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List of mayors of Summit, New Jersey

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Former mayor Ellen Dickson speaks at Memorial Day

The chief executive of the city of Summit, New Jersey since it was incorporated in 1899 has been a mayor. Currently the city operates under a weak mayor system of municipal government where the mayor is mostly a ceremonial role that operates as the city's official spokesman. They do not have the power to vote in the city council (common council), unless in the event of a tie. However, they can use their office as a bully pulpit to promote and oppose candidates for other positions in the city. Additionally they can appoint the chief of police and the board of education.[1] In the 1970s the term for a mayor was lengthened from 2 years to 4 years; there are no term limits.

Summit Township

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On March 23, 1869, Summit separated from New Providence as its own Township and was governed by a three member executive committee dominated by the Democratic Party. Starting in the 1880s, local Republicans led by Jonathan Bonnel began to campaign for turning the township into a city, arguing that the executive committee didn't have the powers necessary to properly govern the rapidly growing population. The Democrats, who where in office in the committee, where generally opposed to the incorporation, with the deadlock being broken by William Z. Larned, a prominent local banker, who formed a committee to explore the best form of government. Larned found in favor of the Republicans, saying that “When one has grown to a man’s size, he can no longer wear child’s clothes; and it is the same with a town when it has grown to the population of a city, its township clothing was outgrown.” On April 11, 1899, the township's held a vote to determine if they should incorporate as a city, which passed 804 to 163. Additionally, elections where held to elect the first Common Council and mayor, with Republican George H. Wilcox winning the mayoralty, and 5 Republicans and 2 Democrats being elected to the council.[2]

Mayors of Summit

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Number Mayor Party Term Begins Term Ends Notes References
1st George H. Wilcox Republican 1899 1902 First mayor of Summit, wife ran a women's political club. Most of the city's services would be created under his tenure, including the longstanding tradition of the mayor and common council members working without pay. Would narrowly lose his re-election bid. [2]
2nd George W. Baldwin Democratic 1902 1904 Elected to the inaugural Common council in 1899 and passed the first municipal ordinance. The city's first Democratic mayor, and only Democratic mayor for almost a century. Was named postmaster of Summit in 1915 by Woodrow Wilson. Later founded Summit's Elk Lodge. [3][4]
3rd George H. Wilcox Republican 1904 1908 Wilcox would return, beating Baldwin during his re-election bid. Expanded infrastructure and municipal services such as paved roads, and water, sewer, and electric systems. Would win re-election in 1905 unopposed. City Democrats would be out of the Common Council until 2000. [3][5]
4th J. Boyd Risk Independent 1908 1909 Lafayette College educated doctor from Muncy, Pennsylvania. Moved to Summit in 1892 and opened a practice. A dedicated philanthropist, he served on the common council and ran numerous charities. Risk was not affiliated with the local Republican Party establishment and sought to expand local government, buying the building that would eventually become city hall. [3][6][7]
5th G. F. Vreeland Republican 1909 1910 [8][3]
6th Wm. Newton Adams Independent 1910 1914 Father of James Truslow Adams, opened the Summit Public Library and oversaw the phasing out of horse-drawn carriages. [3][9]
7th Francis H. Bergen ? 1914 1916 [3]
8th Ruford Franklin Republican 1916 1920 Later served as Republican Party representative [10][11][3]
9th Oliver B. Merrill Republican 1920 1924 An early pioneer in advertising and common councilman. Dedicated and moved the city's administration to a new city hall in 1924. [3][12][13]
10th Walter S. Topping Republican 1924 1926 Former Common Councilman and Common Council president. [3][12]
11th George D. Cornish ? 1926 1930 [14][15][3]
12th Edward Bancroft Twombly Republican 1930 1932 A Yale educated lawyer, he served as corporal with the N.J. Cavalry Essex Troop during the Pancho Villa Expedition. Additionally served with the 77th U.S. Expeditionary Force during World War I earning a Silver Star for bravery. Elected to the common council in 1921 and was council president by time of election. [16][3][17]
13th Edward T. Snook Republican 1932 1935 Also a veteran of the Cavalry Essex Troop, lead the city through the Great Depression, established relief programs but slashed the infrastructure budget. Did not seek re-election to another term. [18][3]
14th James W. Bancker Republican 1935 1939 Born in London to American parents, Bancker served as Vice President of Western Electric and as director of Bell Labs and was holding office as a Common Councilman from 1931 until his mayoral election in 1935. [19][3]
15th Guido F. Forster Republican 1939 1943 Led the city through most of World War II on a pan-democratic, patriotic platform. Temporarily replaced due his Navy activities by Burton L. Boyle. [18][20]
16th G. Harry Cullis Republican 1943 1946 A veteran of the 77th Division during World War I, chose not to seek re-election. Lead the city through the latter half of World War II, coordinated heavily with the Summit War Finance Committee on war bond and clothing drives. [16][21][22]
17th Maxwell Lester, Jr. Republican 1946 1950 Former common councilor. From 1941 until 1977 he was director of Civil Defense for Summit. [23]
18th Percival M. Bland Republican 1950 1956 Elected to the common council in 1939. Declined to seek an additional term and retired in 1956. At the time he was the longest serving mayor in Summit history. [24][25]
19th C. Philip Dean Republican 1956 1958 From the Dean "founding family" of pioneers which settled East Summit in the 1770's, he served on the common council since 1946. Refused to seek a second term as he viewed public service as a short-term civic duty rather than a long political career. [24][26]
20th Ogden D. Gensemer Republican 1958 1963 Resigned as mayor due to his heavy business schedule as manager of the Transoceanic Cable Ship Company where he oversaw the laying of underwater cables. [27]
21st David E. Trucksess Republican 1963 1969 Appointed to council to fill vacant seat of newly elected mayor Ogden D. Gensemer in 1958. When Gensemer resigned he became interim mayor before winning election in 1965 and re-election in 1967. Declined to run for re-election in 1970. [28]
22nd Elmer J. Bennett Republican 1969 1976 Won re-election in the 1973 election. This, combined with then council president Frank Lehr's re-drawing of ward district boundaries in 1972 levied accusations of gerrymandering and ultimately resulted in a lawsuit to split the city in half east to west which was defeated in the New Jersey Supreme Court. [29]
23rd Frank Lehr Republican 1976 1984 Former Marine who served in the Korean War. Was appointed to a vacant position on the common council in 1962 and longtime council president. Served 20 years in Summit municipal politics. [30]
24th Robert Hartlaub Republican 1984 1988 Remembered for pressuring police chief Frank Formichella to issue warrants for disciplinary records at Summit Junior High. The records, containing tardiness information, reprimands for chewing gum and accounts of snowball fights, where ordered to be returned by Union County Prosecutor, John H. Stamler. [31][32]
25th Janet Whitman Republican 1988 1996 First female mayor of Summit. Remained a highly regarded community leader across the political spectrum after leaving office. [33][34]
26th Walter Long Republican 1996 2003 Known for his extensive renovations of downtown Summit. Presided over the year long centennial celebration in 1999. [35][36]
27th Jordan Glatt Democratic 2003 2011 Elected in 2003, and re-elected in 2007 with 60% of the vote. Represented the city's shift away from a strong Republican city to a strong Democratic city. Led the city through recovery efforts following Hurricane Irene. [37]
28th Ellen Dickson Republican 2011 2015 Won a three-way split mayoral race with 39% of the vote. [38]
29th Nora Radest Democratic 2015 2023 Defeated incumbent mayor Ellen Dickson in 2015, ran unopposed in 2019. Final term mired by backlash to the high-destiny low income Broad Street West Redevelopment, chose to not seek re-election in 2023. [39][40][41]
30th Elizabeth Fagan Republican 2023 Present Following the announcement of the Broad Street West Redevelopment, the Republican party launched a concerted effort to dislodge the Democratic administration in the city seeing Fagan defeat Democrat David Naidu, as well as flipping three Democratic common council seats. [41][42]

References

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  1. ^ City Charter, City of Summit. Accessed October 15, 2022. "On December 15, 1987, Chapter 314, Public Law 1987, was approved and signed into law with the effective date of January 1, 1988. This act repealed all of the remaining provisions of Summit's original Charter (P.L. 1899, c.52;C.40:109-3) and replaced and saved those sections which were not covered by general law and peculiar to Summit's original Charter."
  2. ^ a b Wohl, Caroline. "Summit becomes a City the 20th Century" (PDF). Summit Library. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Summit Has Had fifteeniteps, ^ One Repeating" (PDF). Summit Herald. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  4. ^ "transcripts". thelocallens. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  5. ^ "Summit Herald". March 23, 1907.
  6. ^ "Real Estate Record and the Builders Guide" (PDF). Columbia University. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
  7. ^ "Cyclopedia of New Jersey biography". Archive.org. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
  8. ^ Kestenbaum, Lawrence. "Mayors and Postmasters of Summit, New Jersey". PoliticalGraveyard.com. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  9. ^ "History". cityofsummit.org. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  10. ^ "RUFORD FRANKLIN, SUMMIT EX-MAYOR; Retired New York Lawyer, Head of Jersey Municipality in First World War, Dies". timesmachine.nytimes.com.
  11. ^ "Nation Needs Republican Party". The Baltimore Sun. November 6, 1934. p. 2.
  12. ^ a b "Looking Backwards" (PDF). Summit Herald. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  13. ^ Cort, Tristan. "History of the Public Schools" (PDF). Summit Library. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  14. ^ "UTILITY OPENS NEW OFFICE.; Mayor of Summit, N.J., Starts Current by Waving Hand". timesmachine.nytimes.com.
  15. ^ "The Courier-News 08 Sep 1945, page Page 11". Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b "Mayor G. Harry Cullis Testimonial Dinner" (PDF). Summit Herald. December 20, 1945. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  17. ^ FUESS, CLAUDE MOORE. "Phillips academy, Andover, in the great war". Internet Archive. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  18. ^ a b "Leathern Lashes Out At Mayor; Lester Details His Reasons For Supporting Leathern; Forster Supporters At Big Rally" (PDF). Summit Herald. September 8, 1941. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  19. ^ "Services Held for Former Mayor Bancker" (PDF). Summit Herald. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  20. ^ "BURTON L. BOYE, 60, SUMMIT OFFICIAL; Acting Mayor of Jersey 3gown, President of the Common Council, Dies at Home EX-AIDE OF OIL COMPANY Once Managed the 'SoconyVacuum Fuel Oil Branchm Headed Asphalt !nstitut". timesmachine.nytimes.com.
  21. ^ "100,000 lbs of clothing sought in city drive" (PDF). Summit Herald. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  22. ^ "THURSDAY,; JANUARY 20, 1944" (PDF). Summit Herald. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  23. ^ "Obituary 5 -- No Title". The New York Times. New York Times. February 19, 1979. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  24. ^ a b "council Reorganizes for 1956, Dean Made 19th Mayor of City" (PDF). Summit Herald. January 5, 1956. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  25. ^ "Local Candidates Defend and Attack Government in Summit" (PDF). Summit Herald. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  26. ^ "Former Mayor Dean Dies at 75" (PDF). The Summit Tribune. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  27. ^ "Gensemer Quits, Trucksess Mode Acting - Mayor" (PDF). Summit Herald. January 3, 1963. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  28. ^ "Trucksess Declines Another Term; Bennett to Seek Seat; Lehr Will ^ Run at Large; Ratichek Bows Out" (PDF). Summit Herald. March 13, 1969. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  29. ^ "Mosely v. Kates". casetext.com. New Jersey Supreme Court. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  30. ^ Martin, J.J. (November 5, 1983). "Frank Lehr speaks his mind" (PDF). Summit Herald. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  31. ^ "Hartlaub, McLendon, Brown" (PDF). Summit Herald. June 11, 1983. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  32. ^ "POLICE IN JERSEY TOLD TO RETURN SEIZED STUDENT FILES". timesmachine.nytimes.com.
  33. ^ Elliott, Greg. "Janet Whitman, Civic Leader and Former Summit Mayor, Named Rotary's 'Person of the Year'". tapinto.net. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  34. ^ Schuyler, Peter (June 4, 1983). "VOTE RICHARD W. POOLE" (PDF). Vol. 94. No. 53. Summit Herald. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  35. ^ Pristin, Terry (March 22, 1996). "New Jersey Daily Briefing;City's Investment Distinction". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  36. ^ Grime, Anne M. (June 4, 1983). "Vote Republican Primary June 7 Don Nelson for Mayor Tom Kent for Councilman- At-Large You'll be in good company!!" (PDF). Vol. 94. No. 53. Summit Herald. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  37. ^ "Jordan Glatt Joins Community Foundation of New Jersey". patch.com. Community Foundation of New Jersey. February 2, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  38. ^ "Summit voters return GOP presence to mayoral seat as Ellen Dickson wins 3-way race". nj.com. Star-Ledger. November 9, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  39. ^ Crespolini, Russ (April 2, 2019). "Summit Mayor Nora Radest Unopposed In 2019 Election". patch.com. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  40. ^ Elliott, Greg. "Summit Democrats Announce 2023 Slate of Candidates". TAPinto. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  41. ^ a b Suta, Ricky (August 28, 2023). "Can Republicans elect a mayor in this Democratic town?". The New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  42. ^ "Mayor City of Summit". Union County. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
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