List of mayors of Savannah, Georgia

Last updated

Mayor of Savannah
National League of Cities Conference Van Johnson.jpg
Incumbent
Van R. Johnson
since January 1, 2020
Style The Honorable
Term length 4 years, no term limits
Inaugural holder John Houstoun
Formation1790
Salary$78,898 [1]
Website www.savannahga.gov

The mayor is the highest elected official in Savannah, Georgia. Since its incorporation by charter on 23 December 1789, and the first mayor, John Houstoun, was elected by aldermen on 8 March 1790, following citizen election of aldermen on 1 March 1790, the city has had 67 mayors. [2] [3]

Contents

On 31 May 1958, the term for mayor was extended from two years to four years by popular vote and with approval of the state government. [4] [5]

Election for mayor is held every four years, and is held as a non-partisan election, As of 7 November 2023, Van Johnson was re-elected for a four-year term. [6]

List

Mayor Edward Clifford Anderson (1865-1869, 1873-1877) was the first mayor after the Civil War. Edward Clifford Anderson Jr.jpg
Mayor Edward Clifford Anderson (1865–1869, 1873–1877) was the first mayor after the Civil War.
Mayor Julius Curtis Lewis Jr. (1966-1970) was the first Republican mayor and the first non-Democratic mayor since the Civil War. J Curtis Lewis.jpg
Mayor Julius Curtis Lewis Jr. (1966–1970) was the first Republican mayor and the first non-Democratic mayor since the Civil War.
Mayor Floyd Adams Jr. (1996-2003) was the first African-American mayor of Savannah. Floyd Adams 2002.jpeg
Mayor Floyd Adams Jr. (1996–2003) was the first African-American mayor of Savannah.
#PortraitMayorTerm startTerm endTerms PartyNotes
1
Portrait of John Houstoun.png
John Houstoun 179017911 None
2
Thomas Gibbons.png
Thomas Gibbons 179117921None
3
Joseph Habersham.png
Joseph Habersham 179217931None
4 Judge William Stephens, mayor of Savannah.jpg William Stephens 179317941None
(2)
Thomas Gibbons.png
Thomas Gibbons 179417951None
(4) Judge William Stephens, mayor of Savannah.jpg William Stephens 179517961None
5 John Noel 179617971None
6 John Glen 179717981None
7 Matthew McAllister 179817991 Democratic-Republican
(2)
Thomas Gibbons.png
Thomas Gibbons 179918012 Democratic-Republican
8
Davidbrydiemitchell.jpg
David B. Mitchell 180118021 Democratic-Republican
9 Charles Harris 180218042 Democratic-Republican
(5) John Noel 180418073 Democratic-Republican
10 William Davies 180718071⁄2 Democratic-Republican
(9) Charles Harris 180718081⁄2 Democratic-Republican
11 John Williamson 180818091 Democratic-Republican
12 William Bulloch 180918112 Democratic-Republican
13 Thomas Mendenhall, Jr., mayor of Savannah.jpg Thomas Mendenhall Jr. 181118111⁄2 Democratic-Republican
(12) William Bulloch 181118121⁄2 Democratic-Republican
14
GeorgeJonesGA.jpg
George Jones 181218142 Democratic-Republican
(7) Matthew McAllister 18141815Partial Democratic-Republican
15 Thomas Charlton 181518172 1⁄2 Democratic-Republican
16
JMWayne2.jpg
James Wayne 181718192 Democratic-Republican
(15) Thomas Charlton 181918211 1⁄2 Democratic-Republican
17 James Morrison 182118243 1⁄2 Democratic-Republican
18 William Daniell 182418262 Jacksonian
19 Joseph W. Jackson 182618282 Jacksonian
20 William T. Williams 182818302 Democratic
21 William Waring 183018322 Democratic
22 George W. Owens 18321833Partial Democratic
(20) William T. Williams 183318341 1⁄2 Democratic
23 William Gordon 183418361 1⁄2 Democratic
24 William Cuyler 183618361⁄2 Democratic
25 John Nicoll 183618371 Democratic
26 Matthew Hall McAllister 1800 to 1865.png Matthew H. McAllister 183718391 1⁄2 Democratic
27
Robert Milledge Charlton.jpg
Robert M. Charlton 183918412 1⁄2 Democratic
(20) William T. Williams 184118421 Democratic
28 Richard Arnold 184218431 Whig
(20) William T. Williams 184318441 Democratic
29 Richard Wayne 184418451 Democratic
30 Henry Burroughs 184518483 Whig
(29) Richard Wayne 184818513 Democratic
(28) Richard Arnold 185118521 Whig
(29) Richard Wayne 185218531 Democratic
31
John E. Ward cph.3a01040.jpg
John Elliott Ward 185318541 Democratic
32
Edward Clifford AndersonJRsmall.jpg
Edward C. Anderson 185418562 American
33 James Screven 185618571 Democratic
(29) Richard Wayne †18571858Partial Democratic
34 Thomas Turner 185818591 1⁄2 Democratic
(28) Richard Arnold 185918601 American
35
PSM V43 D612 Charles Colcock Jones Jr.jpg
Charles C. Jones 186018611 Democratic (Southern)
36 Thomas Purse 186118621 Democratic (Southern)
37 Thomas Holcombe 186218631 Democratic (Southern)
(28) Richard Arnold 186318651 Democratic (Southern)
(32)
Edward Clifford AndersonJRsmall.jpg
Edward C. Anderson 186518694 Democratic
38 John Screven 186918734 Democratic
(32)
Edward Clifford AndersonJRsmall.jpg
Edward C. Anderson 187318772 Democratic
39 John Wheaton 187718833 Democratic
40
Rufus Ezekiel Lester.jpg
Rufus E. Lester 188318893 Democratic
41 John Schwarz 188918911 Democratic
42 John McDonough 189118952 Democratic
43
Herman Myers.png
Herman Myers 189518971 Democratic
44 Peter Meldrim 189718991 Democratic
(43)
Herman Myers.png
Herman Myers 189919074 Democratic
45 George Tiedeman 190719133 Democratic
46 Richard Davant †191319151 1⁄2 Democratic
47 Wallace Pierpont 191519191 1⁄2 Democratic
48 Murray Stewart 191919232 Democratic
49 Paul Seabrook 192319251 Democratic
50 Robert Hull †192519271 1⁄2 Democratic
51 Thomas Hoynes 192719291⁄2 Democratic
52 Gordon Saussy 192919311 1⁄2 Democratic
(51) Thomas Hoynes 193119331⁄2 Democratic
53 Thomas Gamble 193319372 Democratic
54 Robert M. Hitch 193719391 Democratic
(53) Thomas Gamble †193919453 1⁄2 Democratic
55 Peter Roe Nugent 194519471 1⁄2 Democratic
56 John G. Kennedy 194719491 Democratic
57 Olin Fulmer 194919553 Democratic
58 Lee Mingledorff, Jr. 195519603 Democratic First elected to a two-year term where he served from January 24, 1955 until January 21, 1957.
Re-elected to a second two-year term beginning January 21, 1957.
In 1958, the city shifted to a four-year mayoral term and a special election was held.
Mingledorff won re-election to a 4-year term running from October 6, 1958 to October 1, 1962.
He resigned prematurely on August 1, 1960 with the remainder of his term completed by vice-mayor Maclean.
59 Malcolm R. Maclean 196019662 Democratic
60
J Curtis Lewis.jpg
J.C. Lewis, Jr. 196619701 Republican
61 John Rousakis 197019925 Democratic First Greek-American mayor
62 Susan Weiner 199219961 Republican First female mayor
63
Floyd Adams 2002.jpeg
Floyd Adams, Jr. 199620042 Democratic First African-American mayor
64
Otis S. Johnson.jpg
Otis Johnson 200420122 Democratic
65
Mayor Jackson visits the Corps of Engineers (6883611362) (1).jpg
Edna Jackson 201220161 Democratic First African-American female mayor
66
Mayor Eddie W. DeLoach Headshot (1).jpg
Eddie DeLoach 201620201 Republican
67
National League of Cities Conference Van Johnson.jpg
Van R. Johnson 2020Incumbent1 Democratic
Notes

† Deceased/murdered in office.

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ salarygenius.com/ga/savannah/salary/mayor-salary
  2. ↑ Savannah Morning News
  3. ↑ "A List of Mayors and Aldermen of the City of Savannah, Georgia, 1790-2012". savannahga.gov.
  4. ↑ "The Savannah tribune. (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, May 31, 1958, Page PAGE FOUR, Image 4 « Georgia Historic Newspapers". gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  5. ↑ Spracher, Luciana M. (2004). "History & Highlights of the City of Savannah's Council-Manager Form of Government 1954-2004". savannahga.gov. p. 20.
  6. ↑ Nelson, Craig (November 8, 2023). "Johnson wins reelection as Savannah mayor". Georgia Public Broadcasting. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.