At its December 16 meeting, the City Council selected Steven Woodside to serve as mayor in 2026 and Melissa Blaustein to serve as vice mayor.

Woodside was elected to City Council in 2024. Blaustein served as vice mayor in 2022 and as mayor in 2023. Sausalito is a general law city under the California Government Code, and the selection of a mayor and vice mayor is the responsibility of the City Council. By tradition, the five-member Council selects a mayor and vice mayor by majority vote on an annual basis.

Joan Cox served as mayor in 2018 and 2025. City Manager Chris Zapata and councilmembers applauded the expertise Cox brought to the job and the progress she made during her time as mayor.

"This past year was one of real progress," Zapata said. "She has taken to this job, task, privilege, and responsibility with gusto.”

Responsibilities of the mayor include presiding over Council meetings, acting as a spokesperson for the City, and working with the vice mayor and city manager to set the agendas of forthcoming meetings. The vice mayor assumes the responsibilities of mayor when the mayor is unavailable.

"It is very helpful that we have so many people involved in our government, and I look forward to working closely with everyone in town and everyone on the dais," Mayor Woodside said after taking the ceremonial gavel. "I’m very humbled by this. Thank you all."

Mayor Woodside will preside over the next regular meeting of the City Council on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.