Alice Burke

Alice Burke
Mayor of Westfield, Massachusetts
In office
1940–1943
Preceded by Raymond H. Cowing
Succeeded by Arthur B. Long
In office
1954–1959
Preceded by Richard Fuller
Succeeded by John D. O'Connor
In office
1962–1963
Preceded by John D. O'Connor
Succeeded by Harold J. Martin
Personal details
Born c. 1893
Whitinsville, Massachusetts
Died May 14, 1974 (aged 81)
Springfield, Massachusetts
Political party Democratic
Alma mater Fitchburg Normal School
Occupation Teacher

Alice Driscoll Burke was an American politician who was the mayor of Westfield, Massachusetts from 1940 to 1943, 1954 to 1959, and 1962 to 1963. She was the first woman mayor in Massachusetts and New England.[1]

Early life

Burke was born in Whitinsville, Massachusetts. She graduated from Northbridge High School and Fitchburg Normal School. She was a teacher in Worcester County, Massachusetts for 20 years before entering politics.[1]

Political career

In 1933, the Westfield School Committee adopted a policy of employing only unmarried female teachers and fired Burke from her job as a sixth grade teacher.[1] That fall she was elected to the Westfield School Committee by four votes.[2] In 1935 she was a finalist for Mayor of Westfield, but was ruled ineligible because of an ordinance preventing individuals who were receiving a salary from the city from running for Mayor (Burke was paid as a member of the school committee).[3] She was eligible to run in 1937, but lost to incumbent Raymond H. Cowing by 560 votes. In 1939, she defeated Cowing 3637 votes to 3510.[4] She was reelected in 1941, but lost to city councilor Arthur B. Long in 1943.[5][6] In 1944 she was an unsuccessful candidate for the Massachusetts Senate in the Hampden, Hampshire and Berkshire district. [7] She was a finalist for mayor in 1949 and 1951, but lost in the runoff election both times.[8][9][10] Her 1953 campaign, however, was a success and she went on to win reelection in 1955 and 1957.[11] In 1959, she was defeated by former city councilor John D. O'Connor.[12] Two years later, Burke defeated O'Connor in a rematch.[13] In 1963 she was defeated by Harold J. Martin. She lost to Martin again in 1965.[14]

From 1968 to 1973, Burke was an at-large member of the Westfield city council.[15]

Burke died on May 14, 1974 in Springfield, Massachusetts. She was 81 years old.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Mrs. Alice D. Burke, 81, first N.E. woman mayor". The Boston Globe. May 15, 1974.
  2. ↑ "Cleveland of Westfield Has No Whish for Recount". The Boston Daily Globe. December 15, 1933.
  3. ↑ "Asks Mayor's Office Be Made Unpaid One: Mrs Burke of Westfield Barred, Seeks Way to Run". The Boston Daily Globe. November 22, 1935.
  4. ↑ "First Woman Mayor In Bay State Elected By Westfield Voters". The Boston Daily Globe. November 8, 1939.
  5. ↑ "6 Greater Boston Mayors Win; Mrs. Burke Victor". The Boston Daily Globe. November 5, 1941.
  6. ↑ "Mrs. Burke's Defeat Only Upset in State". The Boston Daily Globe. November 3, 1943.
  7. ↑ "Woman Seeks Senate". The Boston Daily Globe. November 3, 1943.
  8. ↑ "6 Cities to Vote on Changes in Government". The Boston Daily Globe. November 6, 1949.
  9. ↑ "35 Cities Vote Today; Mayor Contests in 25". The Boston Daily Globe. November 6, 1951.
  10. ↑ "Voters Pick New Mayors in 27 of 37 Polls Today". The Boston Daily Globe. November 3, 1953.
  11. ↑ Fenton, John H. (November 5, 1953). "Democrats Score in Massachusetts". The New York Times.
  12. ↑ "Two Mayors Ousted, Others Shocked, in Primary Contests". The Boston Daily Globe. October 7, 1959.
  13. ↑ "Mrs. Burke Named 11th Time Mayor O'Connor Heads List". The Boston Globe. October 11, 1961.
  14. ↑ "Incumbents Did Well In Most Bay State Cities". Greenfield Recorder Gazette. October 6, 1965.
  15. ↑ LaBorde, Ted (November 3, 2015). "Westfield Mayor Dan Knapik wins at-large seat on City Council". The Republican. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
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