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 restriction 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
Second term began 10/14/1890. Elected under 1890 Freeholders Charter. Resigned 11/30/1891. Republican.
George Hall
Term began 12/9/1891. Appointed by City Council to fill the remainder of White's term. Republican.
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. Black resigned after three weeks in office. A contemporary historian says Black was nominated, elected, and installed over his protests. Republican.
W.D. Wood
Term began 4/6/1896. Wood was appointed to fill the unexpired term, but subsequently left the City to take part in the Klondike Gold Rush. Republican.
Thomas J. Humes
First term began 11/19/1897. Elected by City Council on the 65th ballot to fill Wood's unexpired term. Second term began 3/21/1898. Third term began 3/19/1900. Fourth term began 3/17/1902. Republican.
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
First term began 3/21/1910. Recalled at 2/7/1911 special election. Republican.
George W. Dilling
Term began 2/11/1911. Elected to fill Gill's unexpired term.
George F. Cotterill
Term began 3/18/1912.
Hiram C. Gill
Second term began 3/16/1914. Third term began 3/20/1916.
Ole Hanson
Term began 3/18/1918. Left for California on 3/18/1919 and resigned 8/28/1919.
C.B. Fitzgerald
Term began 8/28/1919. Appointed to fill Hanson's unexpired term.
Hugh M. Caldwell
Term began 3/15/1920.
Edwin J. Brown
First term began 6/5/1922. Second term began 6/2/1924.
Bertha K. Landes
Term began 6/7/1926. Landes was the first woman mayor of a large American city.
Frank E. Edwards
First term began 6/4/1928. Second term began 6/2/1930. Recalled at special election on 7/13/1931.
Robert H. Harlin
Term began 7/14/1931. Appointed by City Council to fill Edwards' unexpired term.
John F. Dore
First term began 6/6/1932.
Charles L. Smith
Term began 6/4/1934.
John F. Dore
Second term began 6/1/1936. Became gravely ill and was relieved of his office by City Council on 4/13/1938. He died five days later.
Arthur B. Langlie
First term began 4/27/1938. Took office early due to Dore's death. Second term began 6/3/1940. Resigned 1/11/1941 to become governor of Washington.
John E. Carroll
Term began 1/27/1941. Appointed to serve until an election could be held in March 1941.
Earl Millikin
Term began 3/27/1941. Elected to serve the remainder of Langlie's term.
William F. Devin
First term began 6/1/1942. Second term began 6/1/1944. Third term began 6/1/1946.