Charles E. Barnhart (January 9, 1922 – June 28, 2007) was an American attorney, politician, and engineer who served as the ex-officio

mayor of Albuquerque The mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico is the chief executive officer of the city, elected for a four-year term. There are no term limits for the mayor. Under the New Mexico State Constitution, municipal elections are nonpartisan. The 30th and cur ...

from 1970 to 1971 and as a member of the Albuquerque City Commission from 1967 to 1971.

Early life and education

Barnhart was born and raised in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, where he attended the Santa Rosa Public High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the

University of New Mexico The University of New Mexico (UNM; es, Universidad de Nuevo México) is a public research university in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Founded in 1889, it is the state's flagship academic institution and the largest by enrollment, with over 25,400 ...

in 1944 and a

Juris Doctor The Juris Doctor (J.D. or JD), also known as Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D., JD, D.Jur., or DJur), is a graduate-entry professional degree in law and one of several Doctor of Law degrees. The J.D. is the standard degree obtained to practice law ...

from the

University of New Mexico School of Law The University of New Mexico School of Law (UNM Law or New Mexico Law) is the law school of the University of New Mexico, a public research university in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Founded in 1947, it is the first and only law school in the state. ...

Career

During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, Barnhart was commissioned as an ensign in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

and served aboard the USS ''Waupaca''. After the war, Barnhart worked as an engineer in

Albuquerque Albuquerque ( ; ), ; kee, Arawageeki; tow, Vakêêke; zun, Alo:ke:k'ya; apj, Gołgéeki'yé. abbreviated ABQ, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Its nicknames, The Duke City and Burque, both reference its founding in ...

and

Los Alamos, New Mexico Los Alamos is an census-designated place in Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States, that is recognized as the development and creation place of the atomic bomb—the primary objective of the Manhattan Project by Los Alamos National Labora ...

. After graduating from law school in 1959, he worked as an attorney in Albuquerque for several years. Barnhart was also the developer of the Van Cleave Mobile home park, a

planned community A planned community, planned city, planned town, or planned settlement is any community that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed on previously undeveloped land. This contrasts with settlements that evolve ...

for seniors. Barnhart served as a member of the Albuquerque City Commission from 1967 to 1971 and chairman of the commission in 1970 to 1971, a rank equivalent to mayor.

Death

Barnhart died in Albuquerque in 2007. He was 85.

References

New Mexico Republicans 1922 births 2007 deaths 20th-century American politicians People from Santa Rosa, New Mexico University of New Mexico alumni University of New Mexico School of Law alumni New Mexico lawyers Engineers from New Mexico 20th-century American lawyers {{NewMexico-mayor-stub