List of mayors of Los Angeles

The office of Alcalde, the Mayor of El Pueblo de la Reina de los Ángeles, was elected annually, without the right to reelection for two years. With the incomplete nature of records from the Spanish colonial period of Los Angeles, only the first year of 1781 is certain. ;Comisionado ;Alcalde ;Notes == Mexican era (1821–1848)==

In 1821, Los Angeles came under Mexican rule, and the city continued having an alcalde. The inaugural holder was Abel Stearns, an American trader who came to California in 1829 from Massachusetts. ;First & Second Alcalde In 1839, instead of one alcalde, two officials served as First and Second Alcalde. ;Jueces de Paz (Justices of Peace) In 1841, the office of alcalde was abolished, instead being replaced by two Jueces de Paz (Justice of the peace). ;First & Second Alcalde In 1844, the office of alcalde was restored, reverting to its 1839 posts. == American Territorial era (1848–1850)==

Between the Interim government of California and California's statehood, the Mayor was appointed by the Governor of California in 1848 and was elected in 1850. ;Notes == Post-incorporation (1850–present) ==

} ---- 1909 (N) ---- 1911 ---- 1923 ---- 1925 ---- 1937 ---- 1941 ---- 1945 ---- 1949 ---- 1957 ---- 1965 ---- 1969 ---- 1977 ---- 1981 ---- 1985 ---- 1989 ---- 1997 ---- 2009 ---- 2017 ; Notes == Appendices ==

Mayoral terms and term limits At the office's creation in 1850, mayors served one year terms. In 1889, the dates were changed to be on even-numbered years, with the term extending to two years per term; the first election in an even-numbered year was in 1892. In 1909, the city charter changed the election years to odd-numbered years with the March 1909 election, originally slated to be a recall election against Arthur C. Harper. In 1993, voters amended the city charter to implement term limits to elected officials, including mayor. Interrupted terms Eight mayors have had interrupted terms: Stephen Clark Foster (1855 and 1856), Henry Mellus (1860), Cristobal Aguilar (1867), Frederick A. MacDougall (1878), John Bryson (1889), Arthur C. Harper (1909), Charles E. Sebastian (1916), and Frank L. Shaw (1938). == See also ==