Clint Eastwood: Mayor of Carmel

This section will cover Clint's period as Mayor of Carmel. I have large amounts of material for this dedicated area which actually turned out to be an important period of Clint's career. For now though I will just get this section started by opening it with a few items I have close at hand. He won and was Mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea from 1986-1988

Below: An Original Badge from the electoral campaign.

Below: Clint Eastwood goes to the polls as he attempts to become the mayor of Carmel, California, in 1986 (he served one term). Eastwood has traditionally voted Republican, supporting candidates from Richard Nixon to John McCain.

Below: Any minute now Clint Eastwood is going to burst through these doors (probably unshaven and firing from the hip, because that’s the only way you ever see him) to launch his campaign to become mayor of Carmel, California.

The first big question is why a megastar wants to be mayor of a village of 4,700 people having a nice day. He denies wanting to be the second cowboy in the White House.



Below: Clint Eastwood at his first city council meeting as Mayor of Carmel by the sea, May 7, 1986

Below: Carmel Mayor Clint Eastwood and first lady Nancy Reagan discuss cues before taping public service announcements at Universal Studios in Universal City, Ca., May 14, 1987.

Contrary to what you might believe, when Mr. Eastwood ran for mayor of the small Californian city Carmel-by-the-Sea in 1986, his campaign and platform was anything but dirty.

Although Clint grew up in San Francisco, he eventually found a home in Carmel. After winning what he deemed an unjust battle with the local government to erect a building in the downtown area that would help the community, Clint decided he'd take a stab at local politics. He ended up winning 72 percent of the vote, a margin that earned him a personal congratulatory call from then President Ronald Reagan. He did this without giving any interviews to the national press, barely any paid advertising, and by staying closely involved with the Carmel community. His campaign slogan was "Bringing the Community Together."

Running up to his political career, Clint had been in about 50 movies and almost 216 episodes of the TV show Rawhide. Apparently, Hollywood was too much in his blood to stay away too long: He only stayed one term as mayor before returning to acting full time.

Above: Clint Eastwood stands with Carmel resident and Eastwood-for-Mayor supporter Bruna Odello outside the Mission Ranch Inn. (April 7, 1986). (Getty)

Below: Clint Eastwood proudly holds up a t-shirt proclaiming him as the mayor of Carmel, California, during his acceptance speech on April 9, 1986.

Below: Some nice shots of the Mayor carrying out some local duties and posing for some publicity photos.

Below: The Campaign Scrapbook: Volume 1, Number 1; 1986, I was pleased to have grabbed one of these at the time.

Below: The Rare 2nd volume of the Campaign Scrapbook

Below: My Original Postcard and unused car bumper sticker

Below: The very rare promotional record that was released by local Carmel group The Medflys - a novelty song called 'Don't mess with the Mayor - Westcoast Records of Monterey, California.

Below: More badges from my collection

Above: A rare poster that sometimes appears on the auction market, the small print on the bottom states 'Not for sale, Limited Edition, Dennis DeSilva Studio 7 1986' The poster size is 16"x12" 

Below: The Carmel Pine Cone, April 10th 1986, Feature on Clint becoming Mayor of Carmel.

Below: While on Clint's political page, here is a more recent picture of Clint with Chris Mitchum (son of Robert). Robert Mitchum's brother John of course starred in several of Clint's films, most famously as his partner Frank in the first three Dirty Harry films.

Below: Clint during his campaign

Below: An original Campaign Flyer

Below: On the Trail with Clint, an original rare book from Carmel

Below: Photographed by Mark Kauffman, Clint Eastwood strolls on the beach in Carmel-by-the-Sea in 1986

Below: A few official photos taken during Clint's term as Mayor of Carmel in 1986

Below: Carmel Mayor Clint Eastwood holds a news conference at the La Playa Hotel on April 8th 1986

Below: Mayor Eastwood meets the pope on Sept. 17, 1987, during the pontiff's visit

Below: Even the Mayor finds time for Golf

Below: Thomas Walton chats with Clint during his run for mayor of Carmel

Below: Another nicely designed badge