List of mayors of New Bedford, Massachusetts facts for kids
New Bedford, Massachusetts, is a historic city with a long line of leaders. These leaders are called mayors. A mayor is like the chief manager of a city. They help make important decisions for everyone living there.
Contents
What Does a Mayor Do?
A mayor is the top elected official in a city. They work to make the city a better place. This includes things like keeping streets clean. They also help with schools and public safety. Mayors lead city meetings and represent the city. They work with city council members.
How Mayors Are Chosen
In New Bedford, people vote for their mayor. Mayors serve for a set period of time. This period is called a "term." After their term, they can run for election again. This allows citizens to choose who leads their city.
The Role of a Mayor in the Community
Mayors are important community figures. They often attend local events. They listen to what citizens need. They also work to bring new businesses to the city. Their goal is to improve life for all residents.
A Look at New Bedford's Mayors
New Bedford has had many mayors since 1847. Each mayor has helped shape the city. They have worked through different times in history. Some mayors served for many years. Others had shorter terms.
Early Mayors of New Bedford
The first mayor of New Bedford was Abraham H. Howland. He served from 1847 to 1851. Many early mayors helped build the city. They saw New Bedford grow. It was a time when the city was famous for whaling.
- Abraham H. Howland (1st Mayor): 1847–1851
- William J. Rotch (2nd Mayor): 1852
- Rodney French (3rd Mayor): 1853–1854
- George Howland Jr. (4th Mayor): 1855–1856
- George H. Dunbar (5th Mayor): 1857–1858
- Willard Nye (6th Mayor): 1859
- Isaac C. Taber (7th Mayor): 1860–1862
- George Howland Jr. (8th Mayor): 1862 (3 months), 1863–1865
- John H. Perry (9th Mayor): 1866–1867
- Andrew G. Pierce (10th Mayor): 1868–1869 (Republican)
- George B. Richmond (11th Mayor): 1870–1872
- George H. Dunbar (12th Mayor): 1873
- George B. Richmond (13th Mayor): 1874
- Abraham H. Howland Jr. (14th Mayor): 1875–1876
- Alanson Borden (15th Mayor): 1877
- George B. Richmond (16th Mayor): 1878
- William T. Soule (17th Mayor): 1879–1880
- George Wilson (18th Mayor): 1881–1884
- Morgan Rotch (19th Mayor): 1885–1888 (Republican)
- Walter Clifford (20th Mayor): 1889–1890
Mayors of the 20th Century
The 20th century brought many changes to New Bedford. Mayors during this time faced new challenges. They helped the city adapt and grow. Charles S. Ashley served many terms. He was mayor for a long time.
- Charles S. Ashley (21st Mayor): 1891–1892 (Democratic)
- Jethro C. Brock (22nd Mayor): 1893
- Stephen Allen Brownell (23rd Mayor): 1894
- David Parker (24th Mayor): 1895–1896
- Charles S. Ashley (25th Mayor): 1897–1905 (Democratic)
- Thomas Thompson (26th Mayor): 1906
- Charles S. Ashley (27th Mayor): 1907 (Democratic)
- William J. Bullock (28th Mayor): 1908–1909 (Republican)
- Charles S. Ashley (29th Mayor): 1910–1914 (Democratic)
- Edward R. Hathaway (30th Mayor): 1915–1916
- Charles S. Ashley (31st Mayor): 1917–1921 (Democratic)
- Walter H.B. Remington (32nd Mayor): 1922–1924
- Edward R. Hathaway (33rd Mayor): 1925–1926
- Charles S. Ashley (34th Mayor): 1927–1936 (Democratic)
- Leo E.J. Carney (35th Mayor): 1937–1940
- Mathew A. Glynn (36th Mayor): 1941–1942
- Arthur N. Harriman (37th Mayor): 1943–1951
- Edward C. Peirce (38th Mayor): 1952–1953
- Francis J. Lawler (Interim Mayor): 1953 (Served as interim mayor when Peirce was unable to serve.)
- Arthur N. Harriman (39th Mayor): 1954–1955
- Francis J. Lawler (40th Mayor): 1956–1961
- Edward F. Harrington (41st Mayor): 1962–1969
- George Rogers (42nd Mayor): 1970–1971 (Democrat)
- John A. Markey (43rd Mayor): 1972–1982 (Resigned to become a judge.)
- Cynthia G. Kruger (Acting Mayor): 1982–1983 (Served as acting mayor after Markey resigned.)
- Nelson Macedo (Acting Mayor): 1983 (Served as acting mayor until a special election.)
- Brian J. Lawler (44th Mayor): 1983–1985
- John K. Bullard (45th Mayor): 1986–1991
- Rosemary S. Tierney (46th Mayor): 1992–1998
- Frederick M. Kalisz Jr. (47th Mayor): 1998–2006
Recent Mayors of New Bedford
In recent years, New Bedford has continued to grow. Mayors have focused on modern challenges. These include economic development and community projects. They work to keep New Bedford a great place to live.
- Scott W. Lang (48th Mayor): 2006–2012
- Jon Mitchell (49th Mayor): 2012–present
| # | Term | Name | Picture | Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1847–1851 | Abraham H. Howland | _(14590904828)_(cropped).jpg) |
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| 2nd | 1852 | William J. Rotch | _(14590904828)_(cropped).jpg) |
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| 3rd | 1853–1854 | Rodney French | _(14590904828)_(cropped).jpg) |
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| 4th | 1855–1856 | George Howland Jr. | _(14590904828)_(cropped).jpg) |
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| 5th | 1857–1858 | George H. Dunbar | _(14590904828)_(cropped).jpg) |
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| 6th | 1859 | Willard Nye | _(14590904828)_(cropped).jpg) |
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| 7th | 1860–1862 | Isaac C. Taber | _(14592473659)_(cropped).jpg) |
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| 8th | 1862 (3 months), 1863–1865 | George Howland Jr. | |
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| 9th | 1866–1867 | John H. Perry | _(14592473659)_(cropped).jpg) |
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| 10th | 1868–1869 | Andrew G. Pierce |  |
Republican | |
| 11th | 1870–1872 | George B. Richmond | |||
| 12th | 1873 | George H. Dunbar | |||
| 13th | 1874 | George B. Richmond | |||
| 14th | 1875–1876 | Abraham H. Howland Jr. | |
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| 15th | 1877 | Alanson Borden | _(14590909478)_(cropped).jpg) |
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| 16th | 1878 | George B. Richmond | |||
| 17th | 1879–1880 | William T. Soule | _(14590909478)_(cropped).jpg) |
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| 18th | 1881–1884 | George Wilson | _(14590909478)_(cropped).jpg) |
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| 19th | 1885–1888 | Morgan Rotch |  |
Republican | |
| 20th | 1889–1890 | Walter Clifford | _(14590909478)_(cropped).jpg) |
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| 21st | 1891–1892 | Charles S. Ashley | .jpg) |
Democratic | |
| 22nd | 1893 | Jethro C. Brock | |||
| 23rd | 1894 | Stephen Allen Brownell | |||
| 24th | 1895–1896 | David Parker | |||
| 25th | 1897–1905 | Charles S. Ashley | |
Democratic | |
| 26th | 1906 | Thomas Thompson | |||
| 27th | 1907 | Charles S. Ashley | |
Democratic | |
| 28th | 1908–1909 | William J. Bullock |  |
Republican | |
| 29th | 1910–1914 | Charles S. Ashley | |
Democratic | |
| 30th | 1915–1916 | Edward R. Hathaway | |||
| 31st | 1917–1921 | Charles S. Ashley | |
Democratic | |
| 32nd | 1922 - 1924(2 Year Terms Started 1923) | Walter H.B. Remington | |||
| 33rd | 1925–1926 | Edward R. Hathaway | |||
| 34th | 1927–1936 | Charles S. Ashley | |
Democratic | |
| 35th | 1937–1940 | Leo E.J. Carney | |||
| 36th | 1941–1942 | Mathew A. Glynn | |||
| 37th | 1943–1951 | Arthur N. Harriman | |||
| 38th | 1952 - 1953 | Edward C. Peirce |  |
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| Interim | 1953 | Francis J. Lawler | Served As Interim Mayor From May To December 1953 while Peirce was in prison. | ||
| 39th | 1954–1955 | Arthur N. Harriman | |||
| 40th | 1956–1961 | Francis J. Lawler | |||
| 41st | 1962–1969 | Edward F. Harrington | |||
| 42nd | 1970–1971 | George Rogers |  |
Democrat | |
| 43rd | 1972–1982 | John A. Markey | Resigned to accept a judicial appointment | ||
| Acting | 1982 - 1983 | Cynthia G. Kruger | Served as acting Mayor following Markey's resignation | ||
| Acting | 1983 | Nelson Macedo | Succeeded Kruger as council president. Served as acting Mayor until a special election was held. | ||
| 44th | 1983–1985 | Brian J. Lawler | |||
| 45th | 1986–1991 | John K. Bullard | |||
| 46th | 1992–1998 | Rosemary S. Tierney | |||
| 47th | 1998–2006 | Frederick M. Kalisz Jr. | |||
| 48th | 2006–2012 | Scott W. Lang | .jpg) |
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| 49th | 2012- | Jon Mitchell | .jpg) |
Images for kids
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Abraham H. Howland
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William J. Rotch
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Rodney French
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George Howland Jr.
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George H. Dunbar
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Willard Nye
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Isaac C. Taber
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John H. Perry
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Andrew G. Pierce
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Alanson Borden
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William T. Soule
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George Wilson
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Morgan Rotch
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Walter Clifford
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Charles S. Ashley
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William J. Bullock
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Edward C. Peirce
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George Rogers
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Scott W. Lang
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Jon Mitchell
