John Heilman will be West Hollywood’s next Mayor in 2026. He is scheduled to be installed at the City Council meeting on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026.
The appointment carries extra weight because 2026 is Heilman’s final year on the City Council under the City’s term limits ordinance, approved by voters in March 2013.
Heilman was elected to West Hollywood’s first City Council in November 1984 and has served as mayor multiple times since the city’s early years. Council member Meister will also be serving her final year in 2026. She was first elected in 2015, re-elected in 2019, and re-elected again in 2022.
Heilman’s final year is also likely to feel rather symbolic because he is the last remaining link to that first generation of West Hollywood’s leadership. Regardless of where you stand on the issues, his presence has been part of the City’s civic rhythm for a long time, often described as the founding father of the city.
Danny Hang will take on the role of Vice Mayor. Hang was elected to the City Council on Nov. 5, 2024. Hang will have the opportunity to work next along side Heilman in his final year.
Also at tonight’s meeting, City Manager David Wilson offered his final bow, thanking the community and pointing residents to his public farewell message, shared by WEHOonline here. Wilson is retiring after a long career with the City, and the City has been preparing for a leadership transition in early 2026.
Another familiar voice also used the public comment to say her final goodbye. Genevieve Morrill, President and CEO of the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, has announced her retirement, and last night was her last city council meeting in that role.
He’s voted against or abstained every initiative to make streets safer including robots that can’t deliver my food on fountain Ave because the sidewalks are too narrow. What a waste.
John Heilman, for better or worse has dedicated his life’s work to the City of West Hollywood. That he has stewarded our city for almost 40 years is a reflection of what is very wrong with our current council and what is missing from our city council. Heilman cares about us, the residents, the storekeepers, the big business, the tourists, the builders (not developers as much), the seniors, the kids, the parents, the weekenders, the Russians, the gays, the trans, the drag queens, the complex make-up of our city of 1.9 sqr. miles. Heilman is invested in all of it,… Read more »
Maybe and I hope so but it’s a shame he didn’t come to the ZIP meeting where so many of us who have real equity in this city expressed concerns that our council don’t really listen and are therefore not valid.
I want to celebrate Heilman’s 40 years and his commitment to West Hollywood; however, he delivered to us Lindsey Horvath, John Erickson, and a host of malcontents who have made the city worse off than it was before them. So, while I applaud his good marks, I also call him to task for his role in the degradation of West Hollywood. When he grows a spine and calls them out unequivocally he will have my enduring praise as a founding father and responsible steward of the West Hollywood experiment. Until then, he’s still partially to blame for where we are… Read more »