Daniel Hoan

Daniel Hoan (right) at a meeting of the American Mayors' Association in Washington with New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia (1939)

Daniel Webster Hoan (born March 12, 1881 in Waukesha , Wisconsin , †  June 11, 1961 in Milwaukee ) was an American politician . He was the second Socialist Mayor of Milwaukee ; the length of his tenure is believed to be the longest in US history to have served in public office by a socialist.

biography

Hoan dropped out of school early but later attended night school and was admitted to the bar in 1908. When he joined the Socialist Party of America , he moved to Milwaukee, where he worked closely with Victor L. Berger , editor of the socialist newspaper Milwaukee Leader . Both tried to convince the city to implement radical reforms (free medical and school services and renewal programs).

In 1910 Emil Seidel was elected mayor of Milwaukee, making him the first socialist leader of a major city in the United States. That same year, Hoan became the city's prosecutor, and for the next six years he fought against corruption among city officials. In 1916 he was elected mayor of the city. Unlike many members of the Socialist Party to Hoan did not oppose the entry of the United States in the First World War . Hoan remained the city's mayor for 24 years.

During his tenure, the first bus system was introduced in the United States after numerous pedestrians were run over by streetcars running in the middle of the street. A motorway system was set up under his leadership. However, the federal aid was a rarity. The system included the Hoan Bridge , construction of which began while he was still in office. But due to the Second World War and the lack of federal aid, the bridge could not be completed until 1976.

Hoan had a reputation for honest and efficient administration. He was defeated by Carl Zeidler in the 1940 mayoral election and left the Socialist Party a year later. Then he joined the Democratic Party . In 1944 and 1946 he tried to become governor , but this was unsuccessful: He was subject to the Republican incumbent Walter Samuel Goodland . In 1948 he also had no success trying to become mayor of Milwaukee a second time. He was defeated in the election by the socialist candidate Frank P. Zeidler .

In 1999 he was named the eighth best mayor in United States history by Melvin Holli , author of The American Mayor , and a group of experts.

Web links

• Daniel Hoan in the database of Find a Grave (English)
• Short biography (Engl.)