The Mayors of Menlo Park

THE MAYORS OF MENLO PARK

By Jim Lewis

Menlo Park was incorporated in 1927, nearly 92 years ago. During that time period, the City Council has elected a total of 43 mayors. In the early days, several mayors held office for many years. Examples would include William Lawson, 1957-1969 (12 years), Charles Burgess, 1945-1953 (8 years) and Ira Bonde, 1969-1976 (7 years).

However, since 1976, the City Council decided that Mayors should hold office for only one year, rotating amongst its five members. James Calloway was the first to hold office for a single year in 1977 and has continued every year since then through 2015 with Ray Mueller as this year’s mayor.

Popular mayors however, have been elected multiple times during their 4 year or longer term in office. Three persons were elected three times. They were Billy Ray White in 1981, 1983, 1986. Several years later Nicholas Jellins was elected in 2001, 2003 and 2006. Recently, Richard Cline was elected Mayor in 2010, 2011 and 2016. Eight persons were elected mayor for two years. They were Charles Burgess, 1945-53 and 1955-57, Peg Gunn, 1982, 1984, Jack Morris, 1985 1992, Ted Sorensen, 1987, 1991, Steve Schmidt, 1997, 2002, Kirsten Keith, Peter Ohtaki, 2013, 2018 and Ray Mueller, 2014, 2019.

Mayors are elected by their fellow City Council members, with a Mayor Pro Tempore (Vice Mayor) also elected. Oftentimes the Vice Mayor becomes the following year’s mayor, but not always. The Menlo Park Municipal Ordinance covering the rules for electing a mayor is covered by Section 2.04.120 which states “The City Council shall meet on the first Tuesday of December of each year and choose one of its number as mayor and one as mayor pro tempore.”

By and large, Mayor’s are simply figure heads that lead the City Council meetings, attend ribbon cuttings and other official ceremonial occasions. They have little more power or control over the outcome of agenda items before the City Council than any of the other four council members. It’s a privilege to be Mayor, and a lot of work providing stature, visibility and an opportunity to promote one’s ideas. Nine women have been mayor over the years. They were Peg Gunn, Jan LaFetra, Gail Slocum, Mary Jo Borak, Lee Duboc, Mickie Winkler, Kelly Ferguson, Kirsten Keith and Catherine Carlton.

Other cities handle the election of mayors in their own way. Some cities have only 5 members, such as Menlo Park, while others may have 7 members, 9 members or even 11 members. As the numbers grow, it becomes harder for the general public, and fellow council members, to convince a “majority” to vote a certain way. In Menlo Park, most items require a simple majority, or three out of the five members. If an issue is carried by one council member with a formal motion, then seconded by another council member, only one other person need to support the issue for it to pass.

Over the years, some City Council members have voted in “blocks”. For instance, those that favor “green” policies may form a block. We have also seen Council that favor “residential” preferences vs. “business” or commercial policies. At times there has been “growth” vs. “no-growth” councils, which makes the on-going transition of one group or another over the years ever changing the direction, goals and priorities. Such is the way of government that has worked for years helping to make this City and America what it is today.