By Sara Beth Williams–
Citrus Heights Mayor Tim Schaefer began the first council meeting of 2023 by recognizing outgoing mayor and current District 5 councilwoman Porsche Middleton for her service as the city’s mayor last year.
During the Jan. 12 meeting, Schaefer commended Middleton on a “phenomenal” year. Vice Mayor Bret Daniels also shared his gratitude for her “hard work and enthusiasm,” adding that he appreciated her staying on top of everything as the city and state were coming out of the pandemic.
Middleton served a one-year term as mayor in 2022, with the position being chosen annually by the five-member council, who selects one member from among their ranks to serve as mayor each year.
Schaefer presented Middleton with a commemorative gavel, after he and Daniels thanked her for her service as mayor.
“It was a tremendous honor, and I am deeply humbled to have served as your mayor,” Middleton said. “I’m very thankful for the support I got from the community.”
Middleton was the first African-American woman to serve as mayor of Citrus Heights, according to her online biography. Middleton first ran for City Council in 2016, but lost and was then appointed to the Planning Commission in 2017. She subsequently ran for council again in 2018 and won.
During the November 2022 elections, Middleton competed in a heated race to retain her seat on the council against challenger Natalee Price, fighting to represent District 5. In the end, less than 30 votes separated the two, with final election results from Sacccounty.gov showing Middleton won with 2,004 votes to Price’s 1,978 votes.
According to the city’s website, Middleton is a governor’s appointee to the California Housing Partnership board and serves on the Sacramento Regional Conservation Corps Board.
Her bio states she previously served as deputy director for Sacramento Self Help Housing, which assists the homeless in finding stable housing. According to Middleton’s website, in 2018, the Sacramento chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc. awarded her with a “Woman in Politics and Government” award.
