Mayor Eduardo Martinez
City of Richmond
February 03, 2026
Doria Robinson
Vice Mayor
City of Richmond
HONORING NAT NATHANIEL BATES
IN CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH
WHEREAS, during Black History Month, the City of Richmond recognizes longstanding Black leaders whose lifetime of public service has shaped the city’s governance, neighborhoods, and civic institutions, including Nat Nathaniel Bates, a two-time Mayor and eight-term City Councilmember of the City of Richmond; and
WHEREAS, Nat Nathaniel Bates, born on September 9, 1931, arrived in Richmond in 1942 and has devoted more than eight decades to the advancement of the city and its residents; and
WHEREAS, Nat Bates attended Richmond public schools, Contra Costa College, and San Francisco State University, and distinguished himself as a Hall of Fame athlete and professional baseball player; and
WHEREAS, Nat Bates honorably served in the United States Army during the Korean War and later worked for 38 years as a probation officer with Alameda County; and
WHEREAS, first elected to the Richmond City Council in 1967, Nat Bates served multiple terms as Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Councilmember, concluding his elected service in 2023 as the oldest elected official in the nation serving a city of over 100,000 residents; and
WHEREAS, Nat Bates played a key role in advancing economic development, housing construction, and workforce equity in the City of Richmond, while maintaining a strong commitment to the Richmond Neighborhood Council system as a vital extension of resident voices;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that I, Eduardo Martinez, Mayor of the City of Richmond, do hereby proclaim February 2026 as a time to honor and recognize Nat Nathaniel Bates for his lifetime of leadership and public service, and do commend him for his contributions during Black History Month.
Cesar Zepeda
District 2 Councilmember
City of Richmond