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List of mayors of Trenton, New Jersey facts for kids

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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) portrait (high contrast).png 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) circa 1900.jpg 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 FrankOBriggs.jpg Frank O. Briggs
(1851–1913; aged 61)
1899

1902(lost re-election)
3 years   Republican Member of the
Trenton School Board
31 Frank Snowden Katzenbach Jr. (1868-1929).jpg 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 William Donnelly circa 1920.jpg 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 John Holland.jpg 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 John Holland.jpg 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 (cropped).jpg 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 MayorJackson7414 (cropped).jpg Eric Jackson
(born in 1959; aged 66)
July 1, 2014

July 1, 2018
4 years   Democratic Trenton Director of Public Works
49 Photo of W. Reed Gusciora.jpg W. Reed Gusciora
(born in 1960; aged 65)
July 1, 2018
(incumbent)
7 years   Democratic New Jersey Assemblyman
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