List of mayors of Trenton, New Jersey facts for kids
Trenton is a city that needs leaders to help it run smoothly. The most important leader in Trenton is the Mayor. The mayor is like the city's chief executive officer. They work with the city council to make decisions and manage the city's services.
How Trenton's Government Works
Long ago, in 1837, Trenton grew too big for its old way of being governed. So, the city decided to have a mayor. This new system, with a mayor and city council, is still used today!
Trenton's government follows a special plan called the Faulkner Act of 1950. This plan sets up a "mayor-council" system. This means there's a mayor and a city council.
Who Makes Up the City Government?
The city government has a mayor and seven city council members.
- Three council members are elected from the whole city (this is called "at-large").
- Four council members are elected from specific areas called "wards". Think of wards as different neighborhoods or districts within the city.
Both the mayor and the council members are chosen by voters at the same time. They serve for four years. Their elections are "non-partisan", which means they don't run as members of a political party like Republican or Democrat.
List of Trenton's Mayors
Trenton has had many mayors over the years, each serving the city in their own way. Here is a list of the people who have held the important role of mayor in Trenton.
# | Image | Mayor | Term in office | Length of service | Party affiliation | Previous office | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Moore Furman (1728–1808) |
1792 – 1794 |
2 years | [data missing] | Deputy Quartermaster-General and Forage Master of New Jersey | ||
2 | ![]() |
Aaron Woodruff (1762–1817; aged 54) |
1794 – 1797 |
3 years | Federalist | Member of the General Assembly | |
3 | James Ewing (1744–1823) |
1797 – 1803 |
6 years | [data missing] | New Jersey Assemblyman | ||
4 | Joshua Wright | 1803 – 1806 |
3 years | [data missing] | [data missing] | ||
5 | Stacy Potts | 1806 – 1814 |
8 years | [data missing] | [data missing] | ||
6 | Robert McNealy | 1814 – 1832 |
18 years | [data missing] | [data missing] | ||
7 | Charles Burroughs | 1832 – 1847 |
15 years | [data missing] | [data missing] | ||
8 | Samuel R. Hamilton | 1847 – 1849 |
2 years | [data missing] | [data missing] | ||
9 | William C. Howell | 1849 – 1850 |
1 year | [data missing] | [data missing] | ||
10 | William Napton | 1850 – 1852 |
2 years | [data missing] | New Jersey Assemblyman | ||
11 | John R. Tucker | 1852 – 1854 |
2 years | [data missing] | [data missing] | ||
(10) | William Napton | 1854 – 1855 |
1 year | [data missing] | Former Mayor of Trenton | ||
12 | William P. Sherman | 1855 – 1855 |
under 1 year | [data missing] | [data missing] | ||
(11) | John R. Tucker | 1855 – 1856 |
1 year | [data missing] | Former Mayor of Trenton | ||
13 | Joseph Wood | 1856 – 1859 |
3 years | Democratic | [data missing] | ||
14 | Franklin S. Mills | 1859 – 1861 |
2 years | [data missing] | New Jersey Assemblyman | ||
15 | William R. McKean | 1861 – 1863 |
2 years | [data missing] | [data missing] | ||
(14) | Franklin S. Mills | 1863 – 1867 |
4 years | [data missing] | Former Mayor of Trenton | ||
16 | Alfred Reed (1839–1918) |
1867 – 1868 |
1 year | [data missing] | [data missing] | ||
(10) | William Napton | 1868 – 1871 |
3 years | Republican | Former Mayor of Trenton | ||
17 | John Briest | 1871 – 1875 |
4 years | [data missing] | [data missing] | ||
18 | Wesley Creveling | 1875 – 1877 |
2 years | [data missing] | [data missing] | ||
19 | Daniel R. Bodine | 1877 – 1879 |
2 years | [data missing] | [data missing] | ||
20 | William Rice | 1879 – 1881 |
2 years | [data missing] | |||
21 | Garrett D. W. Vroom (b. 1843) |
1881 – 1884 |
3 years | Democratic | [data missing] | ||
22 | ![]() |
Richard Grant Augustus Donnelly (1841–1905; aged 63) |
1884 – 1886 |
2 years | Democratic | New Jersey Assemblyman | |
23 | John Woolverton | 1886 – 1887 |
1 year | Democratic | Former New Jersey Senator | ||
24 | Frank A. Magowan | April 17, 1887 – 1889 |
2 years | Republican | Rubber manufacturer | ||
25 | Anthony A. Skirm | 1889 – 1891 |
2 years | [data missing] | [data missing] | ||
26 | Daniel J. Bechtel | 1891 – 1893 |
2 years | Democratic | [data missing] | ||
27 | Joseph B. Shaw
(1857/58–1936; aged 61) |
1893 – 1895 |
2 years | [data missing] | [data missing] | ||
28 | Emory Neal Yard | 1895 – 1897 |
2 years | [data missing] | [data missing] | ||
29 | Welling G. Sickel'''' (1858–1911; aged 52) |
1897 – 1899 |
2 years | Republican | Vice President of United Globe Rubber Co. |
||
30 | ![]() |
Frank O. Briggs (1851–1913; aged 61) |
1899 – 1902(lost re-election) |
3 years | Republican | Member of the Trenton School Board |
|
31 | ![]() |
Frank S. Katzenbach (1868–1929; aged 60) |
1902 – 1906 |
4 years | Democratic | Alderman At-large | |
32 | Frederick W. Gnichtel (b. 1860) |
1906 – 1908 |
2 years | Republican | City Councilman | ||
33 | Walter Madden (b. 1873) |
1908 – 1911 |
3 years | Democratic | [data missing] | ||
In 1911, Trenton adopted the commission form of government. The mayor was elected by the commissioners and typically the most popular member at the previous election. | |||||||
34 | ![]() |
Frederick W. Donnelly (1866–1935; aged 68) |
1911 – November 1, 1932(resigned) |
21 years | Democratic | Businessman, president of the Trenton Harbor Board, and son of former mayor R.G.A. Donnelly | |
35 | Edward W. Lee
(1876/77–1942; aged 65) |
November 1, 1932 – November 18, 1932 |
18 days | [data missing] | Member of the Trenton City Commission | ||
36 | George B. LaBarre | November 18, 1932 – 1934 |
2 years | [data missing] | Member of the Trenton City Commission | ||
In 1935, Trenton adopted the council-manager form of government. | |||||||
37 | William J. Connor |
May 14, 1935 – 1939 |
4 years | [data missing] | [data missing] | ||
In 1939, Trenton reverted to the commission form of government. | |||||||
38 | Leo Rogers
(1896/97–1941; aged 44) |
May 23, 1939 – March 7, 1941(died in office) |
2 years | Democratic | Assistant Mercer County Prosecutor and candidate for New Jersey Senate (1937) | ||
39 | Ward Lee |
1941 – 1941 |
under 1 year | [data missing] | [data missing] | ||
40 | John Anthony Hartmann I |
1941 – 1943 |
2 years | [data missing] | Member of the Trenton City Commission' | ||
41 | Andrew Duch |
May 1943 – May 19, 1947 |
4 years | [data missing] | Mercer County Prosecutor, Director of Public Safety | ||
42 | Donal J. Connolly (1909–1995; aged 86) |
May 20, 1947 – 1959 |
12 years | Democratic | State Assemblyman | ||
43 | ![]() |
Arthur J. Holland (1918–1989; aged 71) |
1959 – 1966 |
6 years | Democratic | City Councilman | |
44 | Carmen J. Armenti (1929–2001; aged 72) |
1966 – 1970 |
4 years | Democratic | City Councilman, North Ward | ||
(43) | ![]() |
Arthur J. Holland (1918–1989; aged 71) |
1970 – November 9, 1989 |
19 years | Democratic | Former Mayor of Trenton | |
(44) | Carmen J. Armenti (1929–2001; aged 72) |
November 9, 1989 – July 1, 1990 |
234 days | Republican | City Council President | ||
45 | ![]() |
Douglas Palmer (born in 1951; aged 73) |
July 1, 1990 – July 1, 2010 |
20 years | Democratic | Mercer County Freeholder | |
46 | Tony F. Mack (born in 1966; aged 59) |
July 1, 2010 – February 26, 2014(removed from office) |
3 years, 67 days | Democratic | Mercer County Freeholder | ||
47 | George Muschal | February 26, 2014 – July 1, 2014 |
125 days | Unaffiliated | City Councilman, South Ward | ||
48 | ![]() |
Eric Jackson (born in 1959; aged 66) |
July 1, 2014 – July 1, 2018 |
4 years | Democratic | Trenton Director of Public Works | |
49 | ![]() |
W. Reed Gusciora (born in 1960; aged 65) |
July 1, 2018 (incumbent) |
7 years | Democratic | New Jersey Assemblyman |