John White Geary was an American lawyer, politician, Freemason, and a Union general in the American Civil War. He was the final alcalde and first mayor of San Francisco, a governor of the Kansas Territory, and the 16th governor of Pennsylvania.
Geary in the Civil War
Opposition poster for the 1866 election. Geary's opponent, Hiester Clymer, ran on a white supremacy platform.
The mayor of the City and County of San Francisco is the head of the executive branch of the San Francisco city and county government. The officeholder has the duty to enforce city laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the legislative branch. The mayor serves a four-year term and is limited to two successive terms. Because of San Francisco's status as a consolidated city-county, the mayor also serves as the head of government of the county; both entities have been governed together by a combined set of governing bodies since 1856.
Mayor of San Francisco
Image: John W. Geary Brady Handy
Image: Charles J. Brenham, second and fourth mayor of San Francisco
Image: Stephen R. Harris, M. D., third mayor of San Francisco (01)