Edward A. Keenan

Edward A. Keenan (October 15, 1894 – April 12, 1970) was an American politician who served as the 34th Mayor of Burlington, Vermont. Keenan was the last Republican elected to the mayoralty of Burlington until Peter C. Brownell was thirty years later.

Edward A. Keenan
34th Mayor of Burlington
In office
June 3, 1963 – June 7, 1965
Preceded byRobert K. Bing
Succeeded byFrancis J. Cain
Member of the Burlington, Vermont Board of Aldermen
In office
June 1, 1959 – June 3, 1963
Preceded byPaul L. Heininger
Succeeded byRichard J. Bove[1]
Personal details
Born(1894-10-15)October 15, 1894
Oswego, New York
DiedApril 12, 1970(1970-04-12) (aged 75)
Pompano Beach, Florida
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Marjorie Cooper
Children2
MotherBessie Winfred
FatherEdward A. Keenan
EducationUniversity of Vermont

Life

On October 15, 1894 Keenan was born in Oswego, New York to Edward and Bessie Keenan.[2] He attended both Oswego High School and later the University of Vermont. On June 1, 1916 he married Marjorie B. Cooper in Oswego and later had two children with her. In 1929 he moved his family to Montpelier and then to Burlington.[3]

After retiring in 1959 from his position as an office manager with Green Mountain Power, Keenan was elected as an alderman from ward five in Burlington, narrowly defeating Democratic incumbent Paul L. Heininger with 382 votes to Heininger's 353.[4][5] In 1961 he easily won reelection with 451 votes against Charles A. Brunnelle's 232 votes.[6]

In 1963 incumbent Mayor Robert K. Bing announced that he would not seek a second term and party officials asked Keenan to run for mayor, but refused to make a decision until January 30, 1963 when he announced that he would run and received Bing's endorsement.[7][8] On February 8, 1963 he was given the Republican nomination and on March 5 defeated Robert W. Larrow with 4,475 votes against Larrow's 4,267 votes.[9][10] During his tenure he supported the city government using a weak-mayor system rather than a strong-mayor system.[11]

On January 15, 1965 he announced that he would seek reelection and the Republican Committee in Burlington announced that it had voted unanimously to support him.[12] On March 2 he was defeated by alderman Francis J. Cain with 5,520 votes for Cain against Keenan's 3,447 votes.[13] After losing reelection he was invited to a briefing with President Lyndon B. Johnson along with the mayors of every city with over 100,000 people to discuss how the cities were coping with the Johnson administration's programs.[14] In May he was a member of a four person delegation supported a bill in the state legislature that would reapportion the state house to 150 seats which was successfully passed.[15]

Following his defeat for reelection as mayor he led a successful write-in campaign for the Republican nomination, placing second out of eleven candidates, as one of six candidates for state senate seats.[16][17] Keenan was unable to campaign for state senate due to being hospitalized and the initial results of the election showed him losing by one vote. Later recounts found an error in the vote totals that under-reported Hector Marcoux's total by 100 votes and after it was included gave him a lead of 101 votes against Keenan.[18][19][20]

Shortly before his death Keenan lived in Sarasota, Florida and on April 12, 1970 he died in Pompano Beach, Florida from a heart attack after being taken to the hospital earlier that day.[21] The city hall flag in Burlington was flown at half-staff until after his funeral services by the orders of Francis J. Cain.

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References
  1. "New Mayor Keenan Takes Office Today". The Burlington Free Press. 3 June 1963. p. 11. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Biography". The Burlington Free Press. 22 February 1965. p. 12. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Obituary for Ruth Elizabeth Rich". 20 December 2015.
  4. "Voters Elect". The Burlington Free Press. 4 March 1959. p. 11. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Fitzpatrick to Take Oath As City's 27th Mayor Today". The Burlington Free Press. 1 June 1959. p. 11. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Bing Upsets Fitz". The Burlington Free Press. 8 March 1961. p. 9. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Keenan Likely In Mayor Race". The Burlington Free Press. 26 January 1963. p. 11. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "It's Official! Keenan In Running for Mayor". The Burlington Free Press. 31 January 1963. p. 3. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "City's Duties Will Take Precedence". Bennington Banner. 11 February 1963. p. 2. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Keenan In by 208; Urban Renewal OK'D". The Burlington Free Press. 6 March 1963. p. 4. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Strong Mayor Plan - Pro & Con". The Burlington Free Press. 19 February 1965. p. 12. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Keenan in Race For Re-election". The Burlington Free Press. 16 January 1965. p. 11. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "GOP Holds Ward 6 Seat - But Only Until June". The Burlington Free Press. 3 March 1965. p. 13. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "Burlington Mayor To Briefing by LBJ". The Brattleboro Reformer. 25 March 1965. p. 12. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "150 Emerges as Popular Apportionment Number". The Burlington Free Press. 11 May 1965. p. 3. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "New Senate District: Some Primary Oddities". The Burlington Free Press. 23 October 1965. p. 11. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. "State Of Vermont Chittenden County, SS". The Burlington Free Press. 1 November 1965. p. 18. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. "Doctor Rules Out Campaigning For Ed Keenan". The Burlington Free Press. 6 November 1965. p. 11. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. "Two Democrat Losers Favor Election Recount". The Burlington Free Press. 25 November 1965. p. 24. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. "Marcoux 101 Votes Ahead In See-Saw Senate Race". Bennington Banner. 29 November 1965. p. 2. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. "Former Mayor Keenan Dies". The Burlington Free Press. 14 April 1970. p. 13. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
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