Arthur John Holland (October 24, 1918 – November 9, 1989) was Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey for 26 years and president of the United States Conference of Mayors.[1]

Arthur Holland
Holland in the 1980s
Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey
In office
1959–1966
Preceded byDonal J. Connolly
Succeeded byCarmen J. Armenti
In office
1970 – November 9, 1989
Preceded byCarmen Armenti
Succeeded byCarmen Armenti (acting)
46th President of the United States Conference of Mayors
In office
1988–1989
Preceded byRichard Berkley
Succeeded byKathy Whitmire
Trenton City Councilman
In office
1956–1959
Personal details
BornOctober 24, 1918
Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedNovember 9, 1989(1989-11-09) (aged 71)
Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic

Biography

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He was born in Trenton, New Jersey on October 24, 1918.[1]

He was raised Roman Catholic and considered becoming a priest early in life. Although he studied for the priesthood, he opted against this path and instead attended Saint Francis College and, after graduation, earned an advanced degree from Rutgers University.[1]

In 1951 Holland became deputy director of public affairs for Trenton, and in 1955 he was elected as a Democrat to Trenton's City Council. He became Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey in 1959, and soon after married his wife Betty. In 1964 he publicly moved into the Mill Hill neighborhood of Trenton, a majority black neighborhood, attempting to lead the way in his city's racial integration. Holland received national attention for the move, much of it negative, but the area thereafter became less racially segregated.[1][2]

In 1966, Holland lost the Democratic Primary to Carmen J. Armenti, and served as a teacher at Rutgers University for four years. In 1970 he ran for mayor again, and was reelected.[3] He was president of the United States Conference of Mayors from 1988 to 1989, and remained mayor of Trenton until he died.

In 1975, Holland ran for the newly created office of Mercer County Executive. He lost the Democratic primary to Arthur Sypek.[4]

He died of cancer at St. Francis Medical Center (Trenton, New Jersey) on November 9, 1989.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Arthur Holland Mayor of Trenton For 26 Years, Dies of Cancer at 71". The New York Times. November 10, 1989. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
  2. ^ Paul Mickle. "1964: Neighborhood on the rise". The Trentonian. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
  3. ^ Anthony DePalma (June 11, 1990). "Past, Present Clash in Race To Be Mayor Of Trenton". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
  4. ^ Sullivan, Ronald (June 3, 1975). "Woodson's Fight for Renomination Highlights Primary Election Today". The New York Times. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
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