Thomas G. Dunn

Thomas Gerard Dunn (April 9, 1921 – February 11, 1998) was an American Democratic Party politician who was a longtime Mayor of Elizabeth, New Jersey. His 28 years leading the city made him what some believed was the longest-serving mayor of a city in the United States with more than 100,000 people. However, Joseph P. Riley, Jr. was mayor of Charleston, South Carolina (population 120,000) for over 40 years. Dunn also served in the New Jersey Senate from 1973 to 1977, representing the 21st Legislative District, and in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1992 to 1994 where he represented the 20th Legislative District. During the 1972 presidential election, Dunn served as a national co-chairman of Democrats for Nixon and was a frequent supporter of other Republican national and state candidates.

Dunn was born on April 9, 1921 and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II, serving as an aerial gunner. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. After completing his military service he helped found Local 1470 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers while working at the Kearny, New Jersey Western Electric facility.

In his first bid for elected office in 1950, he fell six votes short of winning in a seat on the Elizabeth City Council, but came back and won in 1952. He was elected to the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 1959. He ran for Mayor of Elizabeth and lost in 1961, but was elected to the first of seven four-year terms in office in 1964. FBI agents later released audio recordings of a meeting between Dunn and Mafia boss Sam 'The Plumber' DeCavalcante, during which the politician accepted cash, promised to deliver city work and was asked to tell two other individuals to "keep their mouths shut." During the 1980s, Dunn hired Mafia soldier JoJo Ferarra as a municipal inspector on the city payroll.

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