Elfers Government

Incorporated from 1925 to 1933

In June of 1925, a bill was submitted by state senator Jesse M. Mitchell to incorporating Elfers as a city, and was passed by both houses of the legislature and signed by Governor Martin. The population of Elfers at that time was 300. In December of that year, Jesse M. Mitchell was elected to be mayor.

In January of 1926, the city councils of Elfers and New Port Richey appointed committees to study a possible merger of the two cities. New Port Richey residents rejected the plan.

In June of 1931, the Dade City Banner newspaper published an article titled, “The City of Elfers Has Been Abolished”. It reported that Senate Bill 953, abolishing the city, had passed with a unanimous vote. However, the residents of Elfers apparently were not impressed by this act of the legislature. They held another election for mayor and city council members in 1932. By 1933, citrus grove owners in Elfers were on the verge of losing their property because of city taxes. So they recruited newly elected state senator Samuel W. Getzen to submit another bill to abolish the City of Elfers. The bill passed the legislature on July 1, 1933.

Mayors

Jesse M. Mitchell

1925 – 1933

City Council Members

	E. P. Campbell	1925 – ?
	R. E. Bailey	1925 – ?
	J. W. Saunders	1925 – 1927
	P. L. Pierce	1925 – 1933
	Tom J. Hill	1925 – 1933
	John L. Williams	1927 – ?
	Lawrence Anderson	1927 – ?
	A. R. Twitchell	1927 – ?
	J. L. Waddy	1932 – 1933
	Arthur Chamberlin	1932 – 1933
	R. L. Moore	1932 – 1933

Note: A history of city council members is sketchy, and based solely on reports in newspapers of the time.

Page created March 29, 2024 by Paul Herman, Digital Media Archivist, West Pasco Historical Society