James E. Fitzpatrick
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = James E. Fitzpatrick
| image = 160px
| caption = Fitzpatrick in 1961
| office = 32nd Mayor of Burlington
| term_start = June 1, 1959
| term_end = June 5, 1961
| predecessor = Claude Douglas Cairns
| successor = Robert K. Bing
| office1 = President of the Burlington, Vermont Board of Aldermen
| term_start1 = June 2, 1958
| term_end1 = June 1, 1959
| predecessor1 =
| successor1 =
| office2 = Member of the Burlington, Vermont Board of Aldermen
| term_start2 = 1946
| term_end2 = June 1, 1959{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39835828/the_burlington_free_press/ |title=Fitzpatrick to Take Oath As City's 27th Mayor Today |date=1 June 1959 |work=The Burlington Free Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191130090224/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39835828/the_burlington_free_press/ |archive-date=30 November 2019 |url-status=live |page=11 |via=Newspapers.com}}
| predecessor2 =
| successor2 = Henry M. Farmer{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40226376/the_burlington_free_press/ |title=Dr. Farmer Defeats Peisch, Becomes Ward 4 Alderman |date=29 July 1959 |work=The Burlington Free Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207211421/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40226376/the_burlington_free_press/ |archive-date=7 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=11 |via=Newspapers.com}}
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1908|7|9}}
| birth_place = Burlington, Vermont, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1967|2|28|1908|7|9}}
| death_place = Burlington, Vermont, U.S.
| party = Democratic
| otherparty =
| father = Thomas W. Fitzpatrick
| mother = Mary E. Malloy
| spouse = Harriet C. Chapman
| children = 7
| relatives =
| education =
| signature =
}}
James E. Fitzpatrick (July 9, 1908 – February 28, 1967) was an American politician who served as the 32nd mayor of Burlington, Vermont.
Life
James E. Fitzpatrick was born in Burlington, Vermont, on July 9, 1908, to Thomas W. Fitzpatrick and Mary E. Malloy.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40219866/the_burlington_free_press/ |title=Former Mayor Fitzpatrick Fatally Stricken at Office |date=1 March 1967 |work=The Burlington Free Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207191428/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40219866/the_burlington_free_press/ |archive-date=7 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=13 |via=Newspapers.com}}
On January 4, 1946, he was given the Democratic nomination for Ward Four's alderman seat and was elected without opposition.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40223815/the_burlington_free_press/ |title=Wards 3 and 4 Name Lavalley And Fitzpatrick For Alderman |date=5 January 1946 |work=The Burlington Free Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207202910/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40223815/the_burlington_free_press/ |archive-date=7 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40223864/the_burlington_free_press/ |title=Tax Rate Issue Holds Election Spotlight Here |date=4 March 1946 |work=The Burlington Free Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207203520/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40223864/the_burlington_free_press/ |archive-date=7 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com}} He served on the board for thirteen years, during which he was elected as president of the board of aldermen.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40224573/rutland_daily_herald/ |title=Burlington Tax Rate to Go Up 40 Cents; Democrat Is Elected |date=3 June 1958 |work=Rutland Daily Herald |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207204134/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40224573/rutland_daily_herald/ |archive-date=7 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=5 |via=Newspapers.com}}
On February 3, 1959, he announced his candidacy for Burlington's mayoralty and was given the Democratic nomination on February 7.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40225331/the_burlington_free_press/ |title=Cairns Quits Mayor's Rac, To Run for Ward 6 Alderman |date=3 February 1959 |work=The Burlington Free Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207205546/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40225331/the_burlington_free_press/ |archive-date=7 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40225394/the_burlington_free_press/ |title=Dorn, Fitzpatrick Due to Get Party Nominations for Mayor |date=6 February 1959 |work=The Burlington Free Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207205711/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40225394/the_burlington_free_press/ |archive-date=7 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=11 |via=Newspapers.com}} Incumbent Republican Mayor C. Douglas Cairns chose to not run for reelection, and Fitzpatrick defeated Paul C. Dorn by a margin of 994 votes, with 4,920 votes to Dorn's 3,926.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39835732/the_burlington_free_press/ |title=Voters Elect Fitzpatrick Mayor; Margin Over Dorn Is 994 Votes |date=4 March 1959 |work=The Burlington Free Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191130090822/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39835732/the_burlington_free_press/ |archive-date=30 November 2019 |url-status=live |page=11 |via=Newspapers.com}}
During Fitzpatrick's tenure as mayor, he and the board of aldermen signed a petition asking President Eisenhower to review the order that would close the Ethan Allen Air Force Base.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40218374/the_burlington_free_press/ |title=Mayor, Alderman SIgn Appeal To Ike to Deep EAAFB Open |date=10 November 1959 |work=The Burlington Free Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207184411/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40218374/the_burlington_free_press/ |archive-date=7 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}
Fitzpatrick ran for re-election in 1961 against Robert K. Bing, who had not previously held an elected office or been involved in city politics prior to the mayoral race. He was unexpectedly defeated, with 4,024 votes to Bing's 4,953.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40204190/the_burlington_free_press/ |title=Former Mayor Keenan Dies |date=8 March 1961 |work=The Burlington Free Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207100611/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40204190/the_burlington_free_press/ |archive-date=7 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=7 |via=Newspapers.com}}
On September 11, 1961, Fitzpatrick was appointed to Burlington's airport commission against the will of mayor Bing. He served on the commission until his death.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40222636/the_burlington_free_press/ |title=Bing Lashes at Fitz, Old Political Foe |date=13 September 1961 |work=The Burlington Free Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207200813/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40222636/the_burlington_free_press/ |archive-date=7 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=11 |via=Newspapers.com}} On June 24, 1964, he won the endorsement of the Chittenden County Democratic Committee to succeed John J. Burns as postmaster of Burlington, but never took the civil service examination; on August 25, 1965, he announced that he would not accept the congressional appointment to the position.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40223204/the_burlington_free_press/ |title=Postmastership Now 'Looking' for Applicants |date=26 August 1965 |work=The Burlington Free Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207201911/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40223204/the_burlington_free_press/ |archive-date=7 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40221754/the_burlington_free_press/ |title=Fitzpatrick Gets Party's Nod For Postmaster |date=25 June 1964 |work=The Burlington Free Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207195106/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40221754/the_burlington_free_press/ |archive-date=7 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=15 |via=Newspapers.com}}
Fitzpatrick talked about the possibility of returning to the board of aldermen in 1967. However, on February 28, 1967, he suffered a heart attack and died.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40223512/the_burlington_free_press/ |title=Burlington Voters To Face Loaded Ballot in March |date=11 January 1967 |work=The Burlington Free Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207202314/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40223512/the_burlington_free_press/ |archive-date=7 December 2019 |url-status=live |page=13 |via=Newspapers.com}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{s-start}}
|-
{{s-off}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Claude Douglas Cairns}}
{{s-ttl|title=Mayor of Burlington, Vermont|years=1959–1961}}
{{s-aft|after=Robert K. Bing}}
|-
{{s-end}}
{{Mayor of Burlington, Vermont}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fitzpatrick, James E.}}