List of municipal poets laureate in California

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

Cities

Alameda

• Mary Rudge (2002–2014)
• Julia Park Tracey (2014–2017)
• Cathy Dana and Gene Kahane (2017–2020)
• Kimi Sugioka (2020– )

Albany

• Christina Hutchins (2008–2012)
• Toby Bielawski (2012–2016)
• Rebecca Black (2016–2020)

Altadena

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

Anaheim

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

Antioch

• Jose "Cordon Concepts" Cordón (2024– )

Belmont

• Tanuja Wakefield (2014-2018)
• Jacki Rigoni (2018-2021)
• Monica Korde (2021–2024)

Benicia

• Joel Fallon (2006–2008)
• Robert Shelby (2008–2010)
• Ronna Leon (2010–2012)
• Lois Requist (2012–2014)
• Don Peery (2014–2016)
• Johanna Ely (2016–2018)
• Tom Stanton (2018–2020)
• Mary Susan Gast (2020–2023)
• Katrina "Kathy" Monroe (2024–)

Berkeley

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

Brentwood

• Diane Lando (inaugural; 2006–2008)
• Kati Short (2010–2021)
• Mary Jane Barnes

Compton

• Elmo Bridges (appt. 1983)

Crockett

• Ruth Blakeney (inaugural; 2006)

Culver City

• Dr. Janet Hoult (2015–2017)

Cupertino

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

Danville

• Nancy Fraze (2008–2011)
• Lea Kagel (2011–2013)

Davis

• Allegra Silberstein (2010-–2012)
• Eve West Bessier (2012-–2014)
• Dr. Andy Jones (2014-–2018)
• James Lee Jobe (2018-–2021)
• Julia B. Levine (2022-–2024)
• Mercedes Ibáñez (2024–2026)

Dublin

• Ronnie Holland (2008–2010)
• James Moorehead (2021–2024)
• Richard Deets (2025— )

East Palo Alto

• Kalamu Chaché (1983– )

El Cerrito

• Maw Shein Win (2016–2018)
• Danielle “Dani” Gabriel (2018–2020)
• Eevelyn Mitchell (2021–2023)
• Tess Taylor (2024–2026)

El Segundo

• Hope Anita Smith (2022–2023)

Emeryville

• Janell Moon (2010–2012)
• Sarah Kobrinsky (2013–2015)

Encinitas

• Trish Dugger (2005)

Escalon

• Jonathon "Jonnie" Cabello (2024– )

Eureka

• David Holper (2019–2021)
• Wil Gibson (2021–2022)

Fairfield

• Juanita J. Martin (2010–2012)
• Bonnie DiMichele (2020–2022)
• Suzanne Bruce (2022–2024)
• Michael J. Wyly (2025–2027)

Fresno

• James Pablo Tyner Contreras (2013–2015)
• Lee Herrick (2015–2017)
• S. Bryan Medina (2017–2019)
• Marisol Baca (2019–2021)
• Megan Anderson Bohigian (2021–2023)
• Joseph Rios (2023–2025)
• Aideed Medina (2025–)

Glendale

• Raffi Joe Wartanian (2023– )

Hayward

• Bruce Roberts (2015–2024)
• Leticia Guzman (2024–present)

Lafayette/Orinda

• Amy Glynn (2018–2020)

Laguna Beach

• Kate Buckley (2017–2018)
• Karen Wood (2018–2019)

Lathrop

• Jose Garcia Martin (Inaugural; 2025– )

Livermore

• Connie Post (2005–2009)
• Cher Wollard (2009–2013)
• Kevin Gunn (2013–2017)
• Cynthia Patton (2017–2022)
• Peggy Schimmelman (2022–present)

Lodi

• Nancy Gonzalez St. Clair (2023– )

Los Angeles

• Eloise Klein Healy (2012–2014)
• Luis J. Rodriguez (2014–2017)
• Robin Coste Lewis (2017–2019)
• Lynne Thompson (2021–2022)

Pacific Palisades

• Michelle Bitting (appointed in 2012)

Sunland-Tujunga

• Marlene Hitt (inaugural, 1999–2000)
• Katerina Canyon (2000–2004)
• Joe DeCenzo (2004–2006)
• Ursula Gibson (2006–2008)
• Damien Stednitz (2008–2010)
• Maja Trochimczyk (2010–2012)
• Dorothy Skiles (2012–2014)
• Elsa Frausto (2014–2017)
• Pamela Shea (2017–2019)

Los Gatos

• Jen Siraganian (2021–2023)
• William Ward Butler (2024–2027)

Malibu

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

Manteca

• Tara Rico (2024– )

Merced

• Joyce Dale (inaugural; 2025– )

Modesto

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

National City

• Rubia Miller (1970)

Nevada City

• James Parnell Powers (c. 1896)

Oakland

• Ayodele Nzinga (2021– )

Ojai

• Joan Raymund (inaugural, 2003)

Pacifica

• Rod Clark (2003-2013)
• Dorsetta Hale (2014-2017)
• Camincha Benvenutto (2018-2021)
• Toni Mirosevich (2022– )

Palm Desert

• Lori Davis (2023– )

Palm Springs

• C. Ronald Ellis (c. 1975)

Pleasanton

• Charlene Villella (1999–2000)
• Jim Ott (2001–2003)
• Kirk Ridgeway (2003–2005)
• Cynthia Bryant (2005–2007)
• Martha Meltzer (2007–2009)
• Deborah Grossman (2009–2011)
• Cynthia Bryant (2011–2012)
• Sandra Harrison Kay (2013–2015)

Point Arena

• Fionna Perkins (tenure ended upon her death in 2013)
• Blake More (2021– )

Pomona

• David Judah Oliver (2020–2021)
• Ceasar Avelar (2023– )

Rancho Mirage

• Dorothea Bisbas (2011– )

Richmond

• Dwayne Parish (2012–2014)
• Lincoln Bergman (2014–2016) (concurrent)
• Donté Clark (2014–2016) (concurrent)
• Brenda Quintanilla (2014–2016) (concurrent)
• Daniel Ari (2017–2019) (concurrent)
• Ciera-Jevai Gordon (2017–2019) (concurrent)
• Rob Lipton (2017–2019) (concurrent)
• David Flores (2021–2023)
• Stephen Sharpe (2023– )

Sacramento

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

Salinas

• James B. Golden (2014–2018)

San Diego

• Ron Salisbury (2020–2021)
• Jason Magabo Perez (2023–2024)
• Paola Capó-García (2025- )

San Francisco

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

San Juan Capistrano

• Red Steagall (Cowboy Poet Laureate, 1992– )

San Ramon

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

Santa Barbara

• Barry Spacks (inaugural; 2005–2007)
• Perie Longo (2007–2009)
• David Starkey (2009–2011)
• Paul Willis (2011–2013)
• Chryss Yost (2013–2015)
• Sojourner Kincaid Rolle (2015–2017)
• Enid Osborn (2017–2019)
• Laure-Anne Bosselaar (2019–2021)
• Emma Trelles (2021–2023)
• Melinda Palacio (2023–2025)
• George Yatchisin (2025–2027)

Santa Monica

• Anne Carmack (2024– )

South Pasadena

• Ron Koertge (2018– )

Stockton

• Tama Brisbane (2015–2023)
• JazMarie LaTour (2023– )

Suisun City

• David "50th Excalibur" Camper (2023– )

Ukiah

• Armand Brint (2001–2004)
• Linda Noel (2004–2006)
• David Smith-Ferri (2006–2009)
• Theresa Whitehill (2009–2011)
• Dan Barte (2012–2014)
• Jabez Churchill (2014–2016)
• Michael Riedell (2016–2018)
• Roberta Werdinger (2018–2020)
• Melissa Eleftherion Carr (2021–2023)

Vallejo

• Genea Brice (2015–2017)
• D. L. Lang (2017–2019)
• Jeremy Snyder (2020–2023)
• Jacalyn Eyvonne and Kathleen Herrmann (concurrent, 2024–2025)
• Erik Manuel Soto (2026-2027)

Venice

• Philomene Long (2005–2007)

Watsonville

• Robert "Bob" Gómez (2022–2024)
• Victoria Bañales (2025–2027)

West Hollywood

• Steven Reigns (2014–2016)
• Kim Dower (2016–2018)
• Charles Flowers (2018–2020)
• Brian Sonia-Wallace (2020–2023)
• Jen Cheng (2023–2026)

Yucca Valley

• June LeMert Paxton (c. 1940s)

Counties

Amador County

• Kat Everitt (2018–2020)
• Deja Douglas (2020–2022)
• Margaret Lewis (2023–2025)

Calaveras County

• Conrad Levasseur (2020–2022)
• Linda Toren (2022–2024)

El Dorado County

• Taylor Graham (2016–2018)
• Suzanne Roberts (2018–2020)
• Lara Gularte (2021–2023)
• Stephen Meadows (2023–2025)

Humboldt County

• Jim Dodge
• Jerry Martien

Kern County

• Don Thompson (2016–2019)
• Matthew Woodman (2019–2024)
• Samuel Rain Benjamin (2024–present)

Lake County

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

Lassen County

• Violet Stout (inaugural; 1991)

Marin County

• Albert Flynn DeSilver (2008–2010)
• Lyn Follett (2010–2013)
• Joe Zaccardi (2013–2015)
• Prartho Sereno (2015–2017)
• Rebecca Foust (2017–2019)
• Terry Lucas (2019–2021)
• Francesca Bell (2023–2025)

Mendocino County

• Devreaux Baker (2024– )

Monterey County

• Daniel B. Summerhill (2022–2023)
• Rachelle Escamilla (2024–2025)

Napa County

• Dorothy Lee Hansen (inaugural; 2002–2004)
• Beclee Wilson (2015–2017)
• Jeremy Benson (2017–2021)
• Marianne Lyon (2021–2023)
• Aisha Rivera (2023–2025)

Nevada County

• Molly Fisk (2017–2019)
• Chris Olander (2019–2021)
• Kirsten Casey (2022–2024)
• Karen Terrey (2025– )

Orange County

• Dr. Natalie J. Graham (2021–2023)
• Gustavo Hernandez (2024–2026)

San Luis Obispo County

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

San Mateo County

• Caroline Goodwin (2014–2016)
• Lisa Rosenberg (2017–2018)
• Aileen Cassinetto (2019–2022)
• Jorge Argueta (2023–2024)
• Antonio López (2025– )

Santa Clara County

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

Santa Cruz County

• Gary Young (2010–2011)
• David Swanger (2012–2013)
• Ellen Bass (2014–2015)
• Robert Sward (2016–2018)
• Danusha Laméris (2018–2020)
• David Sullivan (2021–2022)
• Farnaz Fatemi (2023–2024)
• Nancy Miller Gomez (2025–2026)

Sonoma County

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

Sutter County/Yuba County

• Jonathan Kinsman (2014–2018)
• Marcelo Hernandez Castillo (2020–2023)

Tulare County

• Wilma Elizabeth McDaniel (c. 1970s)

Ventura County

• Mary Kay Rummel (2014–2015)
• Phil Taggart (2016–2019)
• Luzmaria Espinosa (2020–2024)
• Mary Ann McFadden (2025— )

See also

• California Poet Laureate
• List of U.S. state poets laureate
• United States Poet Laureate

Notes

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

References