Compiled by Linda Bennett White

The Town of Slaughter Beach was not officially formed until 1931. Prior to that date the Slaughter Beach Corporation was formed to bring infrastructure to the area, and the two organizations coexisted for several years. The term of “mayor” was not used in the beginning, but the early minutes of the Town used the term of “Mayor” interchangeably with the “President of Commissioners”. Note that over time, the person designated as “mayor” was called other names, like “president of commissioners”, “president of town council”, and “mayor of town council”. The town minutes also documented that the term “mayor” and “president” meant the same position. Documentation of this can be found in the correspondence that is found in the early Town minutes, with the signatures referencing their title at the time. Note that many served from July of one year to June of another. That is because the fiscal year for the Town is from July 1 to June 30th of the next year.

How the Town picks its mayor

The bylaws of the Town are a little unusual in comparison to other municipalities. Town Council members are elected by the residents, usually around July 4th. There are 5 positions:

• Mayor
• Vice-Mayor
• Treasurer
• 2 Councilpersons

The number of open positions is advertised well before the actual elections and it is possible that there are no open positions if all current members decide to run and receive no opposition. After elections, the positions of the Council are voted on within the Council itself.

The mayors, 1931 to today

Following are the list of “Mayors” starting with the incorporation of the Town of Slaughter Beach in 1931.

• 1931: Harry H. Mulholland, named Chairman of the First Organizational Meeting of the Town of Slaughter Beach, later to be named as President of Commissioners.
• July, 1932 – July, 1935: George H. Draper, named as President of Commissioners and/or Mayor of the Town of Slaughter Beach. The Town minutes indicated the titles should be used interchangeably.
• July, 1936 – July, 1943: George H. Draper. Title changed to “Mayor”
• July, 1943 – July, 1945: T. C. Collins
• July, 1945 – July, 1947: Clarence B. Downing
• July, 1947 – July, 1950: Remson C. Barnard
• July, 1950 – July, 1952: Warren C. Newton
• July, 1952 – July, 1956: Harry Rust
• July, 1956 – May, 1960: William H. Draper (died in office)
• May, 1960 – July, 1960: E.C. Evans (elected to fill out term of William H. Draper)
• July, 1960 – November, 1962: J. Spencer Willis, Jr.
• July, 1962 – 1969: John V. Holston. March 31, 1964: the meeting of the “Commissioners of the Town of Slaughter Beach” met at Pierce Hardware in Milford. That building is now La Hacienda restaurant, after being the Georgia House for several years. On July 11, 1966, the minutes state that this meeting was supposed to be for an election of officers. John Holston named himself as “acting secretary”, and lamented that no one wanted to run for town council. The minutes for those years were mostly hand-written; some by John Holston, and some by John T. Roosa, and others by Donald Donovan, as acting secretary. Toward the end of 1968, Ed Clendaniel’s name was on the minutes as secretary. There does not appear that there was an elected mayor from 1966-1968. In July, 1969, John Holston was again confirmed as mayor.
• May, 1970 – 1974: Edgar Clendaniel
• July, 1974 – June, 1981: Clara W. Russell. First Female Mayor. (There is a larger article, “Clara Russell: First Female Mayor of Slaughter Beach“, on sbhistory.org.)
• July, 1981 – July, 1992: Frank Newton, Mayor of Town Council. (There is a larger article, “Mayor Frank Abbott Newton“, on sbhistory.org.)

It should also be noted that Grace Pierce-Beck served on the Town Council during this time, from 1981-1994. She served on various committees that contributed to the development of conservation and environmental practices for the Town. She is featured in the article “Environmental and Naturalist Leaders: Bill McSpadden and Grace Pierce-Beck“

• July, 1992 – July, 1996: A. James Wilgus
• July, 1996 – July, 2004: Robert C. Clendaniel
• July, 2004 – July 2011: Frank S. Draper
• July, 2011 – July, 2014: Amy Reed Parker
• July, 2014 – July, 2015: William Krause
• July, 2015 – October, 2020: Harry Ward
• October, 2020 – July, 2022: Kathleen Lock
• July, 2022 – July, 2025: Bob Wood
• July, 2025 – Present: Harry Ward

References:

• The Town of Slaughter Beach Town Council meeting minutes, 1931-2026
• The Town website: slaughterbeach.delaware.gov
• Articles on sbhistory.org.
• Various newspaper articles