Hamilton was active in San Diego local politics and was elected to several positions over time. Hamilton was a staunch Republican and ran on the local party's "Citizen's Non-Partisan" ticket.[2] Hamilton's first elected to office was City Assessor, where he served from 1880 until 1885.[3]
On April 18, 1887, Hamilton was elected to the San Diego Board of Trustees. At the first meeting, the board voted to install Hamilton as president of the board.[4] At this time the president of the board was referred to as the mayor of San Diego out of courtesy, though there was no official position of mayor at this time.[5] The office of the mayor was reinstated in 1888, and Hamilton continued in his role as president of the board of trustees. Following the resignation of Mayor William Jefferson Hunsaker on November 13, 1888, Hamilton was elevated to acting Mayor of San Diego until the next election could be held.[6]
References
^Sullivan, William (Winter 1985). Scharf, Thomas L. (ed.). "100 Years Ago in San Diego". The Journal of San Diego History. 31 (1). Retrieved March 1, 2014.
^"Citizen's Ticket". The San Diego Union. April 8, 1887. Retrieved March 1, 2014.