George Edward Brunner (January 12, 1896 – February 8, 1975) was an American

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...

from

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

who served as the

Mayor of Camden, New Jersey Mayor of Camden, New Jersey, has been an office since its inception in 1828. List of mayors * Victor Carstarphen (2021–present) * Curtis Jenkins (interim) (2021) * Frank Moran (2018–2021) * Dana Redd (2010–2018) * Gwendolyn Faison (2000–2 ...

from 1936 to 1959.

Biography

Brunner was born in 1896 in

Newark, New Jersey Newark ( , ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey and the seat of Essex County and the second largest city within the New York metropolitan area.West New York West New York is a town in the northern part of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States, situated upon the New Jersey Palisades. As of the 2020 United States census, the town's population was 52,912. The Census Bureau's Population Estimates ...

before serving as an apprentice in the plumbing and heating trade. He worked as a journeyman and eventually settled in Camden.Myers, William Starr. ''The Story of New Jersey'' (1945). Reprinted a
''Prominent Families of New Jersey''
(Genealogical Publishing Company, 2000). Brunner took an interest in Democratic politics in Camden and in 1931 he was elected to the Camden County

Board of Chosen Freeholders In New Jersey, a Board of County Commissioners (until 2020 named the Board of Chosen Freeholders) is the elected county-wide government board in each of the state's 21 counties. In the five counties that have an elected county executive, the b ...

. He served until 1935, when he was elected to the Camden City Board of Commissioners as part of a coalition ticket. He became

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.Biography of Alfred R. Pierce
DVRBS.com. Accessed June 9, 2008. Brunner also became prominent in statewide politics, running unsuccessfully for

United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and pow ...

against H. Alexander Smith in 1946 and serving as chairman of the

New Jersey Democratic State Committee The New Jersey Democratic State Committee (NJDSC) is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the U.S. state of New Jersey. LeRoy J. Jones Jr. is the chair and Peg Schaffer is the vice chair. Structure The NJDSC has a 13-member executive commit ...

from 1954 until 1961. He assisted in the careers of two Governors of New Jersey,

Robert B. Meyner Robert Baumle Meyner (July 3, 1908 – May 27, 1990) was an American Democratic Party politician and attorney who served as the 44th governor of New Jersey from 1954 to 1962. Before being elected governor, Meyner represented Warren County in t ...

and

Richard J. Hughes Richard Joseph Hughes (August 10, 1909December 7, 1992) was an American lawyer, politician, and judge. A Democrat, he served as the 45th governor of New Jersey from 1962 to 1970, and as Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1973 to ...

, as well as

Harrison A. Williams Harrison Arlington "Pete" Williams Jr. (December 10, 1919November 17, 2001) was an American politician and lawyer. He was a Democrat who represented New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives (1953–1957) and the United States Sena ...

the

United States Senator The United States Senate is the Upper house, upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States House of Representatives, House of Representatives being the Lower house, lower chamber. Together they compose the national Bica ...

, and

William F. Hyland William F. 'Bill' Hyland (July 30, 1923 – March 2, 2013) was 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 la ...

the

New Jersey Attorney General The attorney general of New Jersey is a member of the executive cabinet of the state and oversees the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Department of Law and Public Safety. The office is appointed by the governor of New Jersey, confir ...

. Brunner died at his home in Haddon Township in 1975 at the age of 79.

References

External links

Biographical information for George E. Brunner
from

The Political Graveyard The Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 277,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information. The name comes from the website's inclusion of burial locations of ...

1896 births 1975 deaths People from Haddon Township, New Jersey Politicians from Newark, New Jersey People from West New York, New Jersey County commissioners in New Jersey Chairmen of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee Mayors of Camden, New Jersey 20th-century American politicians {{NewJersey-mayor-stub