List of mayors of Trenton, New Jersey

Background

In 1837, following the absorption of Trenton Township, the population of Trenton was too large for government by city council. A new mayoral government was adopted, with by-laws that remain in operation to this day.[1]

Today, Trenton is governed under the Faulkner Act of 1950 within the mayor-council system of municipal government.[2] The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a seven-member city council. Three city council members are elected at-large, and four come from each of four wards. The mayor and council members are elected concurrently on a non-partisan basis to four-year terms of office as part of the November general election.[3][4][5]

List of mayors

# Image Mayor Term in office Length of service Party affiliation Previous office
1 Moore Furman[6]
(1728–1808) 		1792
–
1794 		2 years   [data missing] Deputy Quartermaster-General and Forage Master of New Jersey
2 Aaron Woodruff[6]
(1762–1817; aged 54) 		1794
–
1797 		3 years   Federalist Member of the General Assembly
3 James Ewing[6]
(1744–1823) 		1797
–
1803 		6 years [data missing] New Jersey Assemblyman
4 Joshua Wright[6] 1803
–
1806 		3 years [data missing] [data missing]
5 Stacy Potts[6] 1806
–
1814 		8 years [data missing] [data missing]
6 Robert McNealy[6] 1814
–
1832 		18 years [data missing] [data missing]
7 Charles Burroughs[6] 1832
–
1847 		15 years [data missing] [data missing]
8 Samuel R. Hamilton[6] 1847
–
1849 		2 years [data missing] [data missing]
9 William C. Howell[6] 1849
–
1850 		1 year [data missing] [data missing]
10 William Napton[6] 1850
–
1852 		2 years [data missing] New Jersey Assemblyman
11 John R. Tucker[6] 1852
–
1854 		2 years [data missing] [data missing]
(10) William Napton[6] 1854
–
1855 		1 year [data missing] Former Mayor of Trenton
12 William P. Sherman[6] 1855
–
1855 		under 1 year [data missing] [data missing]
(11) John R. Tucker[6] 1855
–
1856 		1 year [data missing] Former Mayor of Trenton
13 Joseph Wood[6] 1856
–
1859 		3 years   Democratic [data missing]
14 Franklin S. Mills[6] 1859
–
1861 		2 years [data missing] New Jersey Assemblyman
15 William R. McKean[6] 1861
–
1863
 2 years [data missing] [data missing]
(14) Franklin S. Mills[6] 1863
–
1867 		4 years [data missing] Former Mayor of Trenton
16 Alfred Reed[6]
(1839–1918) 		1867
–
1868 		1 year [data missing] [data missing]
(10) William Napton[6] 1868
–
1871 		3 years Republican Former Mayor of Trenton
17 John Briest[6] 1871
–
1875 		4 years [data missing] [data missing]
18 Wesley Creveling[6] 1875
–
1877 		2 years [data missing] [data missing]
19 Daniel R. Bodine[6] 1877
–
1879 		2 years [data missing] [data missing]
20 William Rice[6] 1879
–
1881 		2 years   [data missing]
21 Garrett D. W. Vroom[6]
(b. 1843) 		1881
–
1884 		3 years   Democratic [data missing]
22 Richard Grant Augustus Donnelly[7]
(1841–1905; aged 63) 		1884
–
1886 		2 years   Democratic New Jersey Assemblyman
23 John Woolverton[6][8] 1886
–
1887 		1 year   Democratic Former New Jersey Senator
24 Frank A. Magowan[9][10][11] April 17, 1887
–
1889 		2 years   Republican Rubber manufacturer
25 Anthony A. Skirm[6] 1889
–
1891 		2 years   [data missing] [data missing]
26 Daniel J. Bechtel[6] 1891
–
1893 		2 years   Democratic [data missing]
27 Joseph B. Shaw[12]

(1857/58–1936; aged 61)

1893
–
1895 		2 years   [data missing] [data missing]
28 Emory Neal Yard[6] 1895
–
1897 		2 years   [data missing] [data missing]
29 Welling G. Sickel[13][14]
(1858–1911; aged 52) 		1897
–
1899 		2 years   Republican Vice President of
United Globe Rubber Co.
30 Frank O. Briggs[15][16]
(1851–1913; aged 61) 		1899
–
1902(lost re-election) 		3 years   Republican Member of the
Trenton School Board
31 Frank S. Katzenbach[16][17]
(1868–1929; aged 60) 		1902
–
1906 		4 years   Democratic Alderman At-large
32 Frederick W. Gnichtel[6]
(b. 1860) 		1906
–
1908 		2 years   Republican City Councilman[18]
33 Walter Madden[6]
(b. 1873) 		1908
–
1911 		3 years   Democratic [data missing]
In 1911, Trenton adopted the commission form of government.[19] The mayor was elected by the commissioners and typically the most popular member at the previous election.[19][20]
34 Frederick W. Donnelly[7][21][22]
(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[23]

(1876/77–1942; aged 65)

November 1, 1932
–
November 18, 1932 		18 days   [data missing] Member of the Trenton City Commission[20]
36 George B. LaBarre[24] November 18, 1932
–
1934 		2 years   [data missing] Member of the Trenton City Commission[20]
In 1935, Trenton adopted the council-manager form of government.[19]
37 William J. Connor[25]
 May 14, 1935
–
1939 		4 years   [data missing] [data missing]
In 1939, Trenton reverted to the commission form of government.[19][23]
38 Leo Rogers[19][26]

(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[19]
41 Andrew Duch
 May 1943
–
May 19, 1947 		4 years   [data missing] Mercer County Prosecutor, Director of Public Safety
42 Donal J. Connolly[27]
(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[28][29][a]
(born in 1951; aged 73) 		July 1, 1990
–
July 1, 2010 		20 years   Democratic Mercer County Freeholder
46 Tony F. Mack[28]
(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[30] February 26, 2014
–
July 1, 2014 		125 days   Unaffiliated City Councilman, South Ward
48 Eric Jackson
(born in 1959; aged 65–66) 		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

Notes

  1. ^ Palmer was the first African-American mayor in the city's history.

References

  1. ^ Richman, Steven M. Reconsidering Trenton: The Small City in the Post-Industrial Age Archived October 1, 2023, at the Wayback Machine, p. 49. McFarland & Company, 2010. ISBN 9780786462230. Accessed November 15, 2015.
  2. ^ Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey Archived June 1, 2023, at the Wayback Machine, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.
  3. ^ 2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 73.
  4. ^ "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" Archived June 4, 2023, at the Wayback Machine, p. 10. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.
  5. ^ City Council Overview Archived August 9, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Trenton, New Jersey. Accessed December 1, 2019. "The City of Trenton is governed within the Faulkner Act, formerly known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law. Under this act, the Mayor-Council system was developed in 1792."
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae "Mayors of Trenton, New Jersey". Political Graveyard. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
  7. ^ a b "F. Donnely Dead. 21 Years as Mayor. Trenton Leader Resigned in 1932 Because of Health. His Father Mayor 1884-86". New York Times. September 26, 1935. Retrieved 2011-10-04.
  8. ^ "TRENTON DEMOCRATIC NOMINATIONS". The New York Times. 1886-04-09. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  9. ^ "SWEPT OUT OF POWER.; THE DEMOCRATS LOSE THEIR GRIP ON THE CITY OF TRENTON". The New York Times. 1887-04-12. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  10. ^ "TRENTON'S NEW REGIME". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  11. ^ "FRANK A. MAGOWAN EJECTED.; Trenton ex-Mayor Refused to Leave and Is Put Out of Home in His Night Clothing". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  12. ^ TIMES, Special to THE NEW YORK (1936-08-15). "DR. JOSEPH B. SHAW". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  13. ^ Times, Special to The New York (1911-07-16). "WELLING G. SICKEL DEAD.; Ex-Mayor of Trenton, N.J., and Wealthy Rubber Manufacturer". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  14. ^ "New Jersey Elections". Baltimore Sun. Apr 14, 1897. Welling G. Slckol, republican, was elected mayor of Trenton over Henry Vandeveer
  15. ^ "Ex-Senator Briggs Dead in Trenton". New York Times. May 19, 1913. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
  16. ^ a b Times, Special to The New York (1907-09-18). "JERSEY DEMOCRATS NAME KATZENBACH; Young Trenton Man Nominated for Governor Promises to Make an Aggressive Fight. SMITH BEAT DAVIS SCHEME Hudson Boss's Pretense of Support of Stevens Exposed by Essex Leader -- Platform Ignores Sunday Closing. " Boss" Davis Turns Down Stevens. The Other Booms Fade. The Platform. KATZENBACH A VOTE GETTER. Twice Elected Mayor of Trenton -- A Good Speaker and Story Teller". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  17. ^ "Justice Katzenbach Dies in Hospital. Blood Transfusion Fails to Save New Jersey Jurist Whose Leg Was Infected. Twice Mayor of Trenton. Ran Unsuccessfully for Governorship on Democratic Ticket in 1906. On Bench Eight Years. Eulogized by Federal Judges. Once Ran for Governor". New York Times. March 14, 1929. Retrieved 2011-09-22. Supreme Court Justice Frank S. Katzenbach of this city died at Mercer Hospital here at 5 o'clock this morning, after an illness of ten days due to septicaemia. He was 60 years old.
  18. ^ Scannell, John James, ed. (c. 1917). Scannell's New Jersey's first citizens and state guide ... genealogies and biographies of citizens of New Jersey with informing glimpses into the state's history, affairs, officialism and institutions . New York Public Library. Paterson, N.J., J. J. Scannell. p. 187.
  19. ^ a b c d e f TIMES, Special to THE NEW YORK (1939-05-24). "CHOSEN TRENTON MAYOR; L.J. Rogers Elected as New City Commission Organizes". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  20. ^ a b c Times, Special to The New York (1927-05-18). "Declines Job as Mayor". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  21. ^ Times, Special to The New York (1911-08-16). "DEMOCRATS WIN IN TRENTON.; Elect Three of Five Commissioners for New Plan of Government". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  22. ^ TIMES, Special to THE NEW YORK (1932-10-07). "MAYOR FOR 21 YEARS TO QUIT TRENTON POST; F.W. Donnelly Announces His Retirement on Nov. 1. -- Made His City a Seaport". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  23. ^ a b TIMES, Special to THE NEW YORK (1942-02-10). "EDWARD W. LEE, 65, TRENTON OFFICIAL; City Commission Vice President Had Charge of Finances". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  24. ^ TIMES, Special to THE NEW YORK (1932-11-19). "La Barre Mayor of Trenton". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  25. ^ TIMES, Special to THE NEW YORK (1935-05-15). "TRENTON COUNCIL SWORN.; New Governmental Board May Choose Manager Tomorrow". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  26. ^ TIMES, Special to THE NEW YORK (1941-03-08). "MAYOR LEO J. ROGERS OF TRENTON, 44, DIES; Gets Emergency Transfusion-A County Democratic Leader i". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  27. ^ TIMES, Special to THE NEW YORK (1947-05-21). "Mayor of Trenton Chosen". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  28. ^ a b "Former county Freeholder Tony Mack is elected Trenton mayor". Associated Press. June 16, 2010. Retrieved 2011-09-24. Former county Freeholder Tony Mack rolled to a landslide runoff election win Tuesday over opponent Manny Segura, giving Trenton its first new mayor in 20 years, a report in the Times of Trenton said. ... Mack replaces Doug Palmer, who served for five terms. ...
  29. ^ "Douglas Palmer". City Mayors. Retrieved 2010-03-22. Douglas Palmer was born in Trenton and attended Trenton Public Schools. He then graduated from Bordentown Military Institute in Bordentown, New Jersey. He is a graduate of Virginia's private black college Hampton University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management in 1973. ...
  30. ^ Pizzi, Jenna (February 26, 2014). "Trenton Council president sworn in as mayor". The Times of Trenton. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
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