List of mayors of Summit, New Jersey

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Former mayor Ellen Dickson speaks at Memorial Day

The chief executive of the city of Summit, New Jersey since it was incorporated in 1899 has been a mayor. Currently the city operates under a weak mayor system of municipal government where the mayor is mostly a ceremonial role that operates as the city's official spokesman. They do not have the power to vote in the city council, unless in the event of a tie. However, they can use their office as a bully pulpit to promote and oppose candidates for other positions in the city. Additionally they can appoint the chief of police and the board of education.[1] In the 1970s the term for a mayor was lengthened from 2 years to 4 years; there are no term limits.

Mayors of Summit[edit]

Number Mayor Party Term Begins Term Ends Notes References
1st George H. Wilcox Republican 1899 ? First mayor of Summit, wife ran a women's political club. [2]
? G. F. Vreeland Republican 1909 ? [3]
? Ruford Franklin Republican 1916 1920 Later served as Republican Party representative [4][5]
? George W. Cornish 1926 1930 [6][7]
? Edward Bancroft Twombly ? 1930 1932 Served as corporal with the N.J. Cavalry Essex Troop during the Pancho Villa Expedition. Additionally served with the 77th U.S. Expeditionary Force during World War I earning a Silver Star for bravery. [8][9]
? Edward T. Snook ? 1932 ? City's amateur softball league's championship trophy was named the "Edward T. Snook trophy" in his honor. [10]
? Guido F. Forster Republican 1939 1943 Led the city through most of World War II on a pan-democratic, patriotic platform. Temporarily replaced due his Navy activities by Burton L. Boyle. [10][11]
? G. Harry Cullis Republican 1943 1945 [9]
17th Maxwell Lester, Jr. Republican 1946 1950 Former city councilor. From 1941 until 1977 he was director of Civil Defense for Summit. [12]
18th Percival M. Bland ? 1950 1956 Elected to the city council in 1939. Declined to seek an additional term and retired in 1956. At the time he was the longest serving mayor in Summit history. [13]
19th C. Philip Dean ? 1956 1958 [13]
20th Ogden D. Gensemer Republican 1958 1963 Resigned as mayor due to his heavy business schedule as manager of the Transoceanic Cable Ship Company where he oversaw the laying of underwater cables. [14]
21st David E. Trucksess Republican 1963 1969 Appointed to council to fill vacant seat of newly elected mayor Ogden D. Gensemer in 1958. When Gensemer resigned he became interim mayor before winning election in 1965 and re-election in 1967. Declined to run for re-election in 1970. [15]
22nd Elmer J. Bennett Republican 1969 1976 Won re-election in the 1973 election. This, combined with then council president Frank Lehr's re-drawing of ward district boundaries in 1972 levied accusations of gerrymandering and ultimately resulted in a lawsuit to split the city in half east to west which was defeated in the New Jersey Supreme Court. [16]
23rd Frank Lehr Republican 1976 1984 Former Marine who served in the Korean War. Was appointed to a vacant position on the city council in 1962 and longtime council president. Served 20 years in Summit municipal politics. [17]
24th Robert Hartlaub Republican 1984 1988 Remembered for pressuring police chief Frank Formichella to issue warrants for disciplinary records at Summit Junior High. The records, containing tardiness information, reprimands for chewing gum and accounts of snowball fights, where ordered to be returned by Union County Prosecutor, John H. Stamler. [18][19]
25th Janet Whitman Republican 1988 1996 First female mayor of Summit. Remained a highly regarded community leader across the political spectrum after leaving office. [20][21]
26th Walter Long Republican 1996 2003 Known for his extensive renovations of downtown Summit. Presided over the year long centennial celebration in 1999. [22][23]
27th Jordan Glatt Democrat 2003 2011 Elected in 2003, and re-elected in 2007 with 60% of the vote. Represented the city's shift away from a strong Republican city to a strong Democrat city. Led the city through recovery efforts following Hurricane Irene. [24]
28th Ellen Dickson Republican 2011 2015 Won a three-way split mayoral race with 39% of the vote. [25]
29th Nora Radest Democrat 2015 2023 Defeated incumbent mayor Ellen Dickson in 2015, ran unopposed in 2019. Final term mired by backlash to the high-destiny low income Broad Street West Redevelopment, chose to not seek re-election in 2023. [26][27][28]
30th Elizabeth Fagan Republican 2023 Present Following the announcement of the Broad Street West Redevelopment, the Republican party launched a concerted effort to dislodge the Democratic administration in the city seeing Fagan defeat Democrat David Naidu, as well as flipping three Democrat held city council seats. [28][29]

References[edit]

  1. ^ City Charter, City of Summit. Accessed October 15, 2022. "On December 15, 1987, Chapter 314, Public Law 1987, was approved and signed into law with the effective date of January 1, 1988. This act repealed all of the remaining provisions of Summit's original Charter (P.L. 1899,c.52;C.40:109-3) and replaced and saved those sections which were not covered by general law and peculiar to Summit's original Charter."
  2. ^ Wohl, Caroline. "Summit becomes a City the 20th Century" (PDF). summitlibrary.org. Summit Public Library. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  3. ^ Kestenbaum, Lawrence. "Mayors and Postmasters of Summit, New Jersey". PoliticalGraveyard.com. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  4. ^ "RUFORD FRANKLIN, SUMMIT EX-MAYOR; Retired New York Lawyer, Head of Jersey Municipality in First World War, Dies". timesmachine.nytimes.com.
  5. ^ "Nation Needs Republican Party". The Baltimore Sun. November 6, 1934. p. 2.
  6. ^ "UTILITY OPENS NEW OFFICE.; Mayor of Summit, N.J., Starts Current by Waving Hand". timesmachine.nytimes.com.
  7. ^ "The Courier-News 08 Sep 1945, page Page 11". Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Meola, Patricia. "Twomblys left lasting legacy in Summit" (PDF). Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Mayor G. Harry Cullis Testimonial Dinner" (PDF). Summit Herald. December 20, 1945. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Leathern Lashes Out At Mayor; Lester Details His Reasons For Supporting Leathern; Forster Supporters At Big Rally" (PDF). Summit Herald. September 8, 1941. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  11. ^ "BURTON L. BOYE, 60, SUMMIT OFFICIAL; Acting Mayor of Jersey 3gown, President of the Common Council, Dies at Home EX-AIDE OF OIL COMPANY Once Managed the 'SoconyVacuum Fuel Oil Branchm Headed Asphalt !nstitut". timesmachine.nytimes.com.
  12. ^ "Obituary 5 -- No Title". New York Times. February 19, 1979. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  13. ^ a b "council Reorganizes for 1956, Dean Made 19th Mayor of City" (PDF). Summit Herald. January 5, 1956. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  14. ^ "Gensemer Quits, Trucksess Mode Acting - Mayor" (PDF). Summit Herald. January 3, 1963. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  15. ^ "Trucksess Declines Another Term; Bennett to Seek Seat; Lehr Will ^ Run at Large; Ratichek Bows Out" (PDF). Summit Herald. March 13, 1969. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  16. ^ "Mosely v. Kates". casetext.com. New Jersey Supreme Court. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  17. ^ Martin, J.J. (November 5, 1983). "Frank Lehr speaks his mind" (PDF). Summit Herald. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  18. ^ "Hartlaub, McLendon, Brown" (PDF). Summit Herald. June 11, 1983. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  19. ^ "POLICE IN JERSEY TOLD TO RETURN SEIZED STUDENT FILES". timesmachine.nytimes.com.
  20. ^ Elliott, Greg. "Janet Whitman, Civic Leader and Former Summit Mayor, Named Rotary's 'Person of the Year'". tapinto.net. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  21. ^ Schuyler, Peter (June 4, 1983). "VOTE RICHARD W. POOLE" (PDF). Vol. 94. No. 53. Summit Herald. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  22. ^ Pristin, Terry (March 22, 1996). "New Jersey Daily Briefing;City's Investment Distinction" – via NYTimes.com.
  23. ^ Grime, Anne M. (June 4, 1983). "Vote Republican Primary June 7 Don Nelson for Mayor Tom Kent for Councilman- At-Large You'll be in good company!!" (PDF). Vol. 94. No. 53. Summit Herald. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  24. ^ "Jordan Glatt Joins Community Foundation of New Jersey". patch.com. Community Foundation of New Jersey. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  25. ^ "Summit voters return GOP presence to mayoral seat as Ellen Dickson wins 3-way race". nj.com. Star-Ledger. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  26. ^ Crespolini, Russ. "Summit Mayor Nora Radest Unopposed In 2019 Election". patch.com. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  27. ^ Elliott, Greg. "Summit Democrats Announce 2023 Slate of Candidates". TAPinto. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  28. ^ a b Suta, Ricky. "Can Republicans elect a mayor in this Democratic town?". The New Jersey Globe. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  29. ^ "Mayor City of Summit". Union County. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
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