Mayors, 1890-1948

The Freeholders Charter of 1890 changed the term of office for the Mayor to two years and made the incumbent ineligible for re-election until after the lapse of two years. Elections were held on the first Monday in March. The two-year term was maintained under a new Freeholders' Charter of 1896, but the restrictioin on re-election was removed. Elections were changed to the Tuesday following the first Monday in March. A Charter Amendment passed by the voters on March 8, 1910, established non-partisan nominations and elections for all City elective offices. In 1921 the State Legislature established elections on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in May. Two years later, the elections were moved back to the second Tuesday in March.

Harry White Term Began 10/14/1890 Republican. White was elected under the Freeholder’s Charter of 1890. He resigned November 30, 1891	George Hall Term Began 12/9/1891 Republican. Hall was appointed by the Council to fill the remainder of White’s term.	James T. Ronald Term Began 3/31/1892 Democrat.
Byron Phelps Term Began 3/19/1894 Republican.	Frank D. Black Term Began 3/16/1896 Republican. Black resigned after three weeks in office. A contemporary historian says Black was nominated, elected, and installed over his protests.	W.D. Wood Term Began 4/6/1896 Republican. Wood was appointed to fill the unexpired term, but subsequently left the City to take part in the Klondike Gold Rush.
Thomas J. Humes Term Began 11/19/1897,3/21/1898, 3/19/1900, and 3/17/1902 Republican. Humes was elected by City Council on the 65th ballot to fill the unexpired term.	Richard A. Ballinger Term Began 3/21/1904 Republican.	William Hickman Moore Term Began 3/19/1906 Democrat
John F. Miller Term Began 3/16/1908 Republican.	Hiram C. Gill Term Began 3/21/1910 Republican. Gill 17,971, William Hickman Moore 14,672. Gill was recalled by special election held February 9, 1911	George W. Dilling Term Began 2/11/1911 Dilling was elected to fill the unexpired term.
George F. Cotterill Term Began 3/18/1912 Cotterill 32,085, Hiram C. Gill 31,281.	Hiram C. Gill Term Began 3/16/1914 & 3/20/1916 Gill 37,654, J.D. Trenholme 22,918. Gill 35,336, A.E. Griffiths 29,828.	Ole Hanson Term Began 3/18/1918 Hanson 32,286, J.A. Bradford 27,677. Hanson left the City for California on March 18, 1919 and resigned August 28, 1919.
C.B. Fitzgerald Term Began 8/28/1919 Fitzgerald was appointed to fill Hanson’s unexpired term.	Hugh M. Caldwell Term Began 3/15/1920 Caldwell 50,965, James Duncan 33,727.	Edwin J. Brown Term Began 6/5/1922 & 6/2/1924 Brown 40,394, Dan Landon 28,541. Brown 40,740, Al Lundeen 36,742.
Bertha K. Landes Term Began 6/7/1926 Landes 48,700, Edwin J. Brown 42,802. Landes was the first woman mayor of a large metropolitan American city. She was defeated for re-election.	Frank E. Edwards Term Began 6/4/1928 & 6/2/1930 Edwards 58,873, Bertha K. Landes 39,818. Edwards 54,369, Otto Case 35,878. Edwards was recalled at a special election on July 13, 1931, following the controversy over his dismissal of J.D. Ross, Superintendent of Lighting.	Robert H. Harlin Term Began 7/14/1931 Harlin was appointed by City Council to fill the unexpired term. He was defeated for re-election.
John F. Dore Term Began 6/6/1932 Dore 72,614, Robert H. Harlin 41,279.	Charles L. Smith Term Began 6/4/1934 Smith 62,185, Dore 46,469. Smith was defeated for re-election in the 1936 primary election.	John F. Dore Term Began 6/1/1936 Dore 53,385, Arthur B. Langlie 46,578. Dore became gravely ill and was relieved of his office by City Council on April 13, 1938. He died five days later.
Arthur B. Langlie Term Began 4/27/1938 & 6/3/1940 Langlie 80,149, Victor A. Meyers 48563. Langlie had been elected Mayor and took office early (by Council appointment) due to the death of Dore. Langlie 69,971, Warren L. Cook 19,766. Langlie resigned January 11, 1941 to become Governor of the State of Washington.	John E. Carroll Term Began 1/27/1941 Carroll was appointed to serve until an election could be held in March 1941.	Earl Millikin Term Began 3/27/1941 Millikin 53,794, William F. Devin 48,508. Millikin was elected to serve the remainder of Langlie’s term.
William F. Devin Term Began 6/1/1942, 6/1/1944, & 6/1/1946 Devin 64,837, Earl Millikin 43,684. Devin 58,000, James Scavotto 40,780. Devin 71,288, Victor A. Meyers 55,082.