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List of municipal poets laureate in California

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of past and current municipal poets laureate serving towns, counties, and cities in California.

Cities

Benicia Poet Laureate Joel Fallon

Luis Rodriguez, Los Angeles Poet Laureate

Janice Mirikitani was Poet Laureate of San Francisco in 2000

Jack Hirschman was poet laureate of San Francisco in 2006.

Kim Shuck was Poet Laureate of San Francisco in 2017.

Tongo Eisen-Martin is poet laureate of San Francisco.

Barry Spacks was poet laureate of Santa Barbara in 2005.

Genea Brice, Jeremy Snyder, and D. L. Lang, poets laureate of Vallejo.

D. L. Lang was poet laureate of Vallejo in 2017.

Vallejo Poet Laureate Jeremy Snyder

Alameda

Mary Rudge (2002–2014)^[1]
Julia Park Tracey (2014–2017)^[2]
Cathy Dana and Gene Kahane (2017–2020)^[3]
Kimi Sugioka (2020– )^[4]

Albany

Christina Hutchins (2008–2012)^[5]^[6]
Toby Bielawski (2012–2016)^[5]
Rebecca Black (2016–2020)^[7]^[5]

Altadena

Jean Burden (appt. 1976)^[8]
Ralph Lane (2006–2008)^[9]
Marcia Thompson (2008–2010)^[9]
Alene Terzian (2010–2012)^[9]
Linda Dove (2012–2014)^[9]
Thelma T. Reyna (2014–2016)^[9]
Elline Lipkin (2016–2018)^[9]
Hazel Clayton Harrison and Teresa Mei Chuc (2018–2020)^[9]
Jessica Abughattas and Khadija Anderson (2020–2022)^[9]
Peter J. Harris and Carla R. Sameth (2022–2024)^[10]
Lester Graves Lennon and Sehba Sarwar (2024–2026)^[9]

Anaheim

Grant Heir (2018–2020)
Wendy Van Camp (2022–2024)
Camille Hernandez (2024-)

Antioch

Jose "Cordon Concepts" Cordón (2024– )^[11]

Belmont

Tanuja Wakefield (2014-2018)^[12]
Jacki Rigoni (2018-2021)^[13]
Monica Korde (2021–2024)^[14]

Benicia

Joel Fallon (2006–2008)^[15]
Robert Shelby (2008–2010)^[16]
Ronna Leon (2010–2012)
Lois Requist (2012–2014)
Don Peery (2014–2016)
Johanna Ely (2016–2018)^[17]
Tom Stanton (2018–2020)^[18]
Mary Susan Gast (2020–2023)^[19]
Katrina "Kathy" Monroe (2024–2026)^[20]
David Hakim (2026-2028)^[21]

Berkeley

Julia Vinograd [recognised officially as Berkeley's unofficial poet laureate in 2004]^[22]
Rafael Jesús González (2017–2023)^[23]^[24]
Aya de León (2024–2025)^[25]

Brentwood

Diane Lando (inaugural; 2006–2008)^[26]
Kati Short (2010–2021)^[27]
Mary Jane Barnes^[28]

Compton

Elmo Bridges (appt. 1983)^[29]

Crockett

Ruth Blakeney (inaugural; 2006)^[30]

Culver City

Dr. Janet Hoult (2015–2017)^[31]

Cupertino

David Denny (2011–2013)^[32]
Jennifer Swanton Brown (2013–2015)^[32]
Amanda Williamsen (2016)^[32]
Ann Muto (2016–2017)^[32]
Kaecey McCormick (2018–2020)^[32]
Jing Jing Yang (2020–2022)^[32]
Keiko O'Leary (2023–2024)^[33]

Danville

Nancy Fraze (2008–2011)^[34]
Lea Kagel (2011–2013)^[35]

Davis

Allegra Silberstein (2010-–2012)^[36]
Eve West Bessier (2012-–2014)^[37]
Dr. Andy Jones (2014-–2018)^[38]
James Lee Jobe (2018-–2021)^[39]
Julia B. Levine (2022-–2024)^[40]
Mercedes Ibáñez (2024–2026)^[41]

Dublin

Ronnie Holland (2008–2010)^[42]
James Moorehead (2021–2024)^[43]
Richard Deets (2025— )^[44]

East Palo Alto

Kalamu Chaché (1983– )^[45]

El Cerrito

Maw Shein Win (2016–2018)^[46]
Danielle “Dani” Gabriel (2018–2020)^[47]
Eevelyn Mitchell (2021–2023)^[48]^[49]^[50]
Tess Taylor (2024–2026)^[51]

El Segundo

Hope Anita Smith (2022–2023)^[52]

Emeryville

Janell Moon (2010–2012)^[53]
Sarah Kobrinsky (2013–2015)^[53]

Encinitas

Trish Dugger (2005)^[54]

Escalon

Jonathon "Jonnie" Cabello (2024– )^[55]

Eureka

David Holper (2019–2021)^[56]
Wil Gibson (2021–2022)^[57]

Fairfield

Juanita J. Martin (2010–2012)^[58]^[59]
Bonnie DiMichele (2020–2022)^[60]
Suzanne Bruce (2022–2024)^[61]
Michael J. Wyly (2025–2027)^[62]

Fresno

James Pablo Tyner Contreras (2013–2015)^[63]^[64]^[65]
Lee Herrick (2015–2017)^[63]
S. Bryan Medina (2017–2019)^[63]
Marisol Baca (2019–2021)^[63]
Megan Anderson Bohigian (2021–2023)^[63]
Joseph Rios (2023–2025)^[66]
Aideed Medina (2025–)^[67]

Glendale

Raffi Joe Wartanian (2023– )^[68]^[69]

Hayward

Bruce Roberts (2015–2024)^[70]
Leticia Guzman (2024–present)^[71]

Lafayette/Orinda

Amy Glynn (2018–2020)^[72]

Laguna Beach

Kate Buckley (2017–2018)^[73]
Karen Wood (2018–2019)^[74]

Lathrop

Jose Garcia Martin (Inaugural; 2025– )^[75]

Livermore

Connie Post (2005–2009)^[76]
Cher Wollard (2009–2013)^[77]
Kevin Gunn (2013–2017)^[78]
Cynthia Patton (2017–2022)^[78]^[79]
Peggy Schimmelman (2022–2026)^[79]
Faith Alpher (2026–present)^[80]

Lodi

Nancy Gonzalez St. Clair (2023– )^[81]

Los Angeles

Eloise Klein Healy (2012–2014)^[82]^[83]
Luis J. Rodriguez (2014–2017)^[83]
Robin Coste Lewis (2017–2019)^[83]
Lynne Thompson (2021–2022)^[84]

Pacific Palisades

Michelle Bitting (appointed in 2012)^[85]

Sunland-Tujunga

Marlene Hitt (inaugural, 1999–2000)^[86]
Katerina Canyon (2000–2004)^[87]
Joe DeCenzo (2004–2006)^[88]
Ursula Gibson (2006–2008)^[88]
Damien Stednitz (2008–2010)^[88]
Maja Trochimczyk (2010–2012)^[89]
Dorothy Skiles (2012–2014)^[90]
Elsa Frausto (2014–2017)^[91]
Pamela Shea (2017–2019)^[92]

Los Gatos

Jen Siraganian (2021–2023)^[93]
William Ward Butler (2024–2027)^[94]

Malibu

Ricardo Means Ybarra (2017–2019)^[95]
Ellen Reich (2019–2020)^[95]
Dr. John Struloeff (2020–2021)^[95]
Ann Buxie (2021–2023)^[95]
Nathan Hassall (2023–2025)^[95]

Manteca

Tara Rico (2024– )^[96]

Merced

Joyce Dale (inaugural; 2025– )^[97]

Modesto

Jeannette Gould Maino (1994–1996)^[98]
Arlene Silva Mattos (1996–2000)^[98]
Debee Loyd (2000–2004)^[98]
Sam Pierstoff (2004–2008)^[98]
Ed Bearden (2008–2012)^[98]
Gillian Wegener (2012–2016)^[98]
Stella Beratlis (2016–2020)^[98]
Salvatore Salerno (2020–2024)^[98]
Angela Drew (2024– )^[99]

National City

Rubia Miller (1970)^[100]

Nevada City

James Parnell Powers (c. 1896)^[101]

Oakland

Ayodele Nzinga (2021– )^[102]

Ojai

Joan Raymund (inaugural, 2003)^[103]

Pacifica

Rod Clark (2003-2013)^[104]
Dorsetta Hale (2014-2017)^[104]
Camincha Benvenutto (2018-2021)^[104]
Toni Mirosevich (2022– )^[104]

Palm Desert

Lori Davis (2023– )^[105]

Palm Springs

C. Ronald Ellis (c. 1975)^[106]^[107]

Pleasanton

Charlene Villella (1999–2000)^[108]
Jim Ott (2001–2003)^[109]
Kirk Ridgeway (2003–2005)^[110]
Cynthia Bryant (2005–2007)^[111]
Martha Meltzer (2007–2009)^[112]
Deborah Grossman (2009–2011)^[113]
Cynthia Bryant (2011–2012)^[111]
Sandra Harrison Kay (2013–2015)^[114]

Point Arena

Fionna Perkins (tenure ended upon her death in 2013)^[115]
Blake More (2021– )^[116]

Pomona

David Judah Oliver (2020–2021)^[117]
Ceasar Avelar (2023– )^[118]

Rancho Mirage

Dorothea Bisbas (2011– )^[119]

Richmond

Dwayne Parish (2012–2014)^[120]^[121]
Lincoln Bergman (2014–2016)^[122] (concurrent)
Donté Clark (2014–2016)^[122] (concurrent)
Brenda Quintanilla (2014–2016)^[122] (concurrent)
Daniel Ari (2017–2019)^[122] (concurrent)
Ciera-Jevai Gordon (2017–2019) (concurrent)
Rob Lipton (2017–2019)^[123]^[122] (concurrent)
David Flores (2021–2023)^[124]^[125]
Stephen Sharpe (2023– )

Sacramento

Dennis Schmitz and Viola Weinberg (2000–2002)^[126]^[127] (concurrent)
José Montoya (2002–2004)^[126]
Julia Connor (2005–2009)^[126]
Bob Stanley (2009–2012)^[126]
Jeff Knorr (2012–2015)^[126]
Indigo Moor (2017–2019)^[126]
Andru Defeye (2020–2024)^[128]^[129]

Salinas

James B. Golden (2014–2018)^[130]

San Diego

Ron Salisbury (2020–2021)^[131]
Jason Magabo Perez (2023–2024)^[132]
Paola Capó-García (2025- )^[133]

San Francisco

Lawrence Ferlinghetti (inaugural; 1998–2000)^[134]
Janice Mirikitani (2000–2002)^[134]
Devorah Major (2002–2004)^[134]
Jack Hirschman (2006–2008)^[134]
Diane di Prima (2009–2011)^[134]
Alejandro Murguía (2012–2015)^[134]
Kim Shuck (2017–2021)^[134]
Tongo Eisen-Martin (2021–2024)^[134]
Genny Lim (2024– )^[135]

San Juan Capistrano

Red Steagall (Cowboy Poet Laureate, 1992– )^[136]

San Ramon

Patricia Perry (2006–2009)^[137]
Elaine Betts (2010–2012)^[137]
Kathy Moore (2012–2018)^[137]
Jenyth Jo (2018–2024)^[137]
Jaz Sufi (2024–2026)^[137]

Santa Barbara

Barry Spacks (inaugural; 2005–2007)^[138]^[139]
Perie Longo (2007–2009)^[138]
David Starkey (2009–2011)^[138]^[140]
Paul Willis (2011–2013)^[138]
Chryss Yost (2013–2015)^[138]
Sojourner Kincaid Rolle (2015–2017)^[138]
Enid Osborn (2017–2019)^[138]
Laure-Anne Bosselaar (2019–2021)^[138]^[141]
Emma Trelles (2021–2023)^[142]^[138]
Melinda Palacio (2023–2025)^[143]
George Yatchisin (2025–2027)^[144]

Santa Monica

Anne Carmack (2024– )^[145]

South Pasadena

Ron Koertge (2018– )^[146]

Stockton

Tama Brisbane (2015–2023)^[147]
JazMarie LaTour (2023– )^[148]

Suisun City

David "50th Excalibur" Camper (2023– )^[149]

Ukiah

Armand Brint (2001–2004)^[150]
Linda Noel (2004–2006)^[151]
David Smith-Ferri (2006–2009)^[152]
Theresa Whitehill (2009–2011)^[153]
Dan Barte (2012–2014)^[154]
Jabez Churchill (2014–2016)^[155]
Michael Riedell (2016–2018)^[156]
Roberta Werdinger (2018–2020)^[157]
Melissa Eleftherion Carr (2021–2023)^[158]

Vallejo

Genea Brice (2015–2017)^[159]
D. L. Lang (2017–2019)^[160]
Jeremy Snyder (2020–2023)^[161]
Jacalyn Eyvonne and Kathleen Herrmann (concurrent, 2024–2025)^[162]
Erik Manuel Soto (2026-2027)^[163]

Venice

Philomene Long (2005–2007)^[164]

Watsonville

Robert "Bob" Gómez (2022–2024)^[165]
Victoria Bañales (2025–2027)^[166]

West Hollywood

Steven Reigns (2014–2016)^[167]
Kim Dower (2016–2018)^[168]
Charles Flowers (2018–2020)^[169]
Brian Sonia-Wallace (2020–2023)^[170]
Jen Cheng (2023–2026)^[171]

Yucca Valley

June LeMert Paxton (c. 1940s)^[172]^[173]

Counties

Amador County

Kat Everitt (2018–2020)^[174]
Deja Douglas (2020–2022)^[174]
Margaret Lewis (2023–2025)^[174]

Calaveras County

Conrad Levasseur (2020–2022)^[175]
Linda Toren (2022–2024)^[176]

El Dorado County

Taylor Graham (2016–2018)^[177]
Suzanne Roberts (2018–2020)^[177]
Lara Gularte (2021–2023)^[177]
Stephen Meadows (2023–2025)^[177]

Humboldt County

Jim Dodge^[178]
Jerry Martien^[178]^[179]

Kern County

Don Thompson (2016–2019)^[180]
Matthew Woodman (2019–2024)^[181]
Samuel Rain Benjamin (2024–present)

Lake County

Jim Lyle (1998–2002)^[182]
James BlueWolf (2002–2004)^[182]
Carolyn Wing Greenlee (2004–2006)^[182]
Sandra Wade (2006–2008)^[182]
Mary McMillan (2008–2010)^[182]
Russell Gonzaga (2010–2012)^[182]
Elaine Watt (2012–2014)^[182]
Casey Carney (2014–2016)^[182]
Julie Adams (2016–2018)^[182]
Richard Schmidt (2018–2020)^[182]
Georgina Marie Guardado (2020–2024)^[182]
Brenda Yeager (2024–2026)^[183]

Lassen County

Violet Stout (inaugural; 1991)^[184]

Marin County

Albert Flynn DeSilver (2008–2010)^[185]
Lyn Follett (2010–2013)^[185]
Joe Zaccardi (2013–2015)^[185]
Prartho Sereno (2015–2017)^[185]
Rebecca Foust (2017–2019)^[186]
Terry Lucas (2019–2021)^[187]
Francesca Bell (2023–2025)^[188]

Mendocino County

Devreaux Baker (2024– )^[189]

Monterey County

Daniel B. Summerhill (2022–2023)^[190]
Rachelle Escamilla (2024–2025)^[191]

Napa County

Dorothy Lee Hansen (inaugural; 2002–2004)^[192]
Beclee Wilson (2015–2017)^[193]
Jeremy Benson (2017–2021)^[193]
Marianne Lyon (2021–2023)^[194]
Aisha Rivera (2023–2025)^[195]

Nevada County

Molly Fisk (2017–2019)^[196]
Chris Olander (2019–2021)^[197]
Kirsten Casey (2022–2024)^[198]
Karen Terrey (2025– )^[199]

Orange County

Dr. Natalie J. Graham (2021–2023)^[200]
Gustavo Hernandez (2024–2026)^[201]

San Luis Obispo County

Ray Clark Dickson (1999)^[202]
Glenna Luschei (2000)^[202]
Hernan Castellano-Giron (2001)^[202]
Anne Candelaria (2002)^[202]
Kevin Patrick Sullivan (2003)^[202]
Michael McLaughlin (2004)^[202]
Jane Elsdon (2005)^[202]
Gloria L. Velasquez (2006)^[202]
Rosemary Wilvert (2007)^[202]
Dian Sousa (2008)^[202]
James Cushing (2009-2010)^[202]
Bonnie Young (2011-2012)^[202]
Jerry Douglas Smith (2013-2014)^[202]
Marguerite Costigan (2015-2016)^[202]
Jeanie Greensfelder (2017-2018)^[202]
Ivan BrownOtter (2019)^[202]
Kevin Clark (2019-2022)^[202]
Caleb Nichols (2025– )^[203]

San Mateo County

Caroline Goodwin (2014–2016)^[204]
Lisa Rosenberg (2017–2018)^[204]
Aileen Cassinetto (2019–2022)^[205]^[206]
Jorge Argueta (2023–2024)^[207]
Antonio López (2025– )^[208]

Santa Clara County

Nils Peterson (2009–2011)^[209]
Sally Ashton (2011–2013)^[209]
David Perez (2014–2015)^[209]
Arlene Biala (2016–2017)^[209]
Mike McGee (2018–2019)^[209]
Janice Sapigao (2020–2021)^[209]
Tshaka Campbell (2022–2023)^[209]
Yosimar Reyes (2024–2025)^[209]

Santa Cruz County

Gary Young (2010–2011)^[210]
David Swanger (2012–2013)^[211]
Ellen Bass (2014–2015)^[212]
Robert Sward (2016–2018)^[213]
Danusha Laméris (2018–2020)^[214]
David Sullivan (2021–2022)^[213]
Farnaz Fatemi (2023–2024)^[215]
Nancy Miller Gomez (2025–2026)^[216]

Sonoma County

Don Emblen (2000-2001)^[217]
David Bromige (2002-2003)^[217]
Terry Ehret (2004–2006)^[218]
Geri Digiorno (2006-2007)^[217]
Mike Tuggle (2008-2009)^[217]
Gwynn O'Gara (2010–2011)^[217]
Bill Vartnaw (2012–2013)^[219]
Katherine Hastings (2014–2016)^[220]
Iris Dunkle (2017–2018)^[221]
Maya Khosla (2018–2020)^[222]
Phyllis Meshulam (2020–2022)^[223]
Elizabeth C. Herron (2022–2024)^[224]
Dave Seter (2024–2026)^[225]

Sutter County/Yuba County

Jonathan Kinsman (2014–2018)^[226]
Marcelo Hernandez Castillo (2020–2023)^[227]^[228]

Tulare County

Wilma Elizabeth McDaniel (c. 1970s)^[229]

Ventura County

Mary Kay Rummel (2014–2015)^[230]
Phil Taggart (2016–2019)^[231]
Luzmaria Espinosa (2020–2024)^[232]
Mary Ann McFadden (2025— )^[233]

See also

Notes

1.^Eevelyn Mitchell's term as poet laureate was extended to a third year in August of 2022.^[234]

References

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