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His campaign was centered around a promise of ice cream.
Clint Eastwood won the mayoral election on April 8, 1986, defeating then-mayor Charlotte Townsend in Carmel, a quaint coastal town in California. With a population of just 4500 and spanning only one square mile, the town suited the actor perfectly, as he claimed no desire to pursue higher political office.
What motivated Eastwood—still a major movie star at 55, decades into his acting career—to enter politics? In 1985, Carmel’s city council caused him significant frustration over his proposal to construct office buildings on his property within the city. Eastwood felt so wronged that he filed a lawsuit against the council, securing an out-of-court settlement that permitted construction, provided he used more wood than glass.
Carmel had always resisted drastic changes, lacking even street signs. (All mail was directed to a single post office.) A zoning law from 1929, still enforced, even prohibited the sale of ice cream cones.
Eastwood believed the community was split between those who cherished the town’s simplicity and others who saw economic potential in new businesses. On January 30, 1986—just before the deadline—he
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He labeled two-term Mayor Townsend as a “contentious” leader and promised to bridge the divide between opposing groups. While his fame as an actor played a role, the town also appreciated his efforts to save Mission Ranch, a historic animal sanctuary, from being demolished for condominiums. When the city couldn’t afford to reclaim it, Eastwood invested nearly $5 million of his own funds to preserve it.
Townsend, unable to inspire the same goodwill, criticized Eastwood for having an unlisted phone number despite owning a home in the city, while she remained accessible to residents at all times. (Eastwood promised to install an answering machine.)
On election day, Eastwood secured 2166 votes against Townsend’s 799. He was inaugurated the next week. City Hall, a small building, was soon replaced by a local women’s club that accommodated 200 people for his weekly council meetings. One of his initial moves as mayor was to dismiss the planning board that had blocked the repeal of the ice cream ban, allowing everyone to enjoy cones and businesses to sell them.
Although Eastwood won by a large margin, not everyone welcomed his leadership. Tourism surged, leading to fights over limited parking and traffic jams on Ocean Avenue, the city’s main road. A "Clintsville" souvenir shop emerged, along with a Hyatt Regency that adopted the slogan “Make My Stay.” Locals complained that Eastwood had brought in “two-hour tourists” to their peaceful town.
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Eastwood’s tenure was nonetheless effective. In his first year, he added more public restrooms, built additional beach stairways, and expanded the local library’s resources. Even while filming movies, he flew back for weekly council meetings. He also wrote a regular column for The Carmel Pine Cone, using one piece to criticize councilman James Wright for missing meetings, comparing him to a “spoiled child.”
Eastwood chose not to run for reelection, informing reporters in February 1988 that he wanted to focus more on his family. He donated his monthly $200 salary to a nearby youth center.
