- Mayor of Jersey City
-
Mayor of the City of Jersey City Term length Four years Inaugural holder Dudley S. Gregory Formation 1838 Salary $117,782[1] Website Office of the Mayor The Mayor of the City of Jersey City is the head of the executive branch of government of Jersey City, New Jersey, United States. The mayor has the duty to enforce the municipal charter and ordinances; prepare the annual budget; appoint deputy mayors, department heads, and aides; and approve or veto ordinances passed by the City Council. The mayor is popularly elected in a nonpartisan general election. The office is held for a four-year term without term limits.
Forty-two individuals have held the office of mayor since the City of Jersey City was chartered on February 22, 1838. Dudley S. Gregory was the inaugural mayor of the city, and served on three separate occasions for a total of five years. The current mayor is Jerramiah Healy; he was first elected in a special election to fill an unexpired term on November 2, 2004. Healy was re-elected to full terms on May 10, 2005 and May 12, 2009. His current term will end on June 30, 2013.
Contents
Duties and powers
The City of Jersey City is organized as a mayor-council form of government under the Optional Municipal Charter Law. This provides for a city-wide elected mayor serving in an executive role, as well as a city council serving in a legislative role. All of these offices are selected in a nonpartisan municipal election and all terms are four years.[2] Under state law, the mayor has the duty to enforce the charter and ordinances of the city, and all applicable state laws; report annually to the council and the public on the state of the city; supervise and control all departments of the government; prepare and submit to the council annual operating and capital budgets; supervise all city property, institutions and agencies; sign all contracts and bonds requiring the approval of the city; negotiate all contracts; and serve as a member, either voting or ex-officio, of all appointive bodies.[3]
The mayor has the power to appoint departments heads with the approval of the City Council; to remove department heads subject to a two-thirds disapproval by the City Council; approve or veto ordinances subject to an override vote of two-thirds of the council; and appoint deputy mayors. The mayor is permitted to attend and participate in meetings of the City Council, without a vote, except in the case of a tie on the question to fill a council vacancy.[3]
Elections
See also: Jersey City mayoral election, 2001, Jersey City mayoral special election, 2004, Jersey City mayoral election, 2005, and Jersey City mayoral election, 2009Under the original 1838 charter, mayors were elected city-wide for a term of one year. In 1868 the State Legislature extended the term of office to two years.[4] In 1892, the Legislature again changed the term of office, extending it to five years.[5] The city adopted a commission form of government under the Walsh Act in 1913.[6] This form provided for five commissioners elected city-wide. The Commissioners decided from among themselves which would serve as mayor. All terms were four years. Jersey City adopted its current form of government on May 7, 1961.[7]
Under the non-partisan form of municipal government, elections for mayor are held every four years on the second Tuesday in May.[8] If no candidate receives a majority of votes, a runoff election is held on the fourth Tuesday following the general election.[9] The term of office commences on July 1.[10] The next Jersey City mayoral election is scheduled to be held in 2013.[11]
Succession
In the event of an absence, disability, or other cause preventing the mayor from performing his duties, the mayor may designate the business administrator or any other department head as acting mayor for up to 60 days.[3] In the event of a vacancy in the office, the President of the City Council becomes acting mayor, and the council has 30 days to name an interim mayor.[12] If no interim mayor is named, the Council President continues as acting mayor until a successor is elected, or the council reorganizes and selects a new President.[12] Prior to 1971, there was no automatic succession law.[13] The office was left vacant for 47 days in 1963 when the City Council failed to reach a decision on appointing an interim mayor.[14]
List of mayors
Dudley S. Gregory, 1st mayor of Jersey City
Robert Gilchrist, 8th mayor of Jersey City
Frank Hague, 30th mayor of Jersey City# Mayor Term start Term end 1 Dudley S. Gregory April 1838 April 1840 Whig 2 Peter McMartin April 1840 April 1841 Unknown[a] 3 Dudley S. Gregory April 1841 April 1842 Whig 4 Thomas A. Alexander April 1842 April 1843 Unknown[b] 5 Peter Bentley April 1843 April 1844 Democratic 6 Phineas C. Dummer April 1844 April 20, 1848 Whig 7 Henry Taylor April 21, 1848 April 18, 1850 Whig 8 Robert Gilchrist April 19, 1850 May 2, 1852 Whig 9 David S. Manners May 3, 1852 May 3, 1857 Whig 10 Samuel Wescott May 4, 1857 May 2, 1858 Democratic 11 Dudley S. Gregory[c] May 3, 1858 May 6, 1860 Republican 12 Cornelius Van Vorst May 7, 1860 May 4, 1862 Democratic 13 John B. Romar May 5, 1861 May 1, 1864 Democratic 14 Orestes Cleveland May 2, 1864 May 5, 1867 Democratic 15 James Gopsill May 6, 1867 May 3, 1868 Republican 16 Charles H. O'Neill[d] May 4, 1868 April 10, 1869 Democratic 17 William Clarke[e] April 11, 1869 May 1, 1870 Democratic 18 Charles H. O'Neill May 2, 1870 May 3, 1874 Democratic 19 Henry Traphagen May 4, 1874 April 30, 1876 Democratic 20 Charles Siedler May 1, 1876 May 5, 1878 Republican 21 Henry J. Hopper May 6, 1878 May 2, 1880 Democratic 22 Isaac W. Taussig May 3, 1880 May 4, 1884 Democratic 23 Gilbert Collins May 5, 1884 May 2, 1886 Republican 24 Orestes Cleveland May 3, 1886 May 1, 1892 Democratic 25 Peter Farmer Wanser May 2, 1892 May 2, 1897 Republican 26 Edward Hoos May 3, 1897 December 31, 1901 Democratic 27 Mark M. Fagan January 1, 1902 December 31, 1907 Republican 28 H. Otto Wittpenn January 1, 1908 June 16, 1913 Democratic 29 Mark M. Fagan June 17, 1913 May 14, 1917 Republican 30 Frank Hague[f] May 15, 1917 June 17, 1947 Democratic 31 Frank H. Eggers[g] June 17, 1947 May 16, 1949 Democratic 32 John V. Kenny[h] July 1, 1949 December 15, 1953 Democratic 33 Bernard J. Berry December 15, 1953 June 30, 1957 Democratic 34 Charles S. Witkowski July 1, 1957 June 30, 1961 Democratic 35 Thomas Gangemi[i] July 1, 1961 September 26, 1963 Democratic 36 Thomas J. Whelan[j] November 13, 1963 July 6, 1971 Democratic — Charles K. Krieger[k] August 5, 1971 November 8, 1971 Democratic 37 Paul T. Jordan November 9, 1971 June 30, 1977 Democratic 38 Thomas F.X. Smith[l] July 1, 1977 May 12, 1981 Democratic 39 Gerald McCann July 1, 1981 June 30, 1985 Democratic 40 Anthony R. Cucci July 1, 1985 June 30, 1989 Democratic 41 Gerald McCann[m] July 1, 1989 February 13, 1992 Democratic — Marilyn Roman[n] February 14, 1992 June 30, 1992 Democratic — Joseph Rakowski[o] July 1, 1992 November 10, 1992 Democratic 42 Bret Schundler November 11, 1992 June 30, 2001 Republican 43 Glenn Dale Cunningham[p] July 1, 2001 May 25, 2004 Democratic — L. Harvey Smith[q] May 26, 2004 November 11, 2004 Democratic 44 Jerramiah Healy November 12, 2004 Incumbent Democratic Notes
- a b No source has been found to verify a party affiliation.
- c Originally a Whig, Gregory switched the Republican party in the 1850s.[15]
- d e In 1868, the New Jersey State Legislature passed an act changing the term of office from one to two years. Having been elected a few days before that act was passed, O'Neill refused to serve longer than the term to which he was elected and resigned after one year. Clarke was appointed as Interim Mayor by the City Council.[4]
- f g Hague retired during his eighth term and asked the City Council to appoint Eggers, his nephew.[16]
- h Kenny resigned shortly after winning re-election citing poor health.[17]
- i Gangemi resigned from office when it was determined that he was not a United States citizen and was ineligible to serve.[18]
- j Whelan was removed from office after being convicted of conspiracy and extortion.[19]
- k Krieger was appointed Interim Mayor by the City Council.[20]
- l Smith resigned from office to seek the nomination for Governor, finishing sixth in the Democratic primary.[21]
- m McCann was removed from office during his second term after being convicted of bank fraud.[22]
- n o q Acting mayor; held the office as a result of being President of the City Council at the time of a vacancy.
- p Cunningham, the city's first African American mayor, died of a heart attack on May 25, 2004.[23]
Other offices held
The following is a list of congressional and other offices held by mayors, before or after their term(s).
Mayor Mayoral term(s) Other offices held References Dudley S. Gregory 1838–1840, 1841–1842, 1858–1860 U.S. House of Representatives (1847–1849) [24] Samuel Wescott 1857–1858 New Jersey State Senator (1860–1862) [25] Orestes Cleveland 1864–1867, 1886–1892 U.S. House of Representatives (1869–1871) [26] Peter Farmer Wanser 1892–1897 New Jersey General Assemblyman (1882–1883) [27] Glenn Dale Cunningham 2001–2004 New Jersey State Senator (2004) [28] L. Harvey Smith 2004 New Jersey State Senator (2003–2004)
New Jersey General Assemblyman (2008–2010)[29]
[30]References
- General
- "Jersey City Mayors". Jersey City: Past and Present. New Jersey City University. 2007. http://www.njcu.edu/programs/jchistory/Pages/M_Pages/Mayors_of_Jersey_City_List.htm. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
- "Jersey City Mayors from the Past". jerseycityonline.com. http://jerseycityonline.com/mayor/mayors_of_the_past.htm. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
- Specific
- ^ Clark, Amy Sara (October 2, 2009). "How much will Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy's "furlough" pay cut be?". The Jersey Journal. http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2009/10/how_much_will_jersey_city_mayo.html. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
- ^ "Faulkner Act (OMCL) Mayor-Council". Types And Forms Of New Jersey Municipal Government. New Jersey State League of Municipalities. http://njslom.org/types.html#Mayor-Council. Retrieved November 15, 2009.
- ^ a b c "Optional Municipal Charter Law". New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Division of Local Government Services. State of New Jersey. 2003. http://www.state.nj.us/dca/lgs/miscpubs/other/optional_muni_charter_law.pdf. Retrieved November 15, 2009.
- ^ a b Winfield, Charles (1874). History of the County of Hudson, New Jersey: from its earliest settlement to the present time. New York, NY: Kennard & Hay Stationery M'fg and Print. Co. p. 289.
- ^ "Some Legislative Jobs; The New Jersey Legislature at Work on Several of Them" (PDF). The New York Times: p. 3. March 2, 1892. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9B04E2D81631E033A25751C0A9659C94639ED7CF. Retrieved November 14, 2009.
- ^ "Commission Rule for Jersey City; Citizens Decide in Favor of New Government by Vote of 11,368 to 7,078" (PDF). The New York Times: p. 1. April 16, 1916. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C07E2DE103BE633A25755C1A9629C946296D6CF. Retrieved November 15, 2009.
- ^ Butler, Vincent (May 8, 1961). "Voters to Fill New Offices in Jersey City". The Chicago Tribune: p. B19.
- ^ "Frequently Asked Voter Questions". www.njelections.org. State of New Jersey Department of State. http://www.njelections.org/faq_voter_doe.html#a3. Retrieved November 1, 2009.
- ^ "New Jersey Statutes Annotated, 40:45-19". New Jersey State Legislature. http://lis.njleg.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/om_isapi.dll?clientID=11366185&Depth=2&TD=WRAP&advquery=%2240%3a45-19%22&depth=4&expandheadings=on&headingswithhits=on&hitsperheading=on&infobase=statutes.nfo&rank=&record={F8AF}&softpage=Doc_Frame_PG42&wordsaroundhits=2&x=32&y=19&zz=. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
- ^ "New Jersey Statutes Annotated, 40:45-17". New Jersey State Legislature. http://lis.njleg.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/om_isapi.dll?clientID=11366185&Depth=2&TD=WRAP&advquery=%2240%3a45-17%22&depth=4&expandheadings=on&headingswithhits=on&hitsperheading=on&infobase=statutes.nfo&rank=&record={F8AF}&softpage=Doc_Frame_PG42&wordsaroundhits=2&x=32&y=19&zz=. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
- ^ Sullivan, Al (January 24, 2010). "Schundler's the One". Hudson Reporter. http://hudsonreporter.com/view/full_stories_home/5637321/article-Schundler%E2%80%99s-the-one-1-24-10-?instance=home_Most_popular. Retrieved February 4, 2010.
- ^ a b Sullivan, Joseph (March 9, 1992). "Clock Ticking on Search For Mayor in Jersey City". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/09/nyregion/clock-ticking-on-search-for-mayor-in-jersey-city.html. Retrieved November 15, 2009.
- ^ "New Jersey Statutes Annotated, 40A:9-131". New Jersey State Legislature. http://lis.njleg.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/om_isapi.dll?clientID=11366185&Depth=4&TD=WRAP&advquery=%2240A%3a9-131%22&headingswithhits=on&infobase=statutes.nfo&rank=&record={10D3A}&softpage=Doc_Frame_Pg42&wordsaroundhits=2&x=32&y=14&zz=. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
- ^ Haff, Joseph (November 13, 1963). "Mayor is Named by Jersey City; Whelan Replaces Gangemi After 47-Day Delay; Jersey City's Council Appoints New Mayor After 47-Day Delay 3-Way Tie". The New York Times: p. 1.
- ^ "The Jersey City Election". The New York Times. April 16, 1859. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A00E7DF1F31EE34BC4E52DFB2668382649FDE. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
- ^ "When the Big Boy Goes...". TIME. January 16, 1956. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,861807,00.html. Retrieved November 15, 2009.
- ^ "Kenny Keeps His Word, Resigns as Mayor; Hague Foe, in Ill Health for a Year, Held Office Since '49 -- Succeeded by Berry". The New York Times: p. 38. December 16, 1953.
- ^ "Mayor Gangemi Quits in Jersey; Resigns After U.S. Declares He is Not a Citizen". The New York Times: p. 1. September 26, 1963.
- ^ Strumm, Charles (December 19, 1991). "Another Milepost on the Long Trail of Corruption in Hudson County". The New York Times.
- ^ "Jersey City's Interim Mayor; Charles Kiva Krieger". The New York Times: p. 38. August 6, 1971.
- ^ Goodnough, Abby (June 5, 1996). "Thomas Smith, 68, Ex-Jersey City Mayor, Dies". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B01E2D91F39F936A35755C0A960958260. Retrieved November 15, 2009.
- ^ Miller, Jonathan (May 27, 2007). "You Throw Mud, He’ll Throw a Mountain". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/27/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/27jerseynj.html. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
- ^ Smothers, Ronald (June 2, 2004). "Before 5,000, Mayor of Jersey City Is Eulogized for a 'Life Well Lived'". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/02/nyregion/before-5000-mayor-of-jersey-city-is-eulogized-for-a-life-well-lived.html. Retrieved November 15, 2009.
- ^ "Gregory, Dudley Sanford - Biographical Information". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=G000446. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
- ^ Winfield 1874, p. 342
- ^ "Cleveland, Orestes - Biographical Information". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C000514. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
- ^ "Gen. Peter F. Wanser of Jersey City Dies. Former Mayor and Postmaster and Active in National Guard. Expires of Pneumonia at 68". New York Times. 1918-01-05. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9403E4DD133FE433A25756C0A9679C946996D6CF.
- ^ Smothers, Ronald (June 10, 2004). "Bayonne Mayor Is Selected As an Interim State Senator". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/10/nyregion/bayonne-mayor-is-selected-as-an-interim-state-senator.html. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
- ^ New Jersey Legislative Digest for November 24, 2003. Accessed April 13, 2008. "Senator Joseph Charles, Jr., of the 31st Legislative District, has resigned effective August 18, 2003. L. Harvey Smith was sworn in as a member of the Senate for the 31st Legislative District."
- ^ "31st Dist: Democrat victories for Cunningham, Smith, Chiappone", The Star-Ledger, November 6, 2007. Accessed December 27, 2007.
Mayors of Jersey City, New Jersey Gregory • McMartin • Gregory • Alexander • Bentley • Dummer • Taylor • Gilchrist • Manners • Wescott • Gregory • Van Vorst • Romar • Cleveland • Gopsill • O'Neill • Clarke • O'Neill • Traphagen • Seidler • Hopper • Taussig • Collins • Cleveland • Wanser • Hoos • Fagan • Wittpenn • Fagan • Hague • Eggers • Kenny • Berry • Witkowski • Gangemi • Whelan • Krieger • Jordan • T. Smith • McCann • Cucci • McCann • Roman • Rakowski • Schundler • Cunningham • L. Smith • HealyCategories:- Lists of mayors of places in the United States
- Mayors of Jersey City, New Jersey
- New Jersey-related lists
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