George E. Brunner
Encyclopedia
George Edward Brunner was an American
Democratic Party
politician
from New Jersey
who served as the Mayor of Camden, New Jersey
from 1936 to 1959.
to Eugene and Bertha (Zehnder) Brunner, both natives of Switzerland. He attended parochial schools in West New York
before serving as an apprentice in the plumbing and heating trade. He worked as a journeyman and eventually settled in Camden.
Brunner took an interest in Democratic politics in Camden and in 1931 he was elected to the Camden County
Board of Chosen Freeholders
. He served until 1935, when he was elected to the Camden City Board of Commissioners as part of a coalition ticket. He became Mayor of Camden, New Jersey
that same year when his coalition defeated the Republican organization of the previous mayor, Frederick Von Neida.
Brunner consolidated Democratic power in the city of Camden and its surrounding county, and he would go on to serve six four-year terms as mayor before his organization lost control of the city government in 1959. He was defeated by Alfred R. Pierce and his "Save Our City" ticket, a coalition supported by much of the Hispanic community.
Brunner also became prominent in statewide politics, running unsuccessfully for United States Senate
against H. Alexander Smith in 1946 and serving as chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee
from 1954 until 1961. He assisted in the careers of two Governors of New Jersey
, Robert B. Meyner
and William J. Hughes
, as well as Harrison A. Williams
the United States Senator, and William F. Hyland
the New Jersey Attorney General
.
Brunner died at his home in Haddon Township
in 1975 at the age of 79.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
who served as the Mayor of Camden, New Jersey
Mayor of Camden, New Jersey
Mayor of Camden, New Jersey:*Dana Redd 2010 to present *Gwendolyn Faison 2000-2010*Milton Milan 1997-2000 when indicted. Milton Milan was the third mayor of Camden, New Jersey indicted for corruption.*Arnold Webster 1993-1997*Aaron Thompson 1990-1993...
from 1936 to 1959.
Biography
Brunner was born in 1896 in Newark, New JerseyNewark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
to Eugene and Bertha (Zehnder) Brunner, both natives of Switzerland. He attended parochial schools in West New York
West New York, New Jersey
West New York is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States, situated upon the New Jersey Palisades. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 49,708.-Geography:...
before serving as an apprentice in the plumbing and heating trade. He worked as a journeyman and eventually settled in Camden.
Brunner took an interest in Democratic politics in Camden and in 1931 he was elected to the Camden County
Camden County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census the population of Camden County was 60.28% Non-Hispanic white, 18.45% Non-Hispanic black, 1.12% Hispanic blacks, 0.17% Non-Hispanic Native American, 0.15% Hispanic Native Americans, 5.07% Non-Hispanic Asian, and 0.14% non-Hispanics reporting some other race...
Board of Chosen Freeholders
Board of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...
. He served until 1935, when he was elected to the Camden City Board of Commissioners as part of a coalition ticket. He became Mayor of Camden, New Jersey
Mayor of Camden, New Jersey
Mayor of Camden, New Jersey:*Dana Redd 2010 to present *Gwendolyn Faison 2000-2010*Milton Milan 1997-2000 when indicted. Milton Milan was the third mayor of Camden, New Jersey indicted for corruption.*Arnold Webster 1993-1997*Aaron Thompson 1990-1993...
that same year when his coalition defeated the Republican organization of the previous mayor, Frederick Von Neida.
Brunner consolidated Democratic power in the city of Camden and its surrounding county, and he would go on to serve six four-year terms as mayor before his organization lost control of the city government in 1959. He was defeated by Alfred R. Pierce and his "Save Our City" ticket, a coalition supported by much of the Hispanic community.
Brunner also became prominent in statewide politics, running unsuccessfully for United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
against H. Alexander Smith in 1946 and serving as chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee
New Jersey Democratic State Committee
The New Jersey Democratic State Committee is the New Jersey state affiliate of the United States Democratic Party.New Jersey Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski is the Chairman and Camden Mayor Dana Redd is the Vice-Chairwoman. They were elected on January 27, 2010.-Party structure:The NJDSC is the...
from 1954 until 1961. He assisted in the careers of two Governors of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
, Robert B. Meyner
Robert B. Meyner
Robert Baumle Meyner of Phillipsburg, New Jersey was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 44th Governor of New Jersey, from 1954 to 1962...
and William J. Hughes
William J. Hughes
William John "Bill" Hughes served as a Democratic Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1975 to 1995, representing New Jersey’s Second Congressional District which includes major portions of the Jersey Shore and Pine Barrens, the cities of Vineland and Atlantic City, and the counties...
, as well as Harrison A. Williams
Harrison A. Williams
Harrison Arlington "Pete" Williams, Jr. was a Democrat who represented New Jersey in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate . Williams was convicted on May 1, 1981 for taking bribes in the Abscam sting operation, and resigned from the U.S. Senate in 1982...
the United States Senator, and William F. Hyland
William F. Hyland
William F. 'Bill' Hyland is an American lawyer and Democratic Party politician who served as Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly and Attorney General of New Jersey. Later in life he was a partner in the law firm of Riker Danzig and the executor of the estate of Benny...
the New Jersey Attorney General
New Jersey Attorney General
The Attorney General of New Jersey is a member of the executive cabinet of the state. The office is appointed by the Governor of New Jersey and term limited...
.
Brunner died at his home in Haddon Township
Haddon Township, New Jersey
Haddon Township is a Township in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 14,707....
in 1975 at the age of 79.
External links
- Biographical information for George E. Brunner from The Political GraveyardThe Political GraveyardThe Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 224,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information.-History:...