Paul Kiernan
Encyclopedia
Paul Kiernan was a American
Democratic Party
politician
who served as mayor
of Long Branch
, and as sheriff
of Monmouth County, New Jersey
.
. He attended Lyceum Parochial School and Chattle High School. About 1925 he joined the real estate firm of Joseph J. Kiernan and Sons.
Kiernan began work in the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office in 1932, when he was appointed as an undersheriff by Sheriff Howard W. Height. He would serve through 1938 under both Height and Sheriff George H. Roberts. In 1938, Morris J. Woodring, a Republican
, was elected sheriff, and Kiernan was replaced as undersheriff.
In 1940, he was elected to the Long Branch City Commission
, and served as mayor from 1944 to 1948.
Paul Kiernan also served as Long Branch Democratic City Leader, as Democratic State Committeeman from Monmouth County, a Monmouth County Jury Commissioner and as a member of the Monmouth County Board of Taxation. He would eventually serve as president of the tax board.
In the 1950 general election, Kiernan unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Republican Sheriff Ira E. Wolcott. In 1962, he again ran for sheriff and was defeated by Joseph A. Shafto. Three years later, Kiernan defeated Shafto and was elected to his first of five, three-year terms.
Paul Kiernan was defeated for a sixth term in the 1980 general election by Republican William M. Lanzaro
. He died on May 21, 1989 in Long Branch.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic Party
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served as mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Long Branch
Long Branch, New Jersey
Long Branch is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 30,719.Long Branch was formed on April 11, 1867, as the Long Branch Commission, from portions of Ocean Township...
, and as sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Monmouth County, New Jersey
Monmouth County, New Jersey
Monmouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, within the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 630,380, up from 615,301 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Freehold Borough. The most populous municipality is Middletown Township with...
.
Background
Paul Kiernan grew up in Long Branch, New JerseyLong Branch, New Jersey
Long Branch is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 30,719.Long Branch was formed on April 11, 1867, as the Long Branch Commission, from portions of Ocean Township...
. He attended Lyceum Parochial School and Chattle High School. About 1925 he joined the real estate firm of Joseph J. Kiernan and Sons.
Kiernan began work in the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office in 1932, when he was appointed as an undersheriff by Sheriff Howard W. Height. He would serve through 1938 under both Height and Sheriff George H. Roberts. In 1938, Morris J. Woodring, a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, was elected sheriff, and Kiernan was replaced as undersheriff.
In 1940, he was elected to the Long Branch City Commission
City commission government
City commission government is a form of municipal government which once was common in the United States, but many cities which were formerly governed by commission have since switched to the council-manager form of government...
, and served as mayor from 1944 to 1948.
Paul Kiernan also served as Long Branch Democratic City Leader, as Democratic State Committeeman from Monmouth County, a Monmouth County Jury Commissioner and as a member of the Monmouth County Board of Taxation. He would eventually serve as president of the tax board.
In the 1950 general election, Kiernan unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Republican Sheriff Ira E. Wolcott. In 1962, he again ran for sheriff and was defeated by Joseph A. Shafto. Three years later, Kiernan defeated Shafto and was elected to his first of five, three-year terms.
Paul Kiernan was defeated for a sixth term in the 1980 general election by Republican William M. Lanzaro
William M. Lanzaro
William McKinley Lanzaro is an American Republican Party politician who served as sheriff of Monmouth County, New Jersey from 1980 to 1995.-Background:...
. He died on May 21, 1989 in Long Branch.