Bernard M. Patten
Encyclopedia
Bernard M. Patten was a politician from Queens, New York, USA. He is notable for having held the office of borough president
of Queens for seven months in 1928 following the resignation of Maurice E. Connolly
in April of that year.
Patten arrived in the United States as an immigrant in 1900 when he was still a child. He was active in New York City and state politics, and held a number of elected offices in the twenty years before he became borough president. During this time, he was a State Senator
, Queens Park Department Secretary, Deputy State Controller, and the city's Commissioner of Markets. Patten was named the Market Commissioner by Mayor Jimmy Walker
on Connolly's advice.
When Connolly resigned due to the ongoing Queens sewer scandals, Patten was elected by the Queens Democratic Party leadership to fill the rest of the term. He was well liked by the Queens leadership and an ally of Connolly, but Mayor Walker was thought to not be pleased with the selection, fearing the taint of the scandal would damage Democrats in the 1928 elections. Walker did not find time to administer the oath of office to Patten, which some political observers felt was a snub. Although he was popular with the party leadership, his election was protested by some civic organizations and other members of the public.
Patten appeared before a grand jury to testify about the sewer scandal in Queens, but his appearance was voluntary and he was not indicted or subpoenaed. He easily won his party's nomination for Borough President in the election later that year, but he lost to Republican candidate George U. Harvey
, who made fighting political corruption and Connolly's involvement in the sewer graft scandal central themes of his campaign.
Patten ran again unsuccessfully for the nomination in 1929, though he was still popular with many in his party. The 1929 primary was hotly contested, and the party infighting was considered a factor in losing the race to Harvey and the Republicans. In order to ease relations and help unify the various factions among the Democrats, Mayor Walker named Patten to become the borough's Commissioner of Taxes and Assessment in 1930.
Borough president
Borough President is an elective office in each of the five boroughs of New York City.-Reasons for establishment:...
of Queens for seven months in 1928 following the resignation of Maurice E. Connolly
Maurice E. Connolly
Maurice E. Connolly was the Borough president of Queens, New York, USA from 1911 to 1928.Born in Corona, Queens, Queens County, New York, he was the son of Maurice Connolly and Mary Jane Connolly. He was of Irish ancestry. He married Helen M. Connell and they had one child, Helen. He was a Democrat...
in April of that year.
Patten arrived in the United States as an immigrant in 1900 when he was still a child. He was active in New York City and state politics, and held a number of elected offices in the twenty years before he became borough president. During this time, he was a State Senator
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
, Queens Park Department Secretary, Deputy State Controller, and the city's Commissioner of Markets. Patten was named the Market Commissioner by Mayor Jimmy Walker
Jimmy Walker
James John Walker, often known as Jimmy Walker and colloquially as Beau James , was the mayor of New York City from 1926 to 1932...
on Connolly's advice.
When Connolly resigned due to the ongoing Queens sewer scandals, Patten was elected by the Queens Democratic Party leadership to fill the rest of the term. He was well liked by the Queens leadership and an ally of Connolly, but Mayor Walker was thought to not be pleased with the selection, fearing the taint of the scandal would damage Democrats in the 1928 elections. Walker did not find time to administer the oath of office to Patten, which some political observers felt was a snub. Although he was popular with the party leadership, his election was protested by some civic organizations and other members of the public.
Patten appeared before a grand jury to testify about the sewer scandal in Queens, but his appearance was voluntary and he was not indicted or subpoenaed. He easily won his party's nomination for Borough President in the election later that year, but he lost to Republican candidate George U. Harvey
George U. Harvey
George U. Harvey was a Republican politician from Queens, New York City and served as its borough president for twelve years....
, who made fighting political corruption and Connolly's involvement in the sewer graft scandal central themes of his campaign.
Patten ran again unsuccessfully for the nomination in 1929, though he was still popular with many in his party. The 1929 primary was hotly contested, and the party infighting was considered a factor in losing the race to Harvey and the Republicans. In order to ease relations and help unify the various factions among the Democrats, Mayor Walker named Patten to become the borough's Commissioner of Taxes and Assessment in 1930.