new City Hall at 101 Ash St. The building is uninhabitable with Asbestos and other issues. 101 Ash has become synonymous in San Diego with political scandals and bad real estate deals. The city overpaid for the property by $30M. It then botched renovations and eventually discovered its own real estate broker had also been working for the building's seller.{{cite web |last1=McDonald |first1=Jeff |title=Anatomy of the Deal: What happened on Ash Street |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/watchdog/story/2021-07-05/a-short-guide-to-what-went-wrong-at-101-ash-st |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |access-date=22 January 2024}}

Duties and powers

The mayor serves as the official head of the City of San Diego for all ceremonial and civil purposes. The mayor has the authority to approve or veto council actions, subject to a two-thirds vote veto overrule. Under the strong mayor system, the mayor has sole authority to appoint and dismiss the city manager and to direct and control the city manager as permitted by the city charter. The mayor also has the authority to dismiss the chief of police or the chief of the fire department subject to a council overrule. The mayor may recommend measures and ordinance to the city council, but may not vote on these items.

On or before January 15, the mayor is obligated to communicate a State of the City address to the city council. The mayor must also propose a budget to the city council and for public review no later than April 15.{{cite web|title=ARTICLE XV Strong Mayor Form of Governance|url=http://docs.sandiego.gov/citycharter/Article%20XV.pdf|work=City of San Diego City Charter|publisher=City of San Diego|access-date=December 22, 2012}}

The salary of the mayor was set at $100,464 in 2003.{{cite news|last1=Walker|first1=Mark|title=No pay hikes for mayor, council|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/mar/10/no-pay-hikes-for-mayor-council/|access-date=November 2, 2014|publisher=U-T San Diego|date=March 10, 2014}} In March 2012, the city's Salary Setting Commission proposed that the mayor be paid $235,000, but the city council unanimously rejected the recommendation, instead keeping the salary at the 2003 level.{{cite web |url=http://www.10news.com/news/city-council-rejects-salary-hikes-for-mayor-council |title=City Council Rejects Salary Hikes For Mayor, Council |publisher=10news.com |date=March 5, 2012 |access-date=December 4, 2012 |archive-date=October 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025180437/http://www.10news.com/news/city-council-rejects-salary-hikes-for-mayor-council |url-status=dead }} In March 2014, the Salary Setting Commission recommended no pay increase for the mayor or city council. Instead, they recommended exploring future pay increases with additional condition that council members voting for pay increases not be allowed to benefit from the increase. This recommendation was approved by the city council in a 5–3 vote in favor of the changes. In November 2018, voters passed Measure L which ties future mayoral salaries to those of Superior Court judges.{{cite news |last1=Garrick |first1=David |title=Ballot measures hiking council pay, boosting transparency approved by wide margins in San Diego |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/sd-me-san-diego-ballot-measures-20181106-story.html |access-date=November 7, 2018 |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=November 21, 2018}} As of December 2020, the mayoral salary is $206,000.{{cite news |last1=Horn |first1=Jonathan |title=Despite budget cuts, San Diego's next mayor in line for massive raise |url=https://www.10news.com/news/coronavirus/despite-budget-cuts-san-diegos-next-mayor-in-line-for-massive-raise |access-date=November 8, 2020 |work=ABC 10 News |date=April 17, 2020 |language=en}}

Election and succession

The mayor is elected in citywide election. Elections follow a two-round system. The first round of the election is called the primary election. The top-two candidates from the primary election advance to a runoff election, called the general election. Write-in candidates are only allowed to contest the primary election and are not allowed in the general election. The mayor is elected to a four-year term, with a limit of two consecutive terms.{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/elections/city/details.shtml |title=How To Run For Office Details |publisher=City of San Diego |access-date=December 14, 2010}} The mayor is officially non-partisan by state law, although most mayoral candidates identify a party preference.

If the office of the mayor becomes vacant with one year or less remaining in the term, the city council appoints a person to fill the vacancy. If the vacancy occurs with more than one year remaining, the city council is obligated to call a special election. The candidate with the majority of the votes in the special election is declared mayor. If no candidate receives a majority, a special run-off must be held between the two candidates with the highest number of votes. While the mayor's office is vacant pending a special election, the president of the city council serves as the interim mayor, with limited powers, until a new mayor is elected.{{cite news|url=http://voiceofsandiego.org/2013/08/22/the-differences-between-an-interim-mayor-and-a-strong-mayor/|title=The Differences Between an Interim Mayor and a Strong Mayor|last=Dotinga|first=Randy|date=August 22, 2013|work=Voice of San Diego|access-date=August 30, 2013}} If for any reason a mayor serves a partial term of two years or more, it will count as one full term.

The most recent election was held in November 2024. Todd Gloria was re-elected as the 37th mayor of San Diego, defeating police officer Larry Turner. Gloria had previously served as interim mayor in his role as city council president following the 2013 resignation of Bob Filner.{{cite news |last1=Garrick |first1=David |title=Todd Gloria will bring lots of firsts as San Diego's new mayor |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-11-08/gloria-san-diego-new-mayor |access-date=November 8, 2020 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=November 8, 2020}}

List

{{For|the mayors of San Diego before statehood|List of pre-statehood mayors of San Diego}}

As of {{Monthyear}}, 36 individuals have served as mayor. There have been 37 mayoralties because Edwin M. Capps served non-consecutive terms; he is counted chronologically as both the ninth and sixteenth mayor. The longest term was that of Pete Wilson, who served for eleven years over three terms prior to the establishment of successive term limits. The shortest term, not counting interim or acting mayors, was that of George P. Tebbetts, who served for less than two months before the position of mayor was abolished due to the bankruptcy of the city. Percy J. Benbough is the only mayor to have died in office. Two women have been elected mayor: Maureen O'Connor and Susan Golding consecutively. John F. Forward Sr. and John F. Forward Jr. are the only father and son to have both served as mayor. Todd Gloria is the first mayor of color, with Filipino, Latino, and Native American heritage. Gloria is also the first elected mayor to be openly gay.

This list includes people who served as acting mayor or interim mayor due to a vacancy in the office of the mayor, but who were not officially elected or appointed as mayor. The acting and interim mayors are not included in the count of mayoralties.

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! {{abbr|No.|Number}}

! colspan=2 | Mayor

! colspan=2 | Term in office


Elections

! Party{{Ref label|Note1|a|a}}

rowspan=2 style="background-color:#DDDDBB"; color:#FFF;"| 1

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Joshua Bean
1818–1852
(aged 33–34)

| June 17, 1850

| January 14, 1851

| rowspan=2 | Independent

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1850
rowspan=2 style="background:#F0C862; color:#FFF;" | 2

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | David B. Kurtz
1819–1898
(aged 78–79)

| January 14, 1851

| January 10, 1852

| rowspan=2 | Whig

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1851
rowspan=2 style="background-color:#DDDDBB"; color:#FFF;" | 3

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | George P. Tebbetts
1828–1909
(aged 80–81)

| January 10, 1852

| February 28, 1852

| rowspan=2 | Independent

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1852
colspan=6 style="background:#EEE;" | Office abolished (1852–1888){{Ref label|Note2|b|b}}
rowspan=2 style="background:#999; color:#FFF;" | 4

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | William Jefferson Hunsaker
1855–1933
(aged 77)

| January 3, 1888

| November 13, 1888

| rowspan=2 | Workingmen's

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1887{{Ref label|Note3|c|c}}
rowspan=2 style="background:#F33; color:#FFF;" | —

| rowspan=2 |

| rowspan=2 | Martin D. Hamilton
1855–1922
(aged 66–67)

| November 13, 1888

| May 6, 1889

| rowspan=2 | Republican{{Ref label|Note4|d|d}}

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | N/A{{Ref label|Note3|c|c}}
rowspan=2 style="background:#F33; color:#FFF;" | 5

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Douglas Gunn
1841–1891
(aged 50)

| May 6, 1889

| May 4, 1891

| rowspan=2 | Republican{{Ref label|Note4|d|d}}

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1889
rowspan=2 style="background:#F33; color:#FFF;" | 6

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Matthew Sherman
1827–1898
(aged 70)

| May 4, 1891

| May 1, 1893

| rowspan=2 | Republican

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1891
rowspan=2 style="background:#DDDDBB; color:#FFF;" | 7

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | William H. Carlson
1864–1937
(aged 73)

| May 1, 1893

| May 3, 1897

| rowspan=2 | Independent

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1893, 1895
rowspan=2 style="background:#F33; color:#FFF;" | 8

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | David C. Reed
1847–1928
(aged 81)

| May 3, 1897

| May 1, 1899

| rowspan=2 | Republican

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1897
rowspan=2 style="background:#33F; color:#FFF;" | 9

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Edwin M. Capps
1860–1938
(aged 77)

| May 1, 1899

| May 6, 1901

| rowspan=2 | Democratic

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1899
rowspan=2 style="background:#F33; color:#FFF;" | 10

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Frank P. Frary
1856–1911
(aged 54)

| May 6, 1901

| May 1, 1905

| rowspan=2 | Republican

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1901, 1903
rowspan=2 style="background:#33F; color:#FFF;" | 11

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | John L. Sehon
1862–1913
(aged 50)

| May 1, 1905

| May 6, 1907

| rowspan=2 | Democratic

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1905
rowspan=2 style="background:#F33; color:#FFF;" | 12

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | John F. Forward Sr.
1851–1926
(aged 75)

| May 6, 1907

| May 3, 1909

| rowspan=2 | Republican

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1907
rowspan=2 style="background:#F33; color:#FFF;" | 13

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Grant Conard
1867–1919
(aged 52)

| May 3, 1909

| May 1, 1911

| rowspan=2 | Republican

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1909
rowspan=2 style="background:#33F; color:#FFF;" | 14

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | James E. Wadham
1865–1930
(aged 64–65)

| May 1, 1911

| May 5, 1913

| rowspan=2 | Democratic

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1911
rowspan=2 style="background:#33F; color:#FFF;" | 15

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Charles F. O'Neall
1875–1929
(aged 53)

| May 5, 1913

| May 3, 1915

| rowspan=2 | Democratic

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1913
rowspan=2 style="background:#33F; color:#FFF;" | 16

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Edwin M. Capps
1860–1938
(aged 77)

| May 3, 1915

| May 7, 1917

| rowspan=2 | Democratic

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1915
rowspan=2 style="background:#F33; color:#FFF;" | 17

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Louis J. Wilde
1865–1924
(aged 58)

| May 7, 1917

| May 2, 1921

| rowspan=2 | Republican

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1917, 1919
rowspan=2 style="background:#F33; color:#FFF;" | 18

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | John L. Bacon
1878–1961
(aged 82)

| May 2, 1921

| May 2, 1927

| rowspan=2 | Republican

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1921, 1923, 1925
rowspan=2 style="background:#F33; color:#FFF;" | 19

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Harry C. Clark
1883–1950
(aged 67)

| May 2, 1927

| May 4, 1931

| rowspan=2 | Republican

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1927, 1929
rowspan=2 style="background:#F33; color:#FFF;" | 20

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Walter W. Austin
1880–1951
(aged 70)

| May 4, 1931

| May 2, 1932

| rowspan=2 | Republican

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1931
rowspan=2 style="background:#F33; color:#FFF;" | 21

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | John F. Forward Jr.
1876–1938
(aged 61)

| May 2, 1932

| August 2, 1934

| rowspan=2 | Republican

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1932{{Ref label|Note5|e|e}}
rowspan=2 style="background:#F33; color:#FFF;" | 22

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Rutherford B. Irones
1877–1948
(aged 70)

| August 2, 1934

| February 1, 1935

| rowspan=2 | Republican

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | N/A{{Ref label|Note5|e|e}}
rowspan=2 style="background:#F33; color:#FFF;" | —

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Albert W. Bennett

| February 1, 1935

| May 6, 1935

| rowspan=2 | Republican

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | N/A{{Ref label|Note5|e|e}}
rowspan=2 style="background:#F33; color:#FFF;" | 23

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Percy J. Benbough
1884–1942
(aged 58)

| May 6, 1935

| November 4, 1942

| rowspan=2 | Republican

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1935, 1939{{Ref label|Note6|f|f}}
rowspan=2 style="background:#F33; color:#FFF;" | —

| rowspan=2 |

| rowspan=2 | Fred W. Simpson

| November 4, 1942

| November 30, 1942

| rowspan=2 | Republican

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | N/A{{Ref label|Note6|f|f}}
rowspan=2 style="background:#33F; color:#FFF;" | 24

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Howard B. Bard
1870–1954
(aged 83)

| November 30, 1942

| May 3, 1943

| rowspan=2 | Democratic

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | N/A{{Ref label|Note6|f|f}}
rowspan=2 style="background:#DDDDBB; color:#FFF;" | 25

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Harley E. Knox
1899–1956
(aged 57)

| May 3, 1943

| May 7, 1951

| rowspan=2 |Independent

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1943, 1947
rowspan=2 style="background:#F33; color:#FFF;" | 26

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | John D. Butler
1915–2010
(aged 94)

| May 7, 1951

| May 2, 1955

| rowspan=2 | Republican

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1951
rowspan=2 style="background:#33F; color:#FFF;" | 27

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Charles Dail
1909–1968
(aged 59)

| May 2, 1955

| December 2, 1963

| rowspan=2 | Democratic

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1955, 1959
rowspan=2 style="background:#33F; color:#FFF;" | 28

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Frank Curran
1912–1992
(aged 79)

| December 2, 1963

| December 6, 1971

| rowspan=2 | Democratic

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1963, 1967
rowspan=2 style="background:#F33; color:#FFF;" | 29

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Pete Wilson
Born 1933
({{Age|1933|8|23}} years old)

| December 6, 1971

| January 3, 1983

| rowspan=2 | Republican

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1971, 1975, 1979{{Ref label|Note7|g|g}}
rowspan=2 style="background:#F33; color:#FFF;" | —

| rowspan=2 |

| rowspan=2 | Bill Cleator
1927–1993
(aged 65)

| January 3, 1983

| May 3, 1983

| rowspan=2 | Republican

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | N/A{{Ref label|Note7|g|g}}
rowspan=2 style="background:#F33; color:#FFF;" | 30

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Roger Hedgecock
Born 1946
({{Age|1946|5|2}} years old)

| May 3, 1983

| December 5, 1985

| rowspan=2 | Republican

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1983, 1984{{Ref label|Note8|h|h}}
rowspan=2 style="background:#F33; color:#FFF;" | —

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Ed Struiksma
Born 1946
({{Age as of date|71|2017|12|31}} years old)

| December 5, 1985

| June 3, 1986

| rowspan=2 | Republican

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | N/A{{Ref label|Note8|h|h}}
rowspan=2 style="background:#33F; color:#FFF;" | 31

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Maureen O'Connor
Born 1946
({{Age|1946|7|14}} years old)

| June 3, 1986

| December 7, 1992

| rowspan=2 | Democratic

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1986, 1988
rowspan=2 style="background:#F33; color:#FFF;" | 32

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Susan Golding
Born 1945
({{Age|1945|8|18}} years old)

| December 7, 1992

| December 4, 2000

| rowspan=2 | Republican

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 1992, 1996
rowspan=2 style="background:#F33; color:#FFF;" | 33

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Dick Murphy
Born 1942
({{Age|1942|12|16}} years old)

| December 4, 2000

| July 15, 2005

| rowspan=2 | Republican

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 2000, 2004{{Ref label|Note9|i|i}}
rowspan=2 style="background:#33F; color:#FFF;" | —

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Michael Zucchet
Born 1969
({{Age|1969|12|24}} years old)

| July 15, 2005

| July 18, 2005

| rowspan=2 | Democratic

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | N/A{{Ref label|Note9|i|i}}
rowspan=2 style="background:#33F; color:#FFF;" | —

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Toni Atkins
Born 1962
({{Age|1962|8|1}} years old)

| July 18, 2005

| December 5, 2005

| rowspan=2 | Democratic

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | N/A{{Ref label|Note9|i|i}}
rowspan=2 style="background:#F33; color:#FFF;" | 34

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Jerry Sanders
Born 1950
({{Age|1950|7|14}} years old)

| December 5, 2005

| December 3, 2012

| rowspan=2 | Republican

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 2005, 2008
rowspan=2 style="background:#33F; color:#FFF;" | 35

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Bob Filner
1942–2025
(aged 82)

| December 3, 2012

| August 30, 2013

| rowspan=2 | Democratic

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 2012{{Ref label|Note10|j|j}}
rowspan=2 style="background:#33F; color:#FFF;" | —

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Todd Gloria
Born 1978
({{Age|1978|5|10}} years old)

| August 30, 2013

| March 3, 2014

| rowspan=2 | Democratic

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | N/A{{Ref label|Note10|j|j}}
rowspan=2 style="background:#F33; color:#FFF;" | 36

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Kevin Faulconer
Born 1967
({{Age|1967|1|24}} years old)

| March 3, 2014

| December 10, 2020

| rowspan=2 | Republican

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 2013–2014, 2016
rowspan=2 style="background:#33F; color:#FFF;" | 37

| rowspan=2 | 100px

| rowspan=2 | Todd Gloria
Born 1978
({{Age|1978|5|10}} years old)

| December 10, 2020

| Incumbent

| rowspan=2 | Democratic

scope=row style="text-align:center" colspan=2 class=nowrap | 2020, 2024

Presidents of the Board of Trustees

After San Diego's bankruptcy in 1852, the State of California took over city government and ran the city with an appointed board of trustees during 1852–1888. The president of the board was called mayor by courtesy, although there was no official office of mayor. When the office of president was vacated due to death or resignation, the board of trustees would choose a president pro tempore to preside over meetings until a permanent president could be elected by the board.{{cite web|title=City Clerk Archives|url=http://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/inforecords/archive.shtml|work=City Clerk Reports|publisher=City of San Diego|access-date=February 16, 2014}}{{cite web|title=Selected Chronological List of San Diego City Officials|url=http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/2001-1/city.htm|publisher=San Diego History Center|access-date=December 23, 2012}}

class="wikitable sortable"

! align=center|#

! President

! Term start

! Term end

! class=unsortable| 

! style="border-left-style:hidden;padding:0.1em 0em"|Party

align=center|1

|{{Sortname|Charles P.|Noell}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1852|3|25}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1852|6|9}}

|bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

|Democratic

align=center|2

|{{sortname|James W.|Robinson|James W. Robinson (Texas and California)}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1852|7|31}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1853|9|10}}

|bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

|Democratic

align=center|3

|{{Sortname|Louis|Rose}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1853|9|10}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1855|4|24}}

|bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

|Democratic

align=center|4

|{{Sortname|Jesse Julian|Ames|Julian Ames}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1855|4|24}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1856|3|20}}

|
align=center|5

|{{Sortname|Thomas|Collins|nolink=1}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1856|3|20}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1857|7|14}}

|
align=center|6

|{{Sortname|Henry H.|Whaley}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1857|7|14}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1858|5|4}}

|bgcolor={{party color|Whig Party (United States)}}|

|Whig

align=center|7

|{{Sortname|Thomas|Whaley}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1858|5|4}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1859|3|23}}

|bgcolor={{party color|Whig Party (United States)}}|

|Whig

align=center|8

|{{Sortname|Jacob C.|Bogart}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1859|3|23}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1860|3|18}}

|bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

|Democratic

align=center|9

|{{Sortname|Rufus B.|Tebbetts}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1860|3|18}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1862|6|30}}

|
align=center|10

|{{Sortname|David B.|Kurtz}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1862|6|30}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1865|3|30}}

|bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

|Democratic

align=center|11

|{{Sortname|Andrew|Cassidy}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1865|3|30}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1867|4|30}}

|bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

|Democratic

align=center|12

|{{Sortname|Joseph S.|Manasse}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1867|4|30}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1868|4|29}}

|
align=center|13

|{{Sortname|Jose G.|Estudillo}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1868|4|29}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1869|3|5}}

|
align=center|14

|{{Sortname|James|McCoy|James McCoy (politician)}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1869|3|5}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1872|5|13}}

|bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

|Democratic

align=center|15

|{{Sortname|William J.|McCormick|nolink=1}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1872|5|13}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1873|3|31}}

|
align=center|16

|{{Sortname|David W.|Briant|nolink=1}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1873|4|21}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1874|5|21}}

|
align=center|17

|{{Sortname|E. A.|Veazie|nolink=1}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1874|5|21}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1874|12|18}}

|
align=center|18

|{{Sortname|William A.|Begole|nolink=1}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1875|2|1}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1876|5|22}}

|
align=center|19

|{{Sortname|J. M.|Boyd|nolink=1}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1876|5|22}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1877|3|7}}

|
align=center|20

|{{Sortname|D. O.|McCarthy|nolink=1}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1877|4|2}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1880|6|1}}

|
align=center|21

|{{Sortname|S. P.|Jones|nolink=1}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1880|6|1}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1883|10|5}}

|
align=center|22

|{{Sortname|John H.|Snyder|nolink=1}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1884|5|21}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1886|5|26}}

|
align=center|23

|{{Sortname|William W.|Stewart|nolink=1}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1886|5|26}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1886|6|7}}

|
align=center|23

|{{Sortname|Charles S.|Hamilton|nolink=1}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1886|6|7}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1887|4|18}}

|bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|

|Democratic

align=center|24

|{{Sortname|Martin D.|Hamilton}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1887|4|18}}

|align=center|{{Dts|formnat=mdy|1888|1|3}}

|bgcolor={{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}|

|Republican

Notes and references

= Notes =

{{refbegin}}

  • {{note label|Note1|a|a}} Party affiliation is shown for each mayor, when known. However, election of mayor under the current charter is officially nonpartisan.
  • {{note label|Note2|b|b}} From 1852 until 1888, San Diego was governed by a board of trustees, so there was no official mayor.
  • {{note label|Note3|c|c}} William Jefferson Hunsaker resigned from office, likely due to frustration from losing a power struggle against rivals on the city council.{{Cite web | title = William Jefferson Hunsaker (1855-1933) | work = Biographies | publisher = San Diego History Center | url = https://www.sandiegohistory.org/online_resources/hunsaker.html | access-date = September 4, 2013}} Martin D. Hamilton served as acting mayor until the next election could be held.{{cite news|title=The Mayor's Resignation|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX&p_theme=ahnp&p_nbid=K6AY52NPMTM5MzM5MDc1OS44NTQ2MToxOjEzOjEzMC4xOTEuMTcuMzg&p_action=doc&s_lastnonissuequeryname=3&d_viewref=search&p_queryname=3&p_docnum=1&p_docref=v2:136E6A0F0DF56B38@EANX-13ECF5C90D7FD616@2410956-13ECF09895E5DE0B@4-13ED82AD9E296F80@|access-date=February 26, 2014|newspaper=The San Diego Union|date=November 14, 1888|page=5}}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  • {{note label|Note4|d|d}} Both acting mayor Martin D. Hamilton and fourth mayor Douglas Gunn ran as Republicans on the "Citizens' Non-Partisan" ticket.{{cite news|last=Crawford|first=Richard|title=San Diego Pioneer Moved from Newspapers to Mayor's Chair|url=http://www.sandiegoyesterday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Douglas-Gunn.pdf|access-date=February 16, 2014|newspaper=San Diego Union-Tribune|date=August 25, 2011}}
  • {{note label|Note5|e|e}} John F. Forward Jr. resigned from office after failing in his attempt to fire the city manager.{{cite news|title=Forward to End Job August 1 Action Follows His Failure to Oust F. M. Lockwood as City Manager Three Councilmen and City Attorney in Line for Post as Municipal Head|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/163211157|access-date=September 5, 2013|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=April 18, 1934|pages=A8|id={{ProQuest|163211157}} }} Rutherford B. Irones was appointed to finish the balance of his term. However, Irones himself would later resign after being convicted of drunk driving and a hit-and-run traffic accident.{{cite news|title=Hit-Run Mayor Drops Out.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1935/02/05/archives/hitrun-mayor-drops-out.html|access-date=September 5, 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 5, 1935}} Vice mayor Albert W. Bennett then served as acting mayor until a new election could be held.{{cite news|title=Bennett Acting Mayor of S.D. as Irones Fate Debated|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX&p_theme=ahnp&p_nbid=K6AY52NPMTM5MzM5MDc1OS44NTQ2MToxOjEzOjEzMC4xOTEuMTcuMzg&p_action=doc&s_lastnonissuequeryname=12&d_viewref=search&p_queryname=12&p_docnum=3&toc=true&p_docref=v2:136E6CB81C5E443C@EANX-13AA17BB6E5C47D2@2427836-13AA11960AFCE1CF@0-13AC2E5B40C61EC0|access-date=February 26, 2014|newspaper=Evening Tribune|date=February 2, 1935|page=1}}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  • {{note label|Note6|f|f}} Percy J. Benbough died in office of natural causes.{{cite news|title=PERCY J. BENBOUGH; Mayor of San Diego Since 1935, Ex-Head of Fire, Police Groups|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1942/11/05/archives/percy-j-benbough-mayor-oo-san-diego-since-1935-exhead-of-fire.html|access-date=September 5, 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 5, 1942}} Vice mayor Fred W. Simpson then served briefly as acting mayor until Howard B. Bard was appointed to finish the balance of Benbough's term.{{cite news|title=P.J. Benbough Succumbs to Lengthy Illness|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX&p_theme=ahnp&p_nbid=K6AY52NPMTM5MzM5MDc1OS44NTQ2MToxOjEzOjEzMC4xOTEuMTcuMzg&p_action=doc&s_lastnonissuequeryname=9&d_viewref=search&p_queryname=9&p_docnum=2&p_docref=v2:136E6A0F0DF56B38@EANX-13BA8DC7917190F8@2430669-13BA853D5F1F2FA8@0-13BAB5C8D4E7F978@|access-date=February 26, 2014|newspaper=The San Diego Union|date=November 5, 2014|page=1}}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  • {{note label|Note7|g|g}} Pete Wilson resigned from office to join the United States Senate. Bill Cleator served as acting mayor until a new election could be held.{{cite news|title=William E. Cleator, Was San Diego City Councilman|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19930211/1684836/william-e-cleator-was-san-diego-city-councilman|access-date=February 16, 2014|newspaper=Associated Press|date=February 11, 1993}}
  • {{note label|Note8|h|h}} Roger Hedgecock resigned from office due to convictions on felony conspiracy and perjury charges that were later overturned.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-02-02-mn-1802-story.html | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Alan | last=Abrahamson | date=February 2, 1992 | title=Bailiff's Bias in Hedgecock Trial Disclosed}} Ed Struiksma served as acting mayor until a new election could be held.{{cite news|title=Election Today for S.D. Mayor|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-02-25-me-11714-story.html|access-date=February 26, 2014|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=February 25, 1986}}
  • {{note label|Note9|i|i}} Dick Murphy resigned from office amid criticism for his role in the San Diego pension scandal and after failing to win a majority of the votes in the 2004 election.{{Cite news| first=Jeff| last=Dillon| publisher=San Diego Union-Tribune| title=San Diego mayor announces departure less than 5 months into second term| date=2005-04-25| url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20050425-0947-murphy.html| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103054229/http://legacy.utsandiego.com/news/metro/20050425-0947-murphy.html| archive-date=November 3, 2013| df=mdy-all}} Michael Zucchet served as acting mayor for three days before he too resigned due to a corruption conviction that was later overturned.{{cite news|url=http://www.sddt.com/News/article.cfm?SourceCode=20101014tza|title=Justice undone: Michael Zucchet and Ralph Inzunza|last=Coffey|first=Daniel|date=October 14, 2010|work=San Diego Daily Transcript|access-date=September 2, 2012}} A week later, the City Council elected Toni Atkins to serve as acting mayor until a new election could be held.{{cite news|title=Toni Atkins to serve as San Diego's deputy mayor until new mayor elected|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2005/Jul/26/toni-atkins-to-serve-as-san-diegos-deputy-mayor/|access-date=February 26, 2014|newspaper=San Diego Union-Tribune|date=July 26, 2005|agency=North County Times Wire Service}}
  • {{note label|Note10|j|j}} Bob Filner resigned from office amid multiple allegations of sexual harassment. Todd Gloria served as interim mayor until a new mayor was elected.{{cite news|last=Gustafson|first=Craig|title=Q&A with Todd Gloria, interim mayor|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/Aug/30/todd-gloria-interim-mayor/|access-date=August 30, 2013|newspaper=U-T San Diego|date=August 30, 2013}}

{{refend}}

= References =

{{Reflist|30em}}