Honorary Mayor
Borrego Springs is an unincorporated community in the county of San Diego and therefore has no city council. Every two years the Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors will each submit a list of candidates. The nominee receiving the most acknowledgment’s and meeting certain criteria is selected Honorary Mayor for a two-year term. Candidates should have been residents of Borrego Springs for at least ten years, currently a full-time resident and contributed to the overall quality of life in Borrego Springs.
Honorary Mayor Wade Beane
It is a true pleasure to serve as Honorary Mayor of this remarkable desert community. My love for Borrego began when I first ventured into the backcountry and discovered the vast freedom of the open desert. Camping beneath the stars and wandering in quiet solitude filled me with tremendous peace.
Over time, that personal connection with the desert expanded into a connection with the people of Borrego. Working as a tour guide for California Overland and managing the ArtPark provided me the opportunity to meet thousands of wonderful people. Each person I have had the good fortune of meeting has shown me that the desert is also a gathering space where stories and friendships blossom. Sharing the breathtaking landscapes and rich history of Borrego with others is now as special to me as the solitude I found on my first trip to the desert so many years ago. We are blessed to live in a place that inspires such awe and wonder.
May every day you spend in the desert be filled with peace, inspiration, and a sense of freedom.
Sincerely, Wade
Previous Mayors
2023- 2025 Daniel Wright
2021- 2023 Jim & Anne Wermers
| 2018- 2021 | Andrew R Macuga |
| 2016 - 2018 | Jim Wilson |
| 2014 - 2016 | Sylvanna Meeks |
| 2012 - 2014 | Martha Deichler |
| 2010 - 2012 | James "Okie" McNatt |
| 2009 - 2010 | Ernie Loza |
| 2008 - 2009 | Betsy Knaak |
| 2006 - 2008 | Mark C Jorgensen |
| 2005 - 2006 | Abby King |
| 2004 - 2005 | Astrid & Sam Webb |
| 2003 - 2004 | Bob Piva |
| 2001 - 2003 | Robert Cassidy (1918-2009) |
| 2000 - 2001 | Fred Jee |
| 1999 - 2000 | Eris Eckhart |
| 1998 - 1999 | Charlie Lusk |
| 1997 - 1998 | Joseph & Catherine Stone |
| 1996 - 1997 | Robie Evans |
| 1995 - 1996 | Maria Bertha & Juan Esparza |
| 1994 - 1995 | Francisco & Dora Murillo |
| 1993 - 1994 | Dori Holladay (1937-2013) [4] |
| 1992 - 1993 | Len Surles |
| 1991 - 1992 | Pat Patterson |
| 1990 - 1991 | David West |
| 1989 - 1990 | Ray Innocenti |
| 1987 - 1988 | Norri Bakko (1906-1994) |
| 1986 - 1987 | Bud Kuhrts (1923-1995) |
| 1985 - 1986 | Sam Fortiner |
| 1984 - 1985 | Jere Hansen |
| 1983 - 1984 | Virginia DeMarais (1915-1994) |
| 1982 - 1983 | Dr. Floyd Woolcott |
| 1981 - 1982 | Fernando Murad (1926-2011) |
| 1980 - 1981 | Bev Kuhrts (1926-2013) |
| 1979 - 1980 | |
| 1978 - 1979 | no mayor |
| 1976 - 1977 | |
| 1975 - 1976 | Bob Di Giorgio |
| 1961 - 1974 | Gale Gordon (1906-1995) [2] |
| 1952 - 1961 | |
| 1951 - 1952 | Leo Carrillo (1880-1961) [1] |
| 1948 - 1951 | Frank Morgan (1890-1949) |