City of Monterey City Council Councilmember Tyller Williamson

On his campaign website, Tyller Williamson says that “like many young people in Monterey, I grew up in a military family.” Moving around the world was “a formative experience, but also an isolating one. That feeling of isolation led me to seek long-term connections and community in beautiful Monterey, where I have been honored to serve as a city councilmember since 2018.”

The city’s first Black and first openly gay councilmember, Williamson beat two incumbents in the November 2022 race for mayor of the city of Monterey.

His focus has always been transparency, housing and water. With two-thirds of city residents being renters, rental assistance programs are a key goals. He supports zoning changes to allow more housing in commercial districts too. As someone who experienced homelessness after an unexpected eviction, Williamson says, “we should also be doing everything we can to ensure people who work in Monterey can afford to live in Monterey.”

Williamson obtained his master’s degree in defense business management at the Naval Postgraduate School after obtaining a bachelor of arts (human communication, pre-law) at California State University, Monterey Bay.

Notable quote: “I think people are just ready for something new, something fresh.” (Source: Monterey County Weekly)