John C. Carr (mayor)

John C. Carr was an American politician who served as Mayor of Medford, Massachusetts, Chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, and City Manager of Medford.

John C. Carr
City Manager of Medford, Massachusetts
In office
1961–1962
Preceded byEdward J. Conroy
Succeeded byHoward Reed
Chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party
In office
1949–1956
Preceded byJames H. Vahey Jr.
Succeeded byWilliam H. Burke, Jr.
14th Mayor of
Medford, Massachusetts
In office
1938–1943
Preceded byJohn J. Irwin
Succeeded byGeorge L. Callahan (acting)
Personal details
BornCambridge, Massachusetts
DiedJune 27, 1967 (aged 75)
Medford, Massachusetts
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic
ProfessionInsurance

Early life

Carr was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts and raised in Charlestown. He was the seventh of thirteen children born to Frank and Bridget (Berkeley) Carr, Irish immigrants who met and married in the United States.[1][2] At the age of 21 he passed a civil service examination and got a job as a teller's clerk in the Boston Collectors office.[2] During World War I, Carr served in the United States military.[3] He married Florence Brennan in 1915.[1][4] Two years later they moved to Medford.[3]

Board of Aldermen

In 1931, Carr was elected to the Medford Board of Aldermen. He moved to Hartford, Connecticut for business the following year, however he later returned to Medford and served two more terms on the Board.[1] While on the Board, Carr led the effort to eradicate diphtheria in the city.[2]

Mayor

Carr was elected mayor in 1937 in a non-partisan election. He was reelected in 1939 and 1941 as a member of the Democratic Party. During Carr's tenure, the city undertook a building program that replaced the city's final four wooden schools with modern structures and added a 2400-seat auditorium to the High School. He also left Medford with a surplus while maintaining the same tax rate the city had when he entered office.[1]

In 1940, Carr ran for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. He lost the Democratic primary to Owen A. Gallagher by 78 votes. Two years later, Carr won the nomination unopposed, but lost in the general election to Republican incumbent Horace T. Cahill.[2]

During his final term, Carr resigned to enter the armed forces.[5] During World War II, Carr rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel and served as Military Governor of Manila and Tacloban.[1][3]

He was the Democratic nominee for mayor in 1947, but lost to incumbent Walter E. Lawrence by 808 votes.[6]

Party Chairman

On November 20, 1949, Carr was elected Chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party in a special election to finish the term of the deceased James Vahey. His candidacy was supported by Paul A. Dever, Maurice J. Tobin, James Michael Curley, and John William McCormack.[4]

He was reelected in 1952, however his election was challenged by William H. Burke, Jr. On December 15, 1955, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that Carr's reelection was not legal.[7] On January 11, 1956 both sides came to an agreement and Burke was elected chairman.[8]

City Manager

Carr was appointed City Manager on April 13, 1961 by a 4 to 3 vote. Carr's appointment was challenged by his opponents, as they believed City Councilor John C. Carr, Jr.'s vote for his father was a conflict-of-interest. They also believed he was too old to serve, as the 69-year-old Carr would be forced into mandatory retirement in 11 months.[9] The appointment was upheld by the Middlesex County District Attorney.[10]

During his tenure as City Manager, Carr promoted the construction of the Public Safety Building and the Kennedy School.[3]

In the 1961 election, seven candidates endorsed by the Plan E Civic Association, an organization devoted to removing Carr from office, were elected to the City Council.[11] On January 16, 1962 the Council unanimously voted to dismiss Carr.[12]

Death

Carr died on June 27, 1967 in Medford.[3]

References
  1. Bartlett, K. S. (November 27, 1949). "A Handsome Medford Ex-Mayor Who Can Cook Chicken Cacciatore Heads the Democratic State Committee". The Boston Daily Globe.
  2. Harris, John G. (October 15, 1942). "John C. Carr, New Granddad, 'Dean of Democratic Ticket'". The Boston Daily Globe.
  3. "John Carr Sr., Was Mayor Of Medford, 75". The Boston Globe. June 29, 1967.
  4. "Carr Named Democratic Chairman". The Boston Daily Globe. November 20, 1949.
  5. "John Carr Sr. Slated Medford City Manager". The Boston Globe. April 9, 1961.
  6. "Medford Chooses Mayor Lawrence by 808 Votes". The Boston Daily Globe. November 5, 1947.
  7. Lewis, William J. (December 15, 1955). "Court Ruling in Carr Case Fails to Reconcile Party". The Boston Daily Globe.
  8. Lewis, William J. (January 11, 1956). "All Democrats but Boyle Accept Burke as Chairman". The Boston Daily Globe.
  9. "Medford Mayor's Father Elected Manager at 69". The Boston Globe. April 14, 1961.
  10. "Election of Carr to Medford Post Legal, D.A. Says". The Boston Globe. April 26, 1961.
  11. "Medford Council Moves To Oust City Manager". The Boston Globe. January 4, 1962.
  12. "Carr Dismissed As Medford's City Manager". The Boston Globe. January 17, 1962.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.