JAMES BARNES, THE MAYOR OF SALINAS DURING IT’S GROWTH PERIOD IN THE 1980S, HAS DIED AT 91-YEARS-OLD. BARNES WAS THE FIRST SALINAS MAYOR TO BE ELECTED BY WAY OF A POPULAR VOTE (BEFORE HIS RE-ELECTION IN 1983, THE SALINAS MAYOR WAS ELECTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.) SHERWOOD HALL, AND MANY OTHER CIVIL PROJECTS CAME INTO FRUITION DURING HIS TIME AS MAYOR. BARNES SERVED ON THE CITY COUNCIL LONGER THAN ANYONE IN THE CITY’S HISTORY (FOR 16 YEARS) AND HAD SERVED A TOTAL OF 21 YEARS ON THE CITY GOVERNMENT. BARNES IS SURVIVED BY HIS TWO CHILDREN, JIM AND JANET VILLA, HIS SIX GRAND CHILDREN AND SEVEN GREAT GRANDCHILDREN. PRIVATE FAMILY SERVICES WERE HELD IN JACKSON, WHERE HE RESIDED WHEN HE PASSED AWAY, AND NO LOCAL SERVICES ARE PLANNED.
