Arthur John Holland Explained

Arthur Holland
Office:Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey
Term Start:1959
Term End:1966
Predecessor:Donal J. Connolly
Successor:Carmen J. Armenti
Term Start1:1970
Term End1:November 9, 1989
Predecessor1:Carmen Armenti
Successor1:Carmen Armenti (acting)
Office2:46th President of the United States Conference of Mayors
Term Start2:1988
Term End2:1989
Predecessor2:Richard Berkley
Successor2:Kathy Whitmire
Office3:Trenton City Councilman
Term Start3:1956
Term End3:1959
Birth Date:October 24, 1918
Birth Place:Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
Death Place:Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
Party:Democratic

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.

Biography

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

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.

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]

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.[2] 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.[3]

He died of cancer at St. Francis Medical Center (Trenton, New Jersey) on November 9, 1989.[4]

Notes and References

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