List of mayors of West Palm Beach, Florida explained

Post:Mayor
Body:the City of West Palm Beach
Insignia:File:Seal of West Palm Beach, Florida.svg
Insigniasize:150px
Insigniacaption:Seal of West Palm Beach
Incumbent:Keith James
Incumbentsince:April 4, 2019
Residence:West Palm Beach, Florida
Termlength:Four years
Formation:1894
Salary:$125,000
Inaugural:John S. Earman
Website:https://www.wpb.org/our-city/mayor-s-office

The Mayor of West Palm Beach, Florida is a nonpartisan office that is the head of the executive branch of West Palm Beach's government. The type of government is Mayor-Commission. Powers and duties of the mayor include approving the agenda of and presiding over the meetings of the city commission, the ability to veto the city commission votes, including line-item vetoes in regards to the city budget, but vetoes can be overrode with a 4-1 vote. The mayor and city manager both have supervisory powers over the city's departments. Additionally, the mayor may initiate investigations involving the city of West Palm Beach.[1] Since 1991, mayors have been popularly elected to four-year terms.[2] City Hall is located at 401 Clematis Street, with the mayor's office on the second floor.[3]

On November 6, 1894, the day after West Palm Beach was incorporated, voters elected John S. Earman as the first mayor. Beginning in 1919, the city operated under a council–manager form of government, with the mayor elected to the city commission and selected by other members of that body to serve a one-year term. The mayor served as a chairperson of the commission and had far less power than the city manager. A referendum in March 1991 resulted in a transition to a directly elected strong mayor.[4] The first modern election for mayor occurred in November 1991, resulting in Nancy M. Graham becoming the city's first strong mayor.[5] The current mayor is Keith James, who was elected on March 12, 2019.

Early mayors (1894–1919)

Name[6] Start of termEnd of termNotes
align=left nowrap John S. Earman18941896
align=left nowrap J. F. Lamond18961897
align=left nowrap Marion Eugene "M. E." Gruber18971898
align=left nowrap Wilmon Whilldin18981899
align=left nowrap Richard J. Chillingworth18991901Grandfather of Curtis Chillingworth, who was murdered in 1955 while serving as state judge[7]
align=left nowrap Louis W. Burkhardt 19011901
align=left nowrap George G. Currie19011904
align=left nowrap William I. Metcalf19041905
align=left nowrap George B. Baker19051907
align=left nowrap J. T. DeBerry19071909
align=left nowrap George W. Potter19091910
align=left nowrap James B. McGinley19101912
align=left nowrap C. S. Anderson19121914
align=left nowrap Murray D. Carmichael19141916Later served in the Florida House of Representatives
align=left nowrap W. A. Dutch1916September 22, 1919[8]

Council-manager government mayors (1919–1991)

NameStart of termEnd of termNotes
align=left nowrap David F. DunkleSeptember 22, 1919September 8, 1921[9]
align=left nowrap Murray D. CarmichaelSeptember 8, 19211922Later served in Florida House of Representatives
align=left nowrap L. Garland Biggers19221923
align=left nowrap Joseph Mandel 19231924First Jewish mayor[10]
align=left nowrap Henry Stephen Harvey19241926
align=left nowrap Spencer T. Lainhart19261927
align=left nowrap J. C. McCreary1927 1928
align=left nowrap Vincent Oaksmith19281929
align=left nowrap John R. Beacham19301931Later became President of the Florida Senate[11]
align=left nowrap Elza B. Donnell19311933
align=left nowrap Charles B. Watkins19331934
align=left nowrap Paschal C. "Pat" Reese19341935
align=left nowrap F. Theodore "Ted" Brown19351937
align=left nowrap Sanford D. "Sam" Morris1937 1939
align=left nowrap Ernest Metcalf19391940
align=left nowrap Ronald V. Ware19401941
align=left nowrap Willis H. "Bill" Hitt19411942
align=left nowrap J. O. Bowen19421943
align=left nowrap Vincent Oaksmith19431944
align=left nowrap George H. McCampbell19441945Brother of S. Perry McCampbell[12]
align=left nowrap Stanley Peeler19451946
align=left nowrap E. Tinsley Halter19461947
align=left nowrap Willis H. "Bill" Hitt 19471948
align=left nowrap Lloyd C. Bell19481949
align=left nowrap William P. "Bill" Holland19491950
align=left nowrap L. Thomas Keating19501951
align=left nowrap Hustin V. McMillan19511952
align=left nowrap H. Elmo Robinson19521953
align=left nowrap S. Perry McCampbell1953 1954Brother of George H. McCampbell
align=left nowrap Elias V. "Jack" Faircloth19541955
align=left nowrap C. Harold Earnest19551956
align=left nowrap Maurice E. "Buster" Holley19561957
align=left nowrap Elias V. "Jack" Faircloth19571958
align=left nowrap Horace S. Miller19581959
align=left nowrap William P. "Bill" Holland19591960
align=left nowrap Percy I. Hopkins, Jr.19601961
align=left nowrap Ray G. "Uncle Bim" Behm19611961Served three days
align=left nowrap Percy I. Hopkins, Jr.19611962
align=left nowrap C. Ben Holleman19621963
align=left nowrap Robert "Bob" Hawkey19631963Served for about two weeks
align=left nowrap Ray G. "Uncle Bim" Behm19631964
align=left nowrap Fred O. Easley, Jr.19641966
align=left nowrap C. Harold Earnest 1966 1967
align=left nowrap Reid Moore, Jr.19671968 Served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1977–1978 and 1981–1982[13]
align=left nowrap David H. Brady19681969
align=left nowrap Eugene W. Potter19691970
align=left nowrap Fred O. Easley, Jr.19701971
align=left nowrap Francis H. Foster, Jr.1971 1972
align=left nowrap M. P. "Ham" Anthony19721973
align=left nowrap G. Ray Sparks, Jr. 1973 1974
align=left nowrap Fred O. Easley, Jr.19741975
align=left nowrap Richard E. Linn19751976
align=left nowrap James M. Adams19761977
align=left nowrap M. P. "Ham" Anthony19771978
align=left nowrap Helen Wilkes19781980First woman to serve as mayor[14]
align=left nowrap James M. Adams19801981
align=left nowrap Michael D. Hyman19811982
align=left nowrap Eva W. Mack19821984First African American mayor[15]
align=left nowrap Dwight Baber19841985
align=left nowrap Carol Roberts1985 1986Served on the canvassing board for the 2000 Florida election recount and the Democratic Party nominee for Florida's 22nd congressional district in 2002[16]
align=left nowrap Samuel A. Thomas19861987
align=left nowrap Richard V. Reikenis19871988
align=left nowrap Pat Pepper Schwab1988 1989
align=left nowrap James O. Poole19891991
align=left nowrap John F. "Jeff" Koons1991 1991Served for eight months

Strong mayor (1991–present)

NameStart of termEnd of termNotes
align=left nowrap Nancy M. GrahamNovember 1991March 25, 1999[17] First strong mayor
align=left nowrap Joel T. Daves IIIMarch 25, 1999March 27, 2003[18] Lost re-election
align=left nowrap Lois FrankelMarch 27, 2003March 31, 2011[19] Served in the Florida House of Representatives (1987–2003) and the U.S. House of Representatives (2013–present)[20]
align=left nowrap Jeri MuoioMarch 31, 2011April 4, 2019[21]
align=left nowrap Keith A. JamesApril 4, 2019[22] Incumbent

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Give West Palm a Strong Mayor. March 10, 1991. The Palm Beach Post. 1E. March 21, 2022. Newspapers.com.
  2. News: Stakes high in West Palm Beach Mayor race. Eliot Kleinberg. March 7, 2015. The Palm Beach Post. March 21, 2022. West Palm Beach, Florida. https://web.archive.org/web/20161022215847/http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/local/stakes-high-in-west-palm-beach-mayor-race/nkQbT/. October 22, 2016.
  3. Web site: Directory of City Departments. City of West Palm Beach. April 21, 2016. West Palm Beach, Florida.
  4. News: Strong Mayor Gets Nod. https://web.archive.org/web/20150913070233/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1991-03-13/news/9101130237_1_strong-mayor-mayoral-race-voter-turnout. dead. September 13, 2015. Earl Daniels and Fred Lowery. March 13, 1991. Sun-Sentinel. April 21, 2016.
  5. News: Graham Elected Mayor. https://web.archive.org/web/20170303045356/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1991-11-20/news/9102170694_1_runoff-election-attorney-nancy-graham-city-election-officials. dead. March 3, 2017. November 20, 1991. Sun-Sentinel. April 21, 2016. West Palm Beach, Florida.
  6. Book: H. J. Roberts. West Palm Beach Centennial Reflections. Sunshine Sentinel Press. West Palm Beach, Florida. December 1994. 1884243029. registration.
  7. Web site: Portrait of Richard Jolley Chillingworth. State Library and Archives of Florida. April 21, 2016. Tallahassee, Florida.
  8. News: Capt. D. F. Dunkle Chosen Mayor of West Palm Beach by Commission. September 23, 1919. The Palm Beach Post. 1. June 23, 2019. Newspapers.com.
  9. News: New Administration Takes Reins of City. The Palm Beach Post. 4. September 9, 1921. March 21, 2022. Newspapers.com.
  10. Web site: The Jewish Community and Congregation. Historical Society of Palm Beach County. April 21, 2016. West Palm Beach, Florida.
  11. Sessions of the Florida Senate From Statehood, 1845-present. March 2016. Florida Senate. 8. April 21, 2016. Tallahassee, Florida.
  12. News: Former Mayor George H. Mccampbell. https://web.archive.org/web/20151201023321/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1989-01-24/news/8901050349_1_golf-mayor-and-city-west-palm-beach. dead. December 1, 2015. Joseph C. Nunes. January 24, 1989. Sun-Sentinel. April 21, 2016.
  13. Membership of the Florida House of Representatives by County 1845-2012. Robert L. Ward. August 2011. Florida House of Representatives. 221, 224. April 21, 2016. Tallahassee, Florida.
  14. News: Helen Wilkes, 88, first female mayor of West Palm Beach. Marisa Gottesman. October 9, 2015. Sun-Sentinel. April 21, 2016.
  15. News: Eva Mack, 81, Public Health Activist. https://web.archive.org/web/20170510161800/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1998-06-05/news/9806040484_1_mrs-mack-black-mayor-palm-beach-county. dead. May 10, 2017. Steve Nichol. June 5, 1998. Sun-Sentinel. April 21, 2016.
  16. News: Republicans projected to retain House. CNN. November 6, 2002. Washington, D.C.. April 21, 2016.
  17. News: West Palm Beach Voters Pick Joel Daves To Lead Them. https://web.archive.org/web/20141209151741/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1999-03-24/news/9903240203_1_daves-election-voters. dead. December 9, 2014. Cindy Glover. March 24, 1999. Sun-Sentinel. West Palm Beach, Florida. April 21, 2016.
  18. News: Tearful Supporters Bid Farewell to Daves. J. Christopher Hain. March 18, 2003. The Palm Beach Post. 1B. Newspapers.com. March 21, 2022.
  19. News: New Mayor Muoio sworn in; "My doors will be open," she tells public. Andrew Abramson. March 31, 2011. The Palm Beach Post. March 21, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20170511145333/http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/new-mayor-muoio-sworn-doors-will-open-she-tells-public/r44hqvLnRYcGdS59fZALeM/. May 11, 2017.
  20. Web site: Biography - U.S. Representative Lois J. Frankel (FL-22). United States House of Representatives. April 21, 2016.
  21. News: West Palm Mayor Muoio delivers her final state of the city. January 24, 2019. WPTV. March 21, 2022.
  22. News: Keith James elected as new mayor of West Palm Beach. Terri Parker. March 13, 2019. WPBF. March 21, 2022.

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