August 30, 1888 - General Election

• Ward 1: John T. Carnell
• Ward 2: Francis St. John
• Ward 3: Moses Monroe
• Ward 4: Michael Power
• Ward 5: William Morison

Government appointees to Council:

• James Goodfellow, Chairman
• James P. Fox. 

The Honorable J. Harris was appointed to Council in 1890, succeeding James P. Fox who died while in office. The 1888 general election was the first municipal election in St. John's and the first election under the Ballot Act. 

January 23, 1892 - General Election

• Ward 1: John T. Carnell
• Ward 2: John T. Southcott
• Ward 3: James Goodfellow
• Ward 4: Michael Power
• Ward 5: Donald Morison

Government appointees to Council:

• Edward W. Bennett
• Thomas Mitchell

February 26, 1892

Thomas Mitchell was elected Chairman.

December 30, 1893

Chairman Thomas Mitchell was replaced by Thomas J. Edens.

1894 - By-Election

The Honorable John Harris was elected Ward 1 Councillor by acclamation following the death of John T. Carnell in August 1893. 

1894

James J. Callahan was appointed to Council.

January 4, 1894

Councillor Michael Power was elected Chairman.

January 23, 1896 - General Election

• Ward 1: John Harris
• Ward 2: Thomas Keating
• Ward 3: John V. O'Dea
• Ward 4: Michael Power
• Ward 5: James T. Callahan

Government appointees to Council:

• Thomas J. Edens
• R.A. McCoubrey

Council held its first meeting on February 7, 1896.  Michael Power was elected Chairman.  Thomas J. Edens resigned on November 18, 1896, and was replaced by M.K. Greene.

1898 to 1902

St. John's was governed by Commission.  Three members were appointed by Government: H.C. Burchell, T.M. White and J.V. O'Dea.

1899

T.M. White resigned, succeeded by P.C. O'Driscoll.

1900

H.F. Bradshaw appointed to the Commission, succeeding P.C. O'Driscoll.

1902

Abolishment of the Commission. Legislation was passed providing for an elected Council consisting of a mayor and six councillors, all elected at large. Elections were to be held in June of every fourth year from 1902 onwards.

June 19, 1902 - General Election

• Mayor: George Shea

Councillors:

• John R. Bennett
• William J. Ellis
• Charles F. Muir
• John Harris
• John Anderson
• Michael Kennedy

John R. Bennett received the highest vote among the six elected councillors and was referred to as Senior Councillor.  As such he presided over Council Meetings in the absence of the Mayor.

June 26, 1906 - General Election

• Mayor: Michael P. Gibbs

Councillors:

• William J. Ellis
• Michael Kennedy
• John Carew
• Samuel G. Collier
• John Cowan
• James T. Martin

Between September 3-10, 1906, John Carew died while in office and no by-election was held.

July 1908

The first civic strike was held by sanitary workers.

June 27, 1910 - General Election

• Mayor: William J. Ellis

Councillors:

• James Martin
• John Coaker
• James J. Channing
• Charles R. Ryan
• James J. Mullaly
• Martin W. Myrick

August 9, 1911

Council opened the town's first civic-owned offices after having purchased the Seaman's Home in late 1910.

July 1, 1914

Commission system of government replaced elected form of municipal government. 

Appointments:

• John Anderson
• Charles P. Ayre
• F. W. Bradshaw
• William Ellis
• William Gilbert Gosling
• John Harris
• Edward M. Jackman
• James McGrath
• Francis MacNamara
• Issac C. Morris
• James J. Mullaly
• J. W. Withers

July 2, 1914

First meeting of Commission. William Gosling elected as chairman, defeating William Ellis who then resigned.

June 29, 1916 - General Election

• Mayor: William G. Gosling

Councillors:

• Issac C. Morris
• Dr. James S. Tait
• Henry J. Brownrigg
• James J. Mullaly
• Charles P. Ayre
• Nicholas J. Vinnicombe

June 1920 to June 1921

St. John's was run by Commission appointed by the Governor-in-Council.

Appointments made July 5, 1920:

• W. G. Gosling
• Charles P. Ayre
• Issac Morris
• James Mullaly
• Nicholas J. Vinnicombe

July 1 to December 31, 1921

The old Commission ended its term of office on June 30, 1921, and the new Commission took office on July 26, 1921, leaving St. John's without any local government for nearly a month.

Appointments:

• Issac Morris, Chairman
• Samuel G. Collier
• W. H. Jackman
• James J. Mullaly
• Samuel H. Peet
• Nicholas J. Vinnicombe

August 2, 1921

Civic legislation known as the City Charter passed both Houses of the Legislature.  This document was worked on extensively by William G. Gosling and laid out the rights and responsibilities of the council and its officials.  Women received the right to vote because of the charter.

December 15, 1921 - General Election

• Mayor: Tasker Cook

Councillors:

• James T. Martin, elected Deputy Mayor by Council
• Philip E. Outerbridge
• Nicholas J. Vinnicombe
• Samuel G. Collier
• Charles W. Ryan
• Reginald Dowden

The new position of Deputy Mayor was determined by a Council vote.

December 8, 1925 - General Election

• Mayor: Tasker Cook - acclamation

Councillors:

• Joseph Fitzgibbon, elected Deputy Mayor by Council
• Dr. Archibald C. Tait
• William E. Brophy
• Philip E. Outerbridge
• Charles W. Ryan
• James T. Martin

This was first election in which women were allowed to run for Council. Three women ran unsuccessfully.  Julia Salter Earle came within eleven votes of claiming the sixth and final Council seat.  

1927

Appointment of the City's first Town Planning Commission.

December 9, 1929 - General Election

• Mayor: Charles J. Howlett

Councillors:

• Charles W. Ryan
• Andrew G. Carnell, elected Deputy Mayor by Council
• John P. Kelly
• Jonas C. Barter
• James R. Chalker
• Ernest St. Clair Churchill

March 31, 1932

Charles J. Howlett died. Andrew Carnell led the administration.

December 1933 - General Election

• Mayor: Andrew Carnell

Councillors:

• James R. Chalker, elected Deputy Mayor by Council
• Charles W. Ryan
• John P. Kelly
• Philip E. Outerbridge
• Michael F. Caul
• James J. Spratt

April 8, 1935 - By-Election

John Williams won the seat left vacant by Philip E. Outerbridge’s resignation.

December 16, 1937 - General Election

• Mayor: Andrew G. Carnell

Councillors:

• James R. Chalker, elected Deputy Mayor by Council
• James J. Spratt
• John P. Kelly
• John M. Tobin
• Kenneth Ruby
• John T. Meaney

May 1, 1941

Kenneth Ruby died while in office.

December 15, 1941 - General Election

• Mayor: Andrew G. Carnell

Councillors:

• Eric Cook, elected Deputy Mayor by Council
• Edward Lawrence
• Oliver L. Vardy
• James J. Spratt
• John P. Kelly
• John T. Meaney

1943

Edward Lawrence and John T. Meaney died while in office.  Their seats were filled by A. M. Fraser and H.G.R. Mews in a by-election later that same year.

November 13, 1945 - General Election

• Mayor: Andrew G. Carnell

Councillors:

• James J. Spratt, Deputy Mayor
• Harry G. R. Mews
• Oliver L. Vardy
• John P. Kelly
• William P. Ryan
• Eric Jerrett

A tradition had evolved whereby the Deputy Mayor's position was given to the Councillor finishing first in the polls. In 1948, William P. Ryan died while in office.  John P. Kelly died in September 1949.

November 8, 1949 - General Election

• Mayor: Harry G. Mews

Councillors:

• George Nightingale, Deputy Mayor
• James D. Higgins
• Joseph Fitzgibbon
• Eric Jerrett
• James Tucker
• Leo A. Earle

The new Council was sworn in on January 3, 1950.

January 7, 1950

Ronald Martin was appointed City Engineer.

March 9, 1950

Edward Foran was appointed Assistant City Clerk.

June 1, 1950 - By-Election

Won by Douglas Oilphant.

November 10, 1953 - General Election

• Mayor: Harry G. R. Mews

Councillors:

• James D. Higgins, Deputy Mayor
• George Nightingale
• Joseph Fitzgibbon
• James Tucker
• Leo A. Earle
• W. Gordon Warren

November 12, 1957 - General Election

• Mayor: Harry G. R. Mews

Councillors:

• James D. Higgins, Deputy Mayor
• Joseph Fitzgibbon
• James Tucker
• George Nightingale
• Geoffrey C. Carnell
• Alec Henley

James Tucker resigned from Council on April 30, 1958.  Joseph Fitzgibbon died on December 17, 1960 and no by-election was held.

June 23, 1958 - By-Election

Robert F. McLeod won the seat left vacant by the resignation of James Tucker.

November 14, 1961 - General Election

• Mayor: Harry G. R. Mews
• Deputy Mayor: William G. Adams

Councillors:

• James D. Higgins
• Geoffrey C. Carnell
• Alec G. Henley
• Walter C. Carter
• James M. Fagan

October 1963

James D. Higgins was appointed to the Supreme Court and resigned.

November 25, 1963 - By-Election

Gerald A. Wiggins was elected.

November 16, 1965 - General Election

• Mayor: William G. Adams
• Deputy Mayor: John Crosbie

Councillors:

• Walter Carter
• James Fagan
• Geoffrey Carnell
• Thomas Doyle
• Jim Browne

July 1966

John Crosbie resigned from council.

November 15, 1966 - By-Election

Clarence L. Englebrecht (Bob Lewis) elected as Councillor. A by-election was called because of John Crosbie’s resignation from Council.

November 18, 1969 - General Election

• Mayor: William G. Adams
• Deputy Mayor: Leonard Stirling

Councillors:

• Clarence Englebrecht (Bob Lewis)
• James Fagan
• Brian E. Higgins
• Dorothy Wyatt
• Jim Browne
• Albert Andrews
• Geoffrey Carnell

Dorothy Wyatt was the first woman elected to Council.

November 13, 1973 - General Election

• Mayor: Dorothy Wyatt
• Deputy Mayor: John J. Murphy

Councillors:

• Miller Ayre
• David G. Riche
• David Barrett
• James Fagan
• Brian E. Higgins
• Eric Gullage
• Ray O'Neill

Dorothy Wyatt became St. John's first female mayor.

October 26, 1973

Eric Gullage resigned from Council.

November 8, 1977 - General Election

• Mayor: Dorothy Wyatt
• Deputy Mayor: Ray O'Neill

Councillors:

• Suzanne (Shannie) Duff
• Brian E. Higgins
• James Fagan
• David Barrett
• Frances Innis
• Hugh Baird
• Andrew Wells

Council took office on December 1, 1977.  Previous councils had taken office on January 1st of the year following the election.

September 25, 1979 - By-Election

Thomas Osbourne won the by-election called due to the death of Brian Higgins.

November 3, 1981 - General Election

• Mayor: John J. Murphy

Councillors at large:

• Suzanne Duff, Deputy Mayor
• James Fagan
• David Barrett
• Ronald Pumphrey
• Ward 1: Andrew Wells
• Ward 2: John Tessier
• Ward 3: Bruce Tilley
• Ward 4: Thomas Osborne

Council took office on December 1, 1981.

September 1984

Ronald Pumphrey resigned from Council.

November 12, 1985 - General Election

• Mayor: John J. Murphy
• Deputy Mayor: Suzanne Duff
• Ward 1: Andy Wells
• Ward 2: Eric Gullage
• Ward 3: Bruce Tilley
• Ward 4: Thomas Osborne

Councillors at Large:

• Raymond O'Neill
• Dorothy Wyatt
• David Barrett

May 24, 1989

Eric Gullage resigned from Council.

November 13, 1990 - General Election

• Mayor: Suzanne Duff
• Deputy Mayor: Andrew Wells
• Ward 1: Wendy Williams
• Ward 2: Douglas Atkinson
• Ward 3: John Whalen
• Ward 4: Gerard Colbert

Councillors at Large:

• Dorothy Wyatt
• Raymond O'Neill
• Basil Jamieson

Council took office on December 1, 1990.

September 28, 1992

Douglas Atkinson resigned.

February 25, 1992 - By-Election

• Ward 5: Paul J. Reynolds
• Ward 6: John Dinn

Wards 5 and 6 were added after the towns of Wedgewood Park and Goulds amalgamated with St. John's.

November 24, 1992 - By-Election

By-Election called due to the resignation of Douglas Atkinson. Bruce Tilley was elected in Ward 2 and sworn in on December 7, 1992.

November 9, 1993 - General Election

• Mayor: John J. Murphy
• Deputy Mayor: Andrew Wells
• Ward 1: Sean Hanrahan
• Ward 2: Shawn Skinner
• Ward 3: Keith Coombs
• Ward 4: Gerry Colbert
• Ward 5: John Dinn

Councillors at Large:

• Dorothy Wyatt
• Jeffrey Brace
• Marie White
• Ray O'Neill

September 30, 1997 - General Election

• Mayor: Andrew Wells
• Deputy Mayor: Marie White
• Ward 1: Sean Hanrahan
• Ward 2: Frank Galgay
• Ward 3: Keith Coombs
• Ward 4: Gerry Colbert
• Ward 5: John Dinn

Councillors-at-Large:

• Peter Miller
• Shannie Duff
• Dennis O'Keefe
• Dorothy Wyatt

New Council sworn in on October 14, 1997.  Deputy Mayor Marie White was sworn in as Acting Mayor due to a recount of the votes for Mayor. Andy Wells sworn in as Mayor on October 31, 1997.

September 25, 2001 - General Election

• Mayor: Andy Wells
• Deputy Mayor: Gerry Colbert
• Ward 1: Art Puddister
• Ward 2: Frank Galgay
• Ward 3: Keith Coombs
• Ward 4: Kevin Breen
• Ward 5: John Dinn

Councillors at Large:

• Dennis O'Keefe
• Shannie Duff
• Paul Sears
• Dorothy Wyatt (elected after her death)

New Council sworn in on October 9, 2001.  Dorothy Wyatt was the first candidate to be elected posthumously resulting in a by-election to be held later in the year.

November 27, 2001 - By-Election

Sandy Hickman was elected Councillor at Large.

New council sworn in on December 3, 2001.

September 27, 2005 - General Election

• Mayor: Andy Wells
• Deputy Mayor: Dennis O'Keefe
• Ward 1: Art Puddister
• Ward 2: Frank Galgay
• Ward 3: Keith Coombs
• Ward 4: Ron Ellsworth
• Ward 5: Wally Collins

Councillors at Large:

• Gerry Colbert
• Shannie Duff
• Tom Hann
• Sandy Hickman

New Council sworn in on October 11, 2005.

March 3, 2008

Mayor Andy Wells became Chairperson of the Public Utilities Board and resigned.

March 3 to April 18, 2008

Deputy Mayor Dennis O'Keefe assumed the role of Acting Mayor.

April 18 to June 9, 2008

Councillor Shannie Duff assumed the role of Acting Mayor.

June 3, 2008 - By-Election

• Mayor: Dennis O’Keefe
• Deputy Mayor: Ron Ellsworth
• Ward 4: Debbie Hanlon

New Council members sworn in on June 9, 2008.

June 9, 2008 to September 2009

Council for the period June 9, 2008, to September 2009 as a result of the above by-election.

• Mayor: Dennis O’Keefe
• Deputy Mayor: Ron Ellsworth
• Ward 1: Art Puddister
• Ward 2: Frank Galgay
• Ward 3: Keith Coombs
• Ward 4: Debbie Hanlon
• Ward 5: Wally Collins

Councillors at Large:

• Gerry Colbert
• Shannie Duff
• Tom Hann
• Sandy Hickman

September 29, 2009 - General Election

• Mayor: Dennis O’Keefe
• Deputy Mayor: Shannie Duff
• Ward 1: Danny Breen
• Ward 2: Frank Galgay
• Ward 3: Bruce Tilley
• Ward 4: Debbie Hanlon
• Ward 5: Wally Collins

Councillors at Large:

• Gerry Colbert
• Tom Hann
• Sandy Hickman
• Sheilagh O’Leary

New Council sworn in on October 13, 2009.

September 24, 2013 - General Election

• Mayor: Dennis O’Keefe
• Deputy Mayor: Ron Ellsworth
• Ward 1: Danny Breen
• Ward 2: Jonathan Galgay
• Ward 3: Bruce Tilley
• Ward 4: Bernard Davis
• Ward 5: Wally Collins

Councillors at Large:

• Tom Hann
• Sandy Hickman
• Dave Lane
• Art Puddister

New Council sworn in on October 7, 2013.

February 23, 2016 - By-Election

Sheilagh O’Leary elected Ward 4 Councillor.

September 26, 2017 - General Election

• Mayor: Danny Breen
• Deputy Mayor: Sheilagh O’Leary
• Ward 1: Deanne Stapleton
• Ward 2: Hope Jamieson
• Ward 3: Jamie Korab
• Ward 4: Ian Froude
• Ward 5: Wally Collins

Councillors at Large:

• Sandy Hickman
• Dave Lane
• Debbie Hanlon
• Maggie Burton

New Council sworn in on October 10, 2017.

October 20, 2020 - By-Election

Shawn Skinner elected Ward 2 Councillor and sworn in on October 26, 2020.

September 28, 2021 - General Election

• Mayor: Danny Breen
• Deputy Mayor: Sheilagh O’Leary
• Ward 1: Jill Bruce
• Ward 2: Ophelia Ravencroft
• Ward 3: Jamie Korab
• Ward 4: Ian Froude
• Ward 5: Carl Ridgeley

Councillors at Large:

• Sandy Hickman
• Ron Ellsworth
• Debbie Hanlon
• Maggie Burton

New Council sworn in on October 12, 2021.

March 12, 2024 - By-Election

Tom Davis elected Ward 4 Councillor and sworn in on March 19, 2024.

November 5, 2024 - By-Election

Greg Noseworthy elected Ward 3 Councillor and sworn in on November 12, 2024.

October 8, 2025 - General Election

• Mayor: Danny Breen
• Deputy Mayor: Ron Ellsworth
• Ward 1: Jill Bruce
• Ward 2: Brenda Halley
• Ward 3: Greg Noseworthy
• Ward 4: Tom Davis
• Ward 5: Donnie Earle

Councillors at Large:

• Sandy Hickman
• Kate Cadigan
• Lynn Hammond
• Nikita Ryall

New Council sworn in on October 14, 2025.

• 1895-1899 P.W. Kelly, Secretary-Treasurer
• 1899-1902 M.K. Greene, Secretary-Treasurer
• 1902-1920 I.J. Slattery, Secretary-Treasurer
• 1920-1952 J.J. Mahoney, City Clerk
• 1952-1970 E.B. Foran, City Clerk
• 1970-1990 R.J. Greene, City Clerk
• 1990-2002 Damian Ryan, City Clerk
• 2002-2014 Neil Martin, City Clerk
• 2014-2021 Elaine Henley, City Clerk
• 2021- 2024 Karen Chafe, City Clerk
• 2024-present Theresa Walsh, City Clerk

As early as 1949, it was recommended that City Council appoint a City Manager to coordinate the overall activities of the municipal government. However, the Office of the City Manager was not created until 1976. Prior to this, Council was responsible for administrative supervision and coordination for the entire organization, with department heads reporting directly to Council. The creation of the City Manager position was intended to allow Council to focus on the development of municipal policy.

The City Manager was assigned responsibility of integrating City staff and operating services; overseeing budgetary planning and control; and developing uniform personnel policies and procedures. All departments reported to the City Manager, who in turn served as an advisor to Council.

City Managers:

• 1976-1979 E.P Henley
• 1979-1983 Neil Cohoon
• 1983-1992 Frank Power
• 1993-1995 William Mann

In 1995, following the recommendations of the Doane-Raymond Report (1992), Council adopted a commissioner system. The position of City Manager was replaced by a Chief Commissioner, who oversaw three commissioners selected from among departmental leaderships. Each department reported to a designated commissioner, and those commissioners reported to and advised Council.

The position of Chief Commissioner was held by one person:

• 1995-2010 Ron Penney

Ron Penney also held the position of City Solicitor during this period.

In 2010, the Chief Commissioner system was abandoned and replaced by the City Manager system which continues today.

City Managers:

• 2011-2014 Robert Smart
• 2014-2016 Neil Martin
• 2016-2026 Kevin Breen
• 2026-present Derek Coffey

• 1888-1890 Charles J. Harvey
• 1890-1891 F.H. Balfour (acting Engineer)
• 1891-1892 R.M. Pratt
• 1892-1893 A.J. Waghorne (acting Engineer)
• 1893-1894 Samuel Chapman
• 1894-1896 R.M Pratt
• 1896-1920 John Ryan
• 1921-1944 William P. Ryan
• 1944-1949 Grant Jack
• 1949-1959 Ronald Martin
• 1959-1963 Duncan Sharpe
• 1963-1979 Eric Mercer
• 1979-1992 James J Finn
• 1992-2010 Art Cheeseman
• 2010-2013 Walt Mills
• 2013-2019 Brendan O’Connell
• 2019-present Scott Winsor