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John V. Kenny
32nd Mayor of Jersey City
In office July 1, 1949 – December 15, 1953 (resigned)
Preceded by	Frank H. Eggers
Succeeded by	Bernard J. Berry
Personal details
Born	John Vincent Kenny (1893-04-06)April 6, 1893 Jersey City, New Jersey
Died	June 2, 1975(1975-06-02) (aged 82) Paramus, New Jersey
Political party	Democratic
Residence	Jersey City, New Jersey

John Vincent Kenny (April 6, 1893 – June 2, 1975) was mayor of Jersey City from 1949 to 1953.

Biography

He was born on April 6, 1893. A former ward leader under longtime mayor Frank Hague, he broke with his mentor after Hague engineered the appointment of his nephew, Frank Hague Eggers, in 1947. Kenny put together a commission ticket that broke Hague's 32-year rule. Although he only served as mayor until 1953, he remained the real power in Jersey City and Hudson County for three decades. Known as the "Little Guy," Kenny put together a machine that grew as corrupt as Hague's machine, though nowhere as efficient in providing city and county services.

His rule was only broken in 1971, when he was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey and convicted, along with the then-mayor Thomas J. Whelan and former City Council president Thomas Flaherty, in federal court of conspiracy and extortion in a multimillion-dollar political kickback scheme on city and county contracts.

Kenny suffered a heart attack and died on June 2, 1975, in Jersey City. He was buried in Holy Name Cemetery in Jersey City.

References

1. "Kenny Keeps His Word, Resigns as Mayor; Hague Foe, in Ill Health for a Year, Held Office Since '49 -- Succeeded by Berry". The New York Times. December 16, 1953. p. 38.
2. Maxine N. Lurie, ed. (2004). "John V. Kenny". Encyclopedia of New Jersey. Rutgers University Press. p. 438. ISBN 0-8135-3325-2.
3. Grundy, J. Owen. Before 1949: Thirty Years War on Hagueism. Get NJ, 2003.
4. Farmer, John (August 2, 2009). "Corruption ain't what it used to be in Hudson County". The Jersey Journal. Retrieved 2014-08-05.
5. ^ "Kenny Funeral Held With Few Politicians Attending". The New York Times. June 6, 1975. Retrieved 2008-04-23.
6. ^ Hanley, Robert (June 3, 1975). "Ex-Mayor John V. Kenny Of Jersey City Dies at 82". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-04-23.

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