Council members and city officials since 1954

Lakewood is a general law city, organized according to the civil code of the state of California. (Charter cities are formed on the basis of a charter adopted by the state legislature. Today, there is very little difference between a charter city and general law city.)

Lakewood's five city council members are elected by district for overlapping four-year terms. The city council appoints the city manager and the city attorney. The city manager is responsible to the city council for the day-to-day management of the city’s workforce and the city’s budget. The city attorney provides legal advice to the city council. (A closer look at Lakewood's organizational structure)

The city council appoints the members of Community Safety Commission, the Planning and Environment Commission, and the Recreation and Community Services Commission. Commissioners are Lakewood residents who serve without compensation. Each commission has five members.

Lakewood was incorporated on April 16, 1954. The first city council members were Angelo M. Iacoboni and Gene Nebeker (elected to four-year terms) and William J. Burns, George Nye, Jr., and Robert W. Baker (elected to two-year terms). The arrangement of the first terms of council members ensured that city council elections would occur every two years and terms would overlap.

The office of mayor in Lakewood was originally held for a two-year term. Beginning in 1976, the office of mayor changed to a one-year term.

The mayor is chosen from among the five council members. The position is mostly ceremonial, although the mayor does preside at city council meetings.

Lakewood City Council Members: 1954 to 2024

Below are tables showing a year-by-year history of Lakewood City Council members from 1954 to the present, including the transition from at-large elections to district-based representation.

Key: M = Mayor, E = Elected, A = Appointed

City Managers

The city council appointed Robert T. Anderson in August 1954 as Lakewood’s first administrator (1954–1957). He was followed by Henry Goerlick (1957–1962).

Marshall W. Julian (1962–1971) followed Goerlick. Julian is best remembered as the project coordinator of the study which stabilized law enforcement costs for contract cities. He also was instrumental in the development of the Sky Knight helicopter patrol program and the construction of the Angelo Iacoboni Branch of the county library.

Milton R. Farrell (1971–1976) was city manager during Lakewood’s most troubled political period. When voters elected a new city council majority unsympathetic to the policies of the council members who had appointed Farrell, he was forced to resign.

Howard L. Chambers (1976-2017) had been the assistant to the city manager. He was appointed city manager following the resignation of Milton R. Farrell.

Chambers retired after 46 years as city manager, making him the longest serving city manager in a single city in California. He was closely identified with community development. The Weingart Senior Center, the Palms Community Center, the John Sanford Todd Community Center and Mayfair Park renovation, The Centre, Rynerson Park, and the rebirth of Monte Verde Park were creative responses to the changing needs of Lakewood residents. He also led the city’s remarkably successful economic development team in securing the expansion of Lakewood Center.

On his retirement, Chambers was succeeded by Thaddeus McCormack (2017-present).

City Attorneys

John Todd served as Lakewood City Attorney from 1954 to 2004.

John S. Todd, who is best known for establishing the Lakewood Plan as a model for local government, died at age 89 on August 30, 2008. In noting his passing, then Mayor Steve Croft said, "Simply put, without John Todd there would be no city of Lakewood and no Lakewood Plan for other cities to follow." (A closer look at Todd's service to Lakewood and California) 

Todd’s story is like Lakewood’s – a story of overcoming obstacles with innovative ideas and persistence. Along with other young men and women of his community, Todd helped lead a two-year fight to incorporate Lakewood that ended successfully in March 1954. The ultimate cause of their success was Todd’s innovative plan to provide municipal services to the new city by contracting with Los Angeles County.

Todd was appointed Lakewood’s first city attorney by a grateful city council and continued to serve until his retirement in 2004. As the city’s legal counsel, he drafted hundreds of ordinances, policies, regulations, and resolutions. His 50-year tenure as Lakewood’s city attorney is an unmatched record of public service.

His contributions to Lakewood and city government are honored by the John S. Todd Community Center at Mayfair Park, the John Sanford Todd Memorial Highway along the 605 Freeway in Lakewood, and his inclusion in the Lakewood Civic Hall of Fame.

John Todd was succeeded by Steve Skolnik as city attorney in 2004. Since 2017, city attorney services have been provided by the law firm of Jones & Mayer.