Cristóbal Aguilar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 10th Mayor of Los Angeles | |
| In office May 10, 1866 – May 8, 1867 | |
| Preceded by | José Mascarel |
| Succeeded by | Damien Marchesseault |
| In office August 8, 1867 – December 7, 1868 | |
| Preceded by | Damien Marchesseault |
| Succeeded by | Joel Turner |
| In office December 9, 1870 – December 5, 1872 | |
| Preceded by | Joel Turner |
| Succeeded by | James R. Toberman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | José Cristóbal Aguilar 1816 Alta California, Viceroyalty of New Spain (now California, U.S.) |
| Died | April 11, 1886(1886-04-11) (aged 69–70) |
| Spouse | Maria Dolores Yorba (m. 1848) |
| Relations | José Antonio Yorba (father in-law) |
José Cristóbal Aguilar (1816 – April 11, 1886)[1][2] was aCalifornio politician and journalist, who served three terms asMayor of Los Angeles, the lastHispanic to hold the office until 2005, with the election ofAntonio Villaraigosa.
Aguilar was born on 1816, inAlta California,Viceroyalty of New Spain (now California, U.S.),[3][4] to parents Jose María Aguilar and María Ygnacia Elizalde.[4] The Aguilars lived in an adobe facing theLos Angeles Plaza on what is nowNorth Main Street. This house was a prominent landmark that later served as the towncalabozo, or jail, and then as the town's first hospital, in 1858.[5]
On October 31, 1848, Aguilar married Maria Dolores Yorba at theSan Gabriel Mission.[4] His wife was the daughter ofJosé Antonio de los Remidios Yorba and María Catalina Verdugo. TheYorbas possessed vast land holdings including most of the Santa Ana Valley (in present-dayOrange County, California).[6][7] In the 1870 census, the Aguilars had four children living with them: Librada, 19; Jose M., 17; Matias, 12; Guadalupe, 10, and Rosa, 7.[4]
Aguilar could not speak English, but, as reported by Los Angeles historianH.D. Barrows in 1899, he "made a good and acceptable Mayor because of the general familiarity of citizens of all nationalities then residing here, with the Spanish tongue."[citation needed]
Aguilar "held prominent office under Mexican rule."[2] After the transfer of California from Mexico to the United States, the Mexicanayuntamiento was abolished in favour of acity council system. A Democrat, Aguilar was elected to the newLos Angeles Common Council on July 1, 1850, and he served in 1850-51, 1855–56, 1858–59 and 1861-62. He was mayor of Los Angeles in 1866-67, 1867–68 and 1870-72.[5]
Aguilar was elected to theBoard of Supervisors three times, serving in 1854-56, 1860 and 1862-64.[3]
Aguilar was first elected mayor on May 7, 1866. The election was certified three days later and he assumed office that same day. In that same year he signed anordinance to set aside five acres of land as a "Public Square or Plaza, for the use and benefit of the Citizens in common," which land later was namedPershing Square.[4]
Aguilar was unseated for three months in the middle of his first term and replaced byDamien Marchesseault. During that time he served asZanjero of Los Angeles (water steward). With Los Angeles being in aMediterranean climate and risks of both drought and flooding a constant threat, this position was actually considered more important than the mayor and paid the highest salary of any city official at the time. On August 8, 1867, Aguilar was reinstated as mayor and served the remainder of his term. His decision in 1868 to retain control over the city's water rights and reserves is considered one of the most important in Los Angeles' history.[citation needed]
In 1868, Aguilar lost re-election toJoel Turner and was subsequently appointed aszanjero once again.[citation needed]
Aguilar was elected mayor in 1870 overAndrew Glassell by a vote of 436 to 428, and he was installed despite a requested recount. He was defeated for reelection in 1872 byJ.R. Toberman in a vote of 715 for Toberman and 350 for Aguilar.[3] During that election, Toberman "made an issue" of Aguilar's "poor English."[4]
Historian John P. Schmal noted that:
"When Aguilar became Mayor, there were less than 6,000 residents in the City. When the city council proposed selling off the city's water rights to bring in additional revenue, Aguilar vetoed the proposal. If Aguilar had not used his power of veto, Los Angeles would have lost control of its water rights, leading to serious problems at a later date."[4]
In December 1873, Aguilar was again appointed aszanjero by a vote in the Common Council of 7-2 over T.H. Eaton.[8] Aguilar served until December 5, 1878.[citation needed]
After retiring from politics Aguilar wrote forLa Cronica, the City's leading Spanish-language newspaper at the time. In the paper, he wrote a regular column on local community issues.[citation needed]
He died of a heart attack on April 11, 1886, at the age of 70.[2][4] TheLos Angeles Herald wrote of him in an obituary:
He was at one time a wealthy man and brought up a large family with much care, giving each a good education. Later he lost most of his property, as many others did, in the dark days of the municipality before there was a market for products of the soil. . . . He was getting on his horse to ride out and see to a water ditch, and fell back dead.[2]
The funeral was at theChurch of Our Lady the Queen of Angels.[2]
| Preceded by | Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors 2nd district 1854—1857 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors 2nd district 1860—1861 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Zanjero of Los Angeles May 23, 1867—August 8, 1867 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Zanjero of Los Angeles December 21, 1868—March 1, 1869 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Zanjero of Los Angeles December 31, 1873—December 9, 1875 | Succeeded by Unknown or Vacant |
| Preceded by Unknown or Vacant | Zanjero of Los Angeles December 6, 1877—December 5, 1878 | Succeeded by |
