List of mayors of Little Rock, Arkansas

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The mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas serves as the chief executive of the city government. Little Rock was first incorporated as a town in November 1831 and redefined as a city under a new charter in November 1835. During the American Civil War, Little Rock was captured and occupied by Union forces beginning September 21, 1863, leaving the city without a civilian government until December 1865. Starting in November 1869, the president of the city council presided over council meetings and signed ordinances, performing many of the duties formerly ascribed to the mayor. In accordance with new Constitution of Arkansas and new city charter, the mayor resumed duties previously split between mayor and president of the city council in March 1875. On November 6, 1956, Little Rock voters approved a move to the city manager form of government to take effect in the next year and on November 11, 1957, voters selected the first city board of directors under the city manager form of government. Under this form, the city board selected mayor from among its membership to serve for a two-year term. Beginning in 1994, mayors were elected to a four-year term by citywide election.

Contents

Trustees (1825–1832)

From October 1825 through January 1832, Little Rock was governed by an elected board of trustees. Bernard Smith presided over the board through 1828, Dr. Matthew Cunningham presided in 1829, and John McClain presided in 1830 and 1831.

Mayors (from 1836)

MayorIn officeNotesRef.
Dr. Matthew CunninghamJanuary 1832 – January 1833First mayor of the Town of Little Rock. Cunningham’s descendants continue to live in the city into the 21st century. His great-great-great-great grandson serves as pastor of Westover Hills Presbyterian Church.
Rev. W. W. StevensonJanuary 1833 – January 1834
Elijah A. MoreJanuary 1834 – January 1835
David FultonJanuary 1835 – November 1835
James PitcherNovember 1835 – December 1837First mayor of the City of Little Rock
Jesse BrownJanuary 1838 – January 1841From April 1839 through November 1839, Alderman Nicholas Peay acted as mayor due to prolonged absence of Mayor Brown.
Dr. Samuel H. WebbJanuary 1841 – January 1842
John WidgeryJanuary 1842 – May 1842
Samuel G. Trowbridge May 1842 – January 1843Elevated to mayor from mayor pro-tempore upon resignation of previous mayor.
Resigned upon arrest for running a counterfeit ring.
Thomas S. ReynoldsJanuary 1843 – September 1843Elevated to mayor from mayor pro-tempore upon resignation of previous mayor.
Eli ColbySeptember 1843 – January 1844Elevated to mayor from mayor pro-tempore upon resignation of previous mayor.
William Brown, Sr.January 1844 – January 1845
Lambert J. ReardonJanuary 1845 – January 1847
Dr. Roderick Lathrop (R.L.) DodgeJanuary 1847 – January 1848
Dr. Samuel H. WebbJanuary 1848 – April 1849
Roswell Beebe April 1849 – February 1850Elevated to mayor from mayor pro-tempore upon resignation of previous mayor.
D. J. BaldwinFebruary 1850 – January 1851Elevated to mayor from mayor pro-tempore upon resignation of previous mayor.
John Elliot KnightJanuary 1851 – January 1852
Andre J. HuttJanuary 1852 – January 1854
Thomas D. MerrickJanuary 1854 – January 1855
Charles (C.P.) BertrandJanuary 1855 – January 1857Stepson of first Little Rock Mayor, Dr. Matthew Cunningham.
William E. AshleyJanuary 1857 – January 1859
Gordon N. PeayJanuary 1859 – January 1861Son of Alderman Nicholas Peay who served as Mayor Pro-Tem during absence of Mayor Brown.
William E. AshleyJanuary 1861 – September 1863
Little Rock was occupied by the Union Ay during the Civil War and controlled by federal forces from September 21, 1863 through December 1865.
Dr. J. J. McAlmontJanuary 1866 – January 1867
J. W. HopkinsJanuary 1867 – February 1868
John WassellFebruary 1868 – December 1868Appointed by military to replace elected mayor.
A. K. HartmanJanuary 1869 – November 1871The City Council suspended Hartman in February 1870; a court order overturned that in June 1870. In January 1871, he was again suspended by the Council and J. G. Botsford was declared acting mayor, though Hartman still claimed the title of mayor through the remainder of his term in November 1871.
Jefferson G. BotsfordJanuary 1871 – November 1871Appointed acting mayor in January 1871 and served through November 1871. Mayor Hartman was never officially removed from office, so Botsford was never technically mayor. He has been historically listed as a mayor of Little Rock, however.
Robert F. Catterson November 1871 – November 1873
Frederick KramerNovember 1873 – April 1875
John Gould FletcherApril 1875 – April 1881First mayor under new city charter. Father of John Gould Fletcher (Jr.)
Frederick KramerApril 1881 – April 1887
William G. Whipple April 1887 – April 1891Ran for governor, son-in-law of Mayor R. L. Dodge.
Henry Lewis (H.L.) FletcherApril 1891 – April 1893Brother of Mayor John Gould Fletcher.
M. G. HallApril 1893 – April 1895
James A. WoodsonApril 1895 – May 1900Due to obligations with his business affairs, resigned in April 1900 to be effective upon election of his successor.
W. R. DuleyMay 1900 – April 1903Elected in a special election in May 1900. First time a special election had been used to fill mayoral vacancy.
Warren E. Lenon April 1903 – April 1908Due to obligations with his business affairs, resigned at first meeting of city council held in the new City Hall, which he had championed.
John Herndon HollisApril 1908 – June 1908Though technically only mayor pro-tempore selected by City Council to serve until special election for next mayor, he has traditionally been included in lists of mayors of Little Rock. He never gave up his alderman seat on city council and remained on council after special election.
W. R. DuleyJune 1908 – April 1911Chosen in a special election to fill vacancy created by resignation of Mayor Lenon.
Due to illness, Mayor Duley took a leave of absence from February 20, 1911 through the remainder of his term. Alderman John S. Odom was selected by the council as Acting Mayor.
Charles E. TaylorApril 1911 – April 1919
Ben D. Brickhouse April 1919 – April 1925
Charles E. MoyerApril 1925 – April 1929
Pat L. RobinsonApril 1929 – April 1931
Horace A. KnowltonApril 1931 – April 1935
Richard E. (R.E.) OvermanApril 1935 – April 1939
John Vines (J.V.) Satterfield, Jr.April 1939 – April 1941Due to illness, Mayor Satterfield took a leave of absence from January 1 through March 31, 1941. Alderman E. W. Gibb was selected by Council as Acting Mayor.
Charles E. MoyerApril 1941 – April 1945
Dan T. SprickApril 1945 – April 1947
Sam M. WassellApril 1947 – December 1951Starting date for mayoral terms moved from April to January.
Grandson of Little Rock Mayor John Wassell.
Pratt C. RemmelJanuary 1952 – December 1955First Republican elected to the post since 1891. Mayor Remmel took a leave of absence to run for Governor from August 31 through December 13, 1954. Alderman Fred W. Parris was chosen by city council to serve as acting mayor.
Woodrow Wilson Mann January 1956 – November 1957Last mayor under the mayor–council form of government.
Werner C. Knoop November 1957 – December 1962First mayor under the city manager form of government.
Byron R. MorseJanuary 1963 – December 1964
Harold "Sonney" Henson, Jr.January 1965 – December 1966
Martin BorchertJanuary 1967 – December 1968
Haco BoydJanuary 1969 – December 1970
George Wimberly January 1971 – December 1972
W. H. WaltersJanuary 1973 – December 1974
George WimberlyJanuary 1975 – December 1976
Donald L. MehlburgerJanuary 1977 – December 1978
A. M. "Sandy" KeithJanuary 1979 – June 1979Resigned as mayor but remained on the City Board of Directors.
Webster Hubbell June 1979 – July 1981Resigned as mayor but remained on the City Board of Directors.
Charles E. Bussey November 1981 – December 1982From July – November 1981, served as Acting Mayor.
First African American mayor of Little Rock.
J. W. "Buddy" BenafieldJanuary 1983 – December 1984Previously had served as Mayor of England, Arkansas, in the 1970s.
Thomas A. PrinceJanuary 1985 – December 1986
Lottie Shackelford January 1987 – December 1988First female mayor of Little Rock. [1] Is also the second African American mayor of Little Rock. [1]
Floyd G. "Buddy" VillinesJanuary 1989 – December 1990
Sharon Priest January 1991 – December 1992Served as Arkansas Secretary of State from 1995 to 2003.
Dalton J. "Jim" Dailey Jr. January 1993 – December 2006First served as mayor for two years under original city manager structure, then elected to four-year terms by a citywide election in 1994, 1998, and 2002 under the new hybrid city administrator structure. Longest-serving mayor of Little Rock (14 years).
Mark Stodola January 2007 – December 2018 [2]
Frank Scott, Jr. January 2019 –Incumbent mayor. Little Rock's first directly elected black mayor [3]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Kirk, John (October 2, 2018). "Black Mayors: Lottie Shackleford". University of Arkansas-Little Rock Radio. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  2. ↑ Brock, Roby (2019-04-15). "Former Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola joins Barber Law Firm". Talk Business & Politics. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  3. ↑ Hammersly, Lisa (November 9, 2022). "Frank Scott Jr. wins second term as Little Rock's mayor". Arkansas Advocate . Retrieved 2023-11-17.
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