James A. Burke (NY politician)
Encyclopedia
James A. Burke was a Democratic
politician from Queens
, New York City
and served as its borough president
for eight years.
Burke was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1890 but was orphaned when he was 8 years old. After high school he took night classes at New York University
while he worked. In 1914 he moved to Queens, where he became active in many civic organizations. During the first World War he worked as a civilian at the Brooklyn Navy Yard
, eventually becoming superintendent of stock in charge of $60 million worth of supplies.
After the war, he had various jobs in purchasing and accounting. He had leadership positions in two Queens civic organizations. In 1930, he won his first political office, being elected to the New York State Assembly
. While there, he championed Queens issues, including the construction of the Grand Central Parkway
. In 1934, he was elected to the city's Board of Alderman.
In 1941, he won election as borough president
of Queens, beating Republican incumbent George U. Harvey
. While in office, he focused on transportation and taxes in the borough. He won two terms to the office, and resigned in 1949. He did not seek any further political offices.
He died in his Little Neck
home in 1965.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician from Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and served as its borough president
Borough president
Borough President is an elective office in each of the five boroughs of New York City.-Reasons for establishment:...
for eight years.
Burke was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1890 but was orphaned when he was 8 years old. After high school he took night classes at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
while he worked. In 1914 he moved to Queens, where he became active in many civic organizations. During the first World War he worked as a civilian at the Brooklyn Navy Yard
Brooklyn Navy Yard
The United States Navy Yard, New York–better known as the Brooklyn Navy Yard or the New York Naval Shipyard –was an American shipyard located in Brooklyn, northeast of the Battery on the East River in Wallabout Basin, a semicircular bend of the river across from Corlear's Hook in Manhattan...
, eventually becoming superintendent of stock in charge of $60 million worth of supplies.
After the war, he had various jobs in purchasing and accounting. He had leadership positions in two Queens civic organizations. In 1930, he won his first political office, being elected to the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
. While there, he championed Queens issues, including the construction of the Grand Central Parkway
Grand Central Parkway
The Grand Central Parkway is a parkway that stretches from the RFK-Triborough Bridge in New York City to Nassau County on Long Island. At the Queens-Nassau border, it becomes the Northern State Parkway, which runs across the northern part of Long Island through Nassau County and into Suffolk...
. In 1934, he was elected to the city's Board of Alderman.
In 1941, he won election as borough president
Borough president
Borough President is an elective office in each of the five boroughs of New York City.-Reasons for establishment:...
of Queens, beating Republican incumbent George U. Harvey
George U. Harvey
George U. Harvey was a Republican politician from Queens, New York City and served as its borough president for twelve years....
. While in office, he focused on transportation and taxes in the borough. He won two terms to the office, and resigned in 1949. He did not seek any further political offices.
He died in his Little Neck
Little Neck, Queens
Little Neck is a community in the northeast corner of Queens County, bordered on the north by Little Neck Bay and on the east by Great Neck in Nassau County. Due to this proximity to Nassau, Little Neck remains one of the most suburban-looking areas in New York City. The southern border is the...
home in 1965.