William A. Bennett

Bennett was a member of the Worcester common council from 1921 to 1924 and was council president in 1923 and 1924. From 1925 to 1928, he was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.^[1] In 1935, he was elected to represent Ward 7 of the Board of Aldermen.^[3] He was president of the board in 1936 and became acting mayor following the death of Walter J. Cookson.^[4] He served for four months until John S. Sullivan won the special election to finish Cookson's term.^[5]

Bennett was the Republican nominee for mayor in 1937. Sullivan was declared the winner by 25 votes, but Bennett asked for a recount, with both sides alleging ballot tampering. The recount found that Bennett had won by 96 votes. The Democrats challenged the results in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, which appointed Richard J. Lane to investigate the protested ballots. Sullivan obtained an injunction to remain in office until the election was decided. In March 1938, Lane issued a report that confirmed Bennett's victory by 80 or 92 votes, depending on the outcome of Sullivan's legal case over 12 disputed ballots.^[5] Justice Stanley Elroy Qua lifted the injunction on March 18, 1938 and the board of aldermen certified Bennett's victory. He was sworn in that day, but Sullivan refused to leave office, contending that he was the rightful mayor until his case was heard by the full bench of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. He agreed to turn over the office to Bennett the following day, but maintained that he had won the election. Sullivan's case was dismissed by the Supreme Judicial Court in August.^[5]

Bennett and Sullivan faced off in a rematch in 1939, which Bennett won decisively – 37,747 votes to 30,887.^[5] He was reelected by a wide margin in the next two elections, defeating John M. Shea in 1941 and Charles F. Jeff Sullivan in 1943.^[6][7]

In 1944, Bennett was a candidate for sheriff of Worcester County. He easily won the Republican primary and defeated Democratic incumbent H. Oscar Rocheleau 109,626 votes to 105,782.^[8] He served as mayor and sheriff concurrently until September 1945, when he stepped down as mayor.^[9] Bennett served as sheriff for sixteen years. He was defeated for reelection in 1962 by retired FBI agent Joseph A. Smith.^[10]

Bennett died on September 15, 1970.^[11]