Listing the mayors of St. Louis Park should be a simple matter, but for some reason it’s not. Some information is reported by the year of the election, and some by the year the mayor took office. Some mayors resigned mid-term; some were interim or pro tem; some were elected to other offices while they were mayor.
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: Joseph Hamilton (Special election December 16)
1887: Joseph Hamilton (Regular March election)
1888: Joseph Hamilton
1889: Joseph Hamilton
1890: Joseph Hamilton
1891: Joseph Hamilton
1891: Joseph Hamilton
1892: Joseph Hamilton
1893: Joseph Hamilton
1894: Corwin Burnet (C. B.) Waddell
1895: Joseph Hamilton
1896: Joseph Hamilton
1897: A. T. Masters
1898: A.T. Masters
1899: Joseph Hamilton
1900: C.B. Waddell
1901: A.T. Masters
1902: A.T. Masters
1903: A.T. Masters
1904: C.B. Waddell
1905: C.B. Waddell
1906: Charles J. Miller (resigned May 4, 1906)
1906: Fred W. Sugden
1907: Fred W. Sugden
1908: Charles H. Hanke
1909: Charles H. Hanke
1910: Fred. W. Sugden (resigned December 1910 – left St. Louis Park)
1911: Louis M. Larson
1912: Charles H. Hanke
1913: Charles H. Hanke
1914: Charles H. Hanke
1915: Charles H. Hanke
1916: 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: H. A. Bengston
1918: H.A. Bengston
1919: H.A. Bengston
1920: H.A. Bengston (until April 1920)
1920: James H. Brown (April 1920; resigned September 2, 1920)
1920: James Guy (September 1920 to March 1921)
1921: Wayne P. Martin
1922: Jake A. Werner
1923: Jake A. Werner
1924: Jake A. Werner
1925: Jake A. Werner
1926: Jake A. Werner
1927: Jake A. Werner
1927: elections were moved to December.
1928: Jake A. Werner
1929: Jake A. Werner
1930: Edwin F. Martin
1931: Edwin F. Martin
1932: Kleve J. Flakne
1933: Kleve J. Flakne
1934: James M. Brown
1935: Roy O. Sewall
1936: Earnest W. Nelson
1937: Earnest W. Nelson
1938: Earnest W. Nelson
1939: William M. Martin
1939: 2 year terms, elected in odd years, terms started in January
1942 – 1943: William M. Martin
1943 – 1944: H.W. Perkins (acting)
1944 – 1946: O. B. Erickson
1946-1948: O.B. Erickson
1948-1950: O.B. Erickson
1950 – 1952: O.B. Erickson
1952 – 1954: Carroll L. Hurd
1954 – 1956: Russell C. Fernstrom – First Mayor of the City of St. Louis Park
1956 – 1958: Russell C. Fernstrom
1958 – 1960: Herbert P. Lefler
1960 – 1962: Kenneth Wolfe
1962 – 1964: Kenneth Wolfe
1964 – 1966: Kenneth Wolfe
1966 – 1967: Kenneth Wolfe (elected State senator 1968)
1967 – 68: Len Thiel
1968 – 1970: Len Thiel
1970 – 1972: Frank J. Howard
1972-1974: Frank Pucci
1974 – 1975: Frank Fleetham (resigned June 6, 1975)
1975 – 1976: James Dahl (resigned June 2, 1976 for job with County Sheriff)
1976 – 1977: Camille Andre (appointed June 1976 til January 10, 1977)
1977 – 1979: Irving Stern (elected to State Senate, Spring 1979)
1979 – 1980: Frank Howard (appointed August 20, 1979 for balance of year)
1980 – 1982: Phyllis McQuaid
1982 – 1982: Phyllis McQuaid (began term as State Senator Jan. 1983)
1983: Charter amendment changing term from 2 years to 4.
1982 – 1984: Lyle Hanks (appointed Mayor pro-tem Dec. 1982; interim Jan. 18, 1983)
1984 – 1988: Lyle Hanks
1988 – 1992: Lyle Hanks
1992 – 1996: Gail Dorfman
1996 – 1999: Gail Dorfman (elected Hennepin County Commissioner, Spring 1999)
1999 – 2000: Jeffrey Jacobs
2000 – 2004: Jeffrrey Jacobs
2004 – 2008: Jeffrey Jacobs
2008 – 2012: Jeffrey Jacobs
2012 – 2016: Jeffrey Jacobs
2016 – 2020: Jake Spano