After 39 years, Sand City Mayor David Pendergrass leads last meeting.

He is Sand City's favorite son, but it's time for him to say goodbye. 

David Pendergrass, born and raised in Sand City, has served as the small city's mayor for an astonishing 39 years, a stretch of time that—according to resolution passed by its City Council April 18—makes him "longest standing mayor in the history of California and the tenth longest standing among 20,000 municipalities in the United States."

The April 18 meeting was the last City Council meeting Pendergrass will attend as mayor, as he's retiring from the job and moving to Redding April 28 to be closer to his family. 

Before the meeting started, Pendergrass said that the meeting was his last was "sad," but he's "excited for what's next." 

After the meeting began, and a resolution commending his service came before council, Pendergrass joked, "I hope it passes." 

City Administrator Todd Bodem said to the mayor, as he introduced the resolution, "I think you're very authentic and true to your heart." 

For his part, Pendergrass said he never intended to get into government, and only did so when a councilmember—who was moving out of town—knocked on his door and asked Pendergrass to take his seat. 

In reflecting on the city's growth since that time, Pendergrass said, "We've come a long way economically, and the council has a good foundation to build on.

"I put my heart into this, nobody would say that I didn't," he continued, adding that he enjoyed his service when he finally learned the finer points of city government. 

And as for the future, he said, "With God's help, I'll just move forward."

The resolution, attached, passed 4-0. (Pendergrass abstained.) 

At its May 2 meeting, City Council is expected to appoint Vice Mayor Mary Ann Carbone to take his seat. 

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