MAYORS AND VILLAGE COUNCIL PRESIDENTS

It has been extremely difficult to track this information down, and we're still not sure we have it right, so please feel free to contact us with any corrections.

Before the Village became a City in 1955, the highest elected official was the President of the Village Council. This person was sometimes referred to as Mayor.
 

In the beginning, elections were held in March, and Presidents served one year terms, starting the next meeting after the election.

1886-94    Joseph Hamilton (took office December 10, 1886)
1894-95    Corwin Burnet (C. B.) Waddell
1895-97    Joseph Hamilton
1897-99    A. T. Masters
1899-00    Joseph Hamilton
1900-01    C. B. Waddell
1901-04    A. T. Masters
1904-06    C. B. Waddell
1906          Charles J. Miller (resigned May 4, 1906)
1906-08    Fred W. Sugden
1908-10    Charles H. Hanke
1910          Fred W. Sugden (resigned December 1910 – left St. Louis Park)
1910-12    Louis M. Larson
1912-16    Charles H. Hanke
1916-17    E.J. Vraalstad

On February 1, 1917, in accordance with State law, the Council passed an ordinance providing for the use of the so-called “Australian Ballot System.”

1917-4/20    H. A. Bengston
1920             James H. Brown (resigned September 2, 1920)
1920-21       James Guy
1921-22      Wayne P. Martin
1922-30       Jake A. Werner

1927: elections were moved to December.

1931-32       Edwin F. Martin
1932-33       Kleve J. Flakne
1934            James M. Brown
1935            Roy O. Sewall
1936-38       Earnest W. Nelson
1939-43       William M. Martin

 
1939: 2 year terms, elected in odd years. Dates below are dates served.

1943         H.W. Perkins (acting)
1944-51   O. B. Erickson
1952-53    Carroll L. Hurd
1954-57    Russell C. Fernstrom – First Mayor of the City of St. Louis Park
1958-59    Herbert P. Lefler
1960-67    Kenneth Wolfe (elected State senator 1968)
1968-69    Len Thiel
1970-72    Frank J. Howard
1972-73    Frank Pucci
1974-75    Frank Fleetham (resigned June 6, 1975)
1975-76    James Dahl (resigned June 2, 1976 for job with County Sheriff)
1976-77    Camille Andre (appointed June 1976 til January 10, 1977)
1977-79    Irving Stern (elected to State Senate, Spring 1979)
1979-80    Frank Howard (appointed August 20, 1979 for balance of year)
1980-82    Phyllis McQuaid (began term as State Senator Jan. 1983)

1983: Charter amendment changing term from 2 years to 4.

1982-95    Lyle Hanks (pro-tem Dec. 1982; interim Jan. 18, 1983; elected Nov. 1983)
1996-99    Gail Dorfman (elected Henn. Cty. Commissioner Spring 1999)
1999-        Jeffrey Jacobs

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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.