Fifty years ago, on January 13, 1959, Tom Kitayama and five others petitioned for incorporation of the City of Union City. That was when some cities began to eye the towships of Union City, New Haven, Alvarado and Decoto for potential inclusion into their city boundaries.
City of Union City Council duties began on January 26, 1959 in the Alvarado Fire Department building, now the Union City Historical Museum. Councilmembers were Joseph Seaone Jr., Joseph Lewis, Tom Kitayama, John Ratekin and Oscar Dowe. Tom Kitayama was unanimously elected mayor of Union City by the City Council. Union City operated under a "Council-Manager" form of government.
Since that time the following were elected mayors: John Ratekin (1960), Oscar Dowe (1961), William Davis (1964), Irv Williams (1965), Bernie Morales (1966 to 1967), Leo Alvelais (1968), Manuel "Shorty" Garcia (1970), Henry Franco (1971), Don Miller (1972 - 1973) and Richard Oliver (1990 through 1993.) Tom Kitayama was Mayor in 1959, 1962, 1969, and 1974 through 1990. Mark Green began his tenure in 1993.
The mayors of Union City have made a significant impact and changed Union City in many ways.
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