East Newark, New Jersey, was incorporated on July 3, 1895. It is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The governing body consists of a mayor and a borough council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 142. The borough form of government used by East Newark, the most common system used in the state, is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask" , New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed November 30, 2014."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 3, 2015.
Mayors The individuals who have served as the borough's mayor are:History, Borough of East Newark. Accessed March 9, 2017. Terms began January 1 and end December 31. # Mayor Birth and death Term start Term end Notes 1 Edward Kenny 1906Edward Kenny was the first mayor of East Newark, New Jersey. 2 Cornelius Augustine McGlennon (1878-1931) 1919 Democratic Party politician who represented New Jersey's 8th congressional district from 1919 to 1921. 3 Thomas Keenan 1921 4 Patrick Henry Quirk (1862-1935) 1923 He was born in 1862 in Troy, New York. He died on April 4, 1935, at the home of his daughter, in Harrison, New Jersey. 5 Thomas Keenan 1924 1925 Second (non-consecutive) term 6 Thomas Walsh 1926 1927 7 Owen Coogan 1928 1929 8 John Reynolds 1930 1945 Served 16 consecutive terms. Died soon after re-election in 1945. 9 William Seeds 1946 1947 10 Harry Lawson 19481951 11 Harold (Harry) Francis Lawson (1887-1968)19521963He was born on August 4, 1887, and he married Katherine Brennen. He worked as an insurance broker and lived at 545 North Third Street and also served on the East Newark town council. He died on June 23, 1968, in West Hudson Hospital in Kearny, New Jersey, at age 80. 12 Wilbert Hotaling 1964 1976 Resigned from office in February 1976 13 Raymond Graham Sr. (d. 2018) 1977 1987 Known as "Cookie", served for over 10 years. Originally assumed office in 1976 after being appointed. 14 Joseph R. Smith 1987 2020 Held position for 8 terms, 32 years Ran unopposed in 2003, 2007, 2011, and 2015. Eight years on the borough council; lost 1983 Democratic mayoral primary; became Republican in 1987 won mayoral by 61 votes, and then switched back. One of the longest-serving mayors in the United States. 15 Dina M. Grilo 2020 First woman elected as mayor in the borough.
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