Craig Corman Takes Gavel as Beverly Hills Mayor

Beverly Hills entered a new chapter Tuesday night as Craig A. Corman was elected mayor at the City Council’s annual reorganization meeting, stepping into one of the city’s most visible leadership roles following the completion of Sharona R. Nazarian’s first term as mayor.

The transition marked a significant civic moment for Beverly Hills, placing the gavel in the hands of a public official whose ties to the city run deep, both personally and institutionally. First elected to the City Council in 2024, Corman arrived at the mayoralty after years of service in Beverly Hills government, including on the Planning Commission and the Cultural Heritage Commission.

Corman said he intends to lead with care, responsibility and a focus on the city’s future.

“I am honored to serve as Mayor of Beverly Hills,” said Mayor Corman. “Our community is a remarkable one that has helped shaped who I am and been a strong foundation for my family. Throughout my term, I’ll be committed to delivering thoughtful leadership, responsible stewardship, and making changes for a future that reflects the best of what Beverly Hills stands for.”

Before joining the City Council, Corman served on the Beverly Hills Planning Commission from March 2009 through June 2016 and later on the Cultural Heritage Commission from January 2019 through April 2024, building a long record of involvement in the city’s civic life before winning elected office.

Professionally, Corman is an attorney. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School.

The evening also carried a striking personal dimension. Corman’s installation took place at the newly reopened K.L. Peters Auditorium at Beverly Hills High School, where he graduated in 1977. For a new mayor to be installed in a restored landmark at his own alma mater gave the moment an added sense of history, tying Beverly Hills’ civic future to one of its longstanding local institutions.

The City Council also selected Mary N. Wells as vice mayor. Wells, who was first elected in 2024, previously served as a member and president of the Beverly Hills Unified School District Board of Education.

Wells earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Southern California, with a concentration in finance and accounting. Her professional background includes work at The Walt Disney Company in brand and account management and at Beezley Management in construction management.

In Beverly Hills, the mayor and vice mayor serve one-year terms and are selected by their fellow City Council members during the annual reorganization meeting, a process that formally resets the city’s leadership at the dais each year.

Tuesday night’s reorganization was more than procedural. It marked the start of Corman’s mayoralty at a venue that connects directly to his own Beverly Hills story, underscoring both continuity in city leadership and the symbolic weight of the office at a defining moment for the community.