Mayor of New Brunswick, New Jersey facts for kids

The Mayor of New Brunswick is the main leader of the city government in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The mayor is in charge of the "executive branch," which means they help carry out the city's laws and manage its daily operations.

The Mayor of New Brunswick

The Mayor of New Brunswick is a very important job! This person leads the city and makes sure things run smoothly for everyone who lives there. They work with the City Council to make decisions about everything from roads and parks to public safety and schools.

How New Brunswick's Mayors Were Chosen

The way New Brunswick has chosen its leaders has changed a lot over hundreds of years. It wasn't always by voting!

Early Mayors: Royal Charters

The very first mayors of New Brunswick were chosen by the British King! This was because New Brunswick was a colony of Great Britain. The King would grant "royal charters," which were special documents that gave the city the right to have its own government.

• The first mayor, Thomas Farmer, was appointed in 1730. He served for over 16 years!
• Later, other mayors like James Hude and William Ouke were also appointed this way. William Harrison was the last "colonial" mayor, serving until 1784.

State Charters and City Presidents

After the American Revolution, New Jersey became its own state. In 1784, the State of New Jersey gave New Brunswick a new charter. For a while, the city's top leader wasn't called "mayor" but "president of the city."

• Azariah Dunham was the first "president" of New Brunswick, starting in 1784.
• Famous leaders like John Bubenheim Bayard and James Schureman also served as "presidents" before the title of "mayor" came back in 1801.

The Commission Era

From 1915 to 1970, New Brunswick had a different system. Instead of directly electing a mayor, people voted for five "commissioners." These five commissioners would then choose one of themselves to be the mayor.

• Edward Farrington was the first mayor under this "commission" system, starting in 1915. He led the city during World War I.
• Sometimes, the person who got the most votes as a commissioner would become mayor, but not always.
• Patricia Q. Sheehan was a very important mayor during this time. She was the city's first female mayor, chosen by her fellow commissioners in 1967. She was also the last mayor under the commission system and the first under the new system when voters decided to change how the city was run.

Modern Elections

In 1970, the people of New Brunswick voted to change their government again. From then on, they would directly elect their mayor, just like many other cities do today.

Important Mayors in History

New Brunswick has had many mayors who have helped shape the city. Here are a few notable ones:

• Patricia Q. Sheehan (1967–1974): As mentioned, she was the city's first female mayor. She led the city through a big change in how its government worked.
• Aldrage B. Cooper II (1974): He was New Brunswick's first African-American mayor. He was appointed to finish a term and made history.
• John A. Lynch Jr. (1979–1991): He was elected mayor three times. His father, John A. Lynch, Sr., was also a mayor! John Jr. later became the president of the New Jersey State Senate.
• James M. Cahill (1991–Present): Mayor Cahill is the longest-serving mayor in New Brunswick's history! He was first elected in 1990 and has been re-elected many times, serving for over 30 years. He continues to lead the city today.

A Look at Past Mayors

Here is a list of some of the mayors who have served New Brunswick, showing how the city's leadership has changed over time.

• Thomas Farmer (1730–1747): The very first mayor, appointed by the British colonial governor.
• James Hude (1747–1762): Appointed by the colonial governor.
• William Ouke (1762–1778): Took over after James Hude and served for many years.
• William Harrison (1778–1784): The last colonial mayor before New Jersey became a state.
• Azariah Dunham (1784–1790): The first "president" of New Brunswick under the state charter.
• John Bayard (1790–1792, 1794–1796): A hero of the Revolutionary War who also served as president of the city.
• James Schureman (1792–1793, 1801–1813, 1821–1824): Served multiple times as both president and mayor. He was also a member of the U.S. Congress!
• James Bennett (1813–1821): Served as mayor for eight years.
• Augustus R. Taylor (1824–1829, 1838–1840): A physician who served two non-consecutive terms as mayor.
• Cornelius Low Hardenbergh (1830–1838): Served for eight years.
• Littleton Kirkpatrick (1841–1842): Later became a U.S. Congressman.
• John Van Dyke (1846–1847, 1852–1853): Served two terms as mayor.
• Lyle Van Nuis (1856–1857, 1861–1863, 1877–1879): Served three non-consecutive terms as mayor.
• Richard MacDonald (1863–1865): The first mayor under the city's seventh charter.
• Miles Ross (1867–1869): Served as mayor for two years.
• Nicholas Williamson (1895–1901): Served several terms as mayor.
• John J. Morrison (1910–1913, 1918–1935): Served as mayor both before and during the commission form of government, holding the position for many years.
• Austin Scott (1914–1915): A former president of Rutgers University, he was the last mayor before the commission system began.
• Richard V. Mulligan (1939–1942): Served as mayor during the commission era.
• Chester W. Paulus (1943–1951, 1955–1967): Served multiple terms as mayor during the commission era.
• John A. Lynch, Sr. (1951–1954): Father of a later mayor, he also served in the State Senate.
• Richard J. Mulligan (1975–1978): Elected as an independent candidate.
• Gilbert L. Nelson (1978): Appointed to finish a term.