Charles Bruce (mayor)
American politician (1862–1937)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charles Bruce (June 23, 1862 – October 6, 1937) was a Canadian-born American politician who was mayor of Everett, Massachusetts from 1902 to 1904 and 1908 to 1911 and a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1931 to 1932.
Charles Bruce | |
|---|---|
Bruce as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives | |
| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 20th Middlesex District | |
| In office 1931–1932 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph L. Larson |
| Succeeded by | Joseph L. Larson |
| Mayor of Everett, Massachusetts | |
| In office 1908–1911 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas J. Boynton |
| Succeeded by | Herbert P. Wasgatt |
| In office 1902–1904 | |
| Preceded by | Charles C. Nichols |
| Succeeded by | Thomas J. Boynton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 23, 1862 Shelburne, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Died | October 6, 1937 (aged 75) Everett, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
Early life and professional career
Bruce was born on June 23, 1862, in Shelburne, Nova Scotia, Canada. He was educated at the Shelburne Academy.[1] He worked in real estate, serving as a managing director of the Edward Harrington Company of Boston and chairman of the brokerage committee of the Massachusetts Real Estate Exchange.[2]
Politics
Bruce was first elected to public office in 1895 when he was voted to Everett's common council.[2] He was later elected to the board of aldermen and served as that body's president in 1899 and 1900.[3] He was urged to run for mayor in 1900, but chose not to enter the race.[2]
In 1901, Bruce challenged incumbent mayor Charles C. Nichols for the Republican Party nomination. He won the caucus by 60 votes.[4] He defeated Democrat William J. Brickley by a plurality of 1029 votes.[5] In 1902, he was reelected over Democratic and citizen's candidate Thomas J. Boynton by a plurality of 195 votes.[6] He did not run for reelection in 1903.
In 1905, Bruce returned to elected office as a member of the Everett school committee. In 1907, he was elected mayor by a plurality of 1059 votes over Isaac C. Harvey.[7] He was unopposed in 1908 and defeated former mayor Arthur W. Hatch 2330 votes to 1298 in 1909.[8] He did not run for reelection in 1910.[2]
Bruce was a delegate to the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1917–1918.[1] In 1917, he was a Republican candidate for Massachusetts State Auditor. He lost the primary to incumbent Alonzo B. Cook 63,331 votes to 31,186.[9] In 1923, he returned to the Everett school committee. He was elected its chairman in 1932 after 19 ballots.[2]
Bruce represented the 20th Middlesex district in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in the 1931–1932 Massachusetts legislature.[1] He was defeated for reelection by his predecessor, Joseph L. Larson.[10]
Bruce died on October 6, 1937, at his home in Everett. At the time of his death, he was chairman of the city's board of assessors.[2]