Herbert Henry Kiehn Sr. (December 19, 1908 – July 1987) was an American Republican Party politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1968 to 1974.

Biography edit

He was born on December 19, 1908, in Manhattan, New York City. Kiehn married to Ida Helen Kiehn.

He was first elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1967, and was re-elected in 1969 and 1971.[1] He was defeated for re-election in 1973 by 3,609 votes. As an Assemblyman, Kiehn chaired the New Jersey State Fluoridation Study Commission which recommended the mandatory addition of the tooth decay inhibitor to the state's water supply despite Kiehn's opposition. Kiehn's position was consistent with conservative politicians at the time who opposed "government-imposed additives in water or food."[2]

During his six years as an Assemblyman, Kiehn ran in four different districts: he ran in Union County District 9B in 1967, along with Herbert J. Heilmann; in 1969, he was redistricted into District 9C, running with incumbent Peter J. McDonough; in 1971, he was moved to the newly-drawn District 9B, with C. Louis Bassano as his running mate; and in 1973, he ran with incumbent Arthur Manner in the newly created 22nd District.[1] In response to U.S. national anthem protests, he proposed bills in 1969 and 1971 to criminalize what would be called forms of disrespect towards the anthem, both of which failed.[3][4]

He died in July 1987.

Children edit

  • Herbert Henry Kiehn, Jr. (born September 23, 1936), who served as the Mayor of Chatham, New Jersey, from 2000 to 2004.[5] He did not seek re-election to a second term as mayor in 2004 and was succeeded by Councilman Dick Plambeck. Kiehn served as liaison to the 9/11 Memorial Committee, Board of Health, Community Development Revenue Sharing Committee, Cable Television Committee, Environmental Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Local Assistance Board, Shade Tree Commission, Streetscape Committee, Member of the Planning Board, Chairman of the Finance Committee, and Chairman of the Public Safety & Emergency Services Committee and the Madison-Chatham Joint Meeting. He served on the Chatham Library Board of Trustees.[6]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Our Campaigns".
  2. ^ Waggoner, Walter H. (24 March 1973). "Fluoriding Cost Called 'Minimal'". New York Times.
  3. ^ "Assembly Likely to Stall Jetport Bill" The Daily Journal (Vineland, New Jersey) 6 May 1969, page 6, accessed January 3, 2018 at https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16226240/assembly_likely_to_stall_jetport_bill/
  4. ^ House Bill Takes Stand on Anthem, Courier-Post (Camden, New Jersey) 17 Mar 1971, page 51, accessed January 3, 2018 at https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16226266/house_bill_takes_stand_on_anthem/
  5. ^ "Ida Helen Kiehn, 95, of Westfield, formerly of Brick". Asbury Park Press. 17 March 2005. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  6. ^ "Regular Council Meeting Minutes" (PDF). www.chathamborough.org. Borough of Chatham. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
New Jersey General Assembly
Preceded by
Constituency established
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 9B district

January 9, 1968–January 13, 1970
Served alongside: Herbert J. Heilmann
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 9C district

January 13, 1970–January 11, 1972
Served alongside: Peter McDonough
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Hugo Pfaltz
Elizabeth Cox
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 9B district

January 11, 1972–January 8, 1974
Served alongside: C. Louis Bassano
Succeeded by
Constituency abolished