Martinez, CA

HISTORY

The following historical narrative was compiled from the City's legislative record history by the City Clerk. These records include meeting minutes, resolutions and ordinances.

Board of Trustees Established 

On April 1, 1876 the Town of Martinez was incorporated as a City. The Act to Incorporate the Town of Martinez, required a Board of Trustees be elected to govern the new City. So, on May 11th, the County Clerk ordered an Election of three Trustees.

On May 23, 1876, three men were elected to seat of Trustee: L.C. Wittenmyer, Thomas A. McMahon, and Thomas A. Brown. Following the election, Mr. Brown was deemed unqualified "...by virtue of his position as County Judge", resulting in a vacant 3rd seat.

The two newly elected Board Members held their first meeting on June 5th at the Law Office of Thomas A. Brown, "...to organize and did organize as a Board of Trustee by choosing L. C. Wittenmyer as President and Thomas A. McMahon as Clerk...".

On June 6th, a Special Election was called to elect the third Trustee. On June 17th, Simon Blum was successfully elected as Trustee, thus establishing the first Board of Trustees of the Town of Martinez!

63 days and 4 Elections later...

Following the establishment of a Board of Trustees in 1879, the three Trustee positions were to be put up for election annually in May. For reasons unknown, no elections were conducted between 1880-1883.

On March 28, 1884, town residents demanded an election to be held. The County Clerk called for a special election on April 12, 1884, to establish a temporary Board of Trustees for Martinez with the sole purpose of acting as the Town's election committee.

This newly elected Board met and ordered an annual election to be held on May 5, 1884, to elect new Trustees. Roland R. Bunker, L. C. Wittenmyer and J. H. Carothers were successfully elected and re-constituted the official Board of Trustees! On May 12th, the Board re-organized under the name of "City of Martinez" for the first time.

Unfortunately, the success was short lived as the Board had to conduct, yet again, another election to re-elect all new Board members. However, this time there were to be 5 Trustee seats plus a seat for City Clerk, City Treasurer and Town Marshall! On May 31, 1884, F. M. Warmcastle, Samuel Robins, H. Bernett and John Leffler were elected to 4 of the 5 Trustee seats. The 5th seat had a tie....

Once again, a special election was called and on June 14, 1884, and A. H. Borland won the tie breaker and was elected to the 5th Trustee seat. 

Following the turmoil of four consecutive elections in 63 days, the Board of Trustees formalized and ordered a new election schedule. Instead of annual elections in May, they were now to be conducted every 2 years (even years) in April. The Town, thankfully, would not experience another election until April 12, 1886.

From Board of Trustees to City Council

Around 1927, the Board of Trustees would transition to and become known as the City Council. 

An Appointed Mayor

From 1896 to 1956, the Board of Trustees would appoint a member as President for 2 years. The appointment process was slightly changed and formalized by the City Council in 1957 via Resolution No. 36-57 which required the Council to declare the Mayor seat as vacant every year in April, and by vote appoint a Councilmember to act as the new Mayor.

• Resolution No. 36-57 was later rescinded and replaced by Resolution No. 28-74 which stated "...during the month of March and prior to April 1 of each year, the City Council shall declare the Office of Mayor vacant and shall select one of it's members as Mayor..."
• Resolution No. 28-74 was later rescinded via Resolution No. 45-78 dissolving the practice as a result of the passage of Measure D.

An Elected Mayor

On March 2, 1976, ballot Measure D passed, establishing the Mayor as it's own elected seat separate from the other Council member seats (Ordinance No. 830 CS). The initial term was set for 2 years. 

On March 7, 1978, John Sparacino was the person to be elected as the Mayor of Martinez!

On November 6, 1990, ballot Measure J passed, extending the Mayor's term from 2 years to 4 years (Ordinance No. 1162 CS).

November General Election As We Know It Today

In 1984, the City Council passed Ordinance No. 1019 CS, establishing the consolidation of the general election in November with the County, starting with the 1986 election.

DID YOU KNOW...?

• Who was the 1st Woman Mayor?
  • The first woman to hold the title of Mayor was Rosalie S. Benson via Council appointment in 1960.
  • The first woman to be elected to the seat of Mayor was Brianne Zorn in 2022.

• Who was the 1st Mayor of Martinez?
  • The first person to hold the title of Mayor (aka Board President) was L. C. Wittenmyer via Board appointment in 1876.
  • The first person elected to the seat of Mayor was John Sparacino in 1978.

• Who was the longest serving Mayor?
  • Rob Schroder holds the record with 20 years (2002-2022)!
  • Michael Menesini holds second place with a solid 18 years (1984-2002).

• Who was the shortest serving Mayor?
  • Raymond B. Johnson held the title for 43 days (April 19 to May 31, 1960). He resigned on June 1, 1960, "due to pressure of duties of his County position."

• Four Mayors have resigned:
  1. John J. McNamara, resigned on September 8, 1914, for reasons unknown.
  2. Jack O. Fries, resigned on April 22, 1957, "due to demands of his business".
  3. Robert E. Williamson, resigned on July 1, 1959 due to "ill health".
  4.  Raymond B. Johnson, resigned on June 1, 1960 "due to pressure of duties of his County position".

• Two Mayors were unwilling to relinquish their seat and were subsequently voted out:
  1.  Frank P. Brady - On August 19, 1942, Mayor Brady refused to declare the seat vacant and refused his Councilmember's motion. The City Attorney informed the Mayor he was required to hear the motion. The motion was heard, seconded, and passed 4 to 1.
  2. C. A. Ricks - On January 3, 1945, four members of the City Council decided it would be advantageous to the City to elect a chairman of the Council at the beginning of each calendar year… and that the office of Mayor be declared vacant. Mayor Ricks disagreed as he "...did not believe that it would prove possible to carry out a rotating policy in the election of a Mayor, and he believed that the reasons for his removal were based upon facts other than those expressed by members of this Council." The motion was passed with Mayor Ricks as the sole dissenter.