# 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 (2024–2025)

### 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)

### Glendale

* Raffi Joe Wartanian (2023– )

### Hayward

* Bruce Roberts (2015–2024)

### 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– )

### 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)

### 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)

### 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)

### 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)

### 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— )