Jack D. Maltester: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|American politician}}
'''Jack D. Maltester''' (1913-2009) was mayor of [[San Leandro, California]] from 1958 to 1978.
{{Infobox officeholder
| name =
| image =
| office = Mayor of [[San Leandro, California]]
| term_start = 1958
| term_end =1978
| predecessor =
| successor =
| office1 = 27th [[President of the United States Conference of Mayors]]
| term_start1 = 1969
| term_end1 =1970
| predecessor1 = [[Terry Schrunk]]
| successor1 = [[James Tate (mayor)|James Tate]]
| office2 = Vice Mayor of [[San Leandro, California]]
| term2= 1956–1958
| predecessor2=
| successor2=
| office3 = Member of the San Leandro [[City Council]]
| term3= 1956–1958
| predecessor3= Helen Lawrence
| successor3=
| term4=1948
| predecessor4=
| successor4=
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1913|8|6}}
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2009|5|1|1913|8|6}}
| death_place =
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| profession =
}}
 
'''Jack D.Dent Maltester''' (August 6, 1913- – May 1, 2009) was mayor of [[San Leandro, California]], from 1958 to 1978.
 
==Biography==
 
Jack D. Maltester was born in 1913 in San Leandro, California and was of Irish and Northern Italian descent.
 
Maltester was appointed to the San Leandro City Council in 1948, to replace Helen Lawrence when she was electedselected mayor of that city by the City Council. Lawrence became Maltester's mentor in city government. Maltester served until the election of April, when he lost his seat. In 1956, Maltester was elected to the City Council, and then electedselected Viceto Mayorbe vice mayor by the City Council. In 1958, he was electedselected asto Mayorbe mayor by the City Council.
He was the political boss of Alameda County.
 
Maltester was appointed to the San Leandro City Council in 1948, to replace Helen Lawrence when she was elected mayor of that city. Lawrence became Maltester's mentor in city government. Maltester served until the election of April, when he lost his seat. In 1956, Maltester was elected to the City Council, and then elected Vice Mayor by the City Council. In 1958, he was elected as Mayor by the City Council.
 
In 1962, Maltester became the first Mayor of San Leandro to be elected by popular ballot. He was re-elected three times, in 1966, 1970 and 1974.
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| title = American Babylon: Race and the Struggle for Postwar Oakland
| publisher = [[Princeton University Press]]
| dateyear = 2003
| pages = 267, 283
| isbn = 06910702610-691-07026-1 }}
</ref>
 
Maltester served as Presidentthe president of the [[United States Conference of Mayors]] (USCM) from 1969 to 1970.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usmayors.org/the-conference/leadership/ |title=Leadership |date=November 23, 2016 |access-date=July 24, 2020 |publisher=The United States Conference of Mayors}}</ref> In 1971, he sponsored a resolution at the annual USCM meeting in [[Philadelphia]], entitled "Withdrawal from [[Vietnam warWar|Vietnam]] and Reordering of National Priorities", which called upon then-[[President of the United States]], [[Richard Nixon]], "to do all within his power to bring about a complete withdrawal of all American forces from Vietnam by December 31, 1971." Speaking in support of the resolution, Maltester said,
 
<blockquote> Although, never brought before the voters of San Leandro, Maltester insisted;
<blockquote>
I might ask you: Have we left anything up until now to the military experts or have we been running a political war in Vietnam? My city, a small city in California with less than 70,000 people, proposed this resolution and it is supported by the citizens of the community. It is not a resolution of condemnation. It is not offered in rancor. It is a positive statement of principle. To support this position, I believe, is an obligation none of us can ignore in the name of humanity. I ask your vote for an end to this war.
</blockquote>
 
The resolution was adopted by the body of mayors after vigorous debate that included speeches by conference guest speakers [[John Kerry]] and [[John O'Neill (Vietnam veteran)|John O'Neill]]. [[New York City]] Mayor [[John Lindsay]] and [[Chicago]] Mayor [[Richard J. Daley]], whom Maltester greatly admired, were among those who voted for the resolution.<ref> [http://www.usmayors.org/uscm/us_mayor_newspaper/documents/04_12_04/cochran.asp Executive Director's Column, ''U.S. Mayor Newspaper'', USCM, April 8, 2004] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040707065856/http://www.usmayors.org/uscm/us_mayor_newspaper/documents/04_12_04/cochran.asp |date=July 7, 2004 }}</ref>
 
In 1972, Maltester was a prominent member of [[Democrats for Nixon]], supporting President Nixon's re-election campaign, saying the president was doing "a tremendous job of building a country that is moving toward a peaceful prosperity."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Jack-Maltester-San-Leandro-mayor-emeritus-3162020.php|title=Jack Maltester - San Leandro mayor emeritus|date=2009-05-08|work=SFGate|access-date=2018-09-05}}</ref>
 
In 1973, [[Robert W. Crown]], who represented the district including San Leandro in the [[California State Assembly]], was struck and killed by an automobile while jogging in [[Alameda, California|Alameda]]. Maltester ran to represent the vacant seat for the [[California's 14th State Assembly district|14th Assembly District]], but lost to Crown aide and [[San Leandro Unified School District]] Board member [[Bill Lockyer]]. in the Democratic primary election.
 
In April 1974, voters passed a charter amendment limiting City Council members and the Mayormayor to two consecutive terms, preventing Maltester from running for a fifth consecutive term. When his final term expired, Maltester had served as Mayormayor for 20 consecutive years. During his term, the San Leandro shoreline and marine recreational area were developed, a library was built and [[BART]] extended a line to the city. After leaving the mayor's office, Maltester became a "consultant" to various businesses who wished to do business in the City of San Leandro.<ref>[http://www.ci.san-leandro.ca.us%2Fnews%2FStateofCity2007.pdf City of San Leandro zoning document]{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
In 1973, [[Robert W. Crown]], who represented the district including San Leandro in the [[California State Assembly]], was struck and killed by an automobile while jogging in [[Alameda, California|Alameda]]. Maltester ran to represent the vacant seat for the [[California's 14th State Assembly district|14th Assembly District]], but lost to Crown aide and [[San Leandro Unified School District]] Board member [[Bill Lockyer]].
 
Maltester remained active in San Leandro business and politics, serving terms as President of the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce and the California League of Cities. In 1992, the channel leading into the San Leandro Marina was named the "Jack D. Maltester Channel". <ref>[http://www.americanrivers.org/site/DocServer/wrda92.pdf?docID=795 Water Resources Development Act of 1992, ''American Rivers''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235248/http://www.americanrivers.org/site/DocServer/wrda92.pdf?docID=795 |date=2007-09-26 }}</ref>
In April 1974, voters passed a charter amendment limiting City Council members and the Mayor to two consecutive terms, preventing Maltester from running for a fifth consecutive term. When his final term expired, Maltester had served as Mayor for 20 consecutive years. During his term, the San Leandro shoreline and marine recreational area were developed, a library was built and [[BART]] extended a line to the city.
<ref>[http://www.ci.san-leandro.ca.us%2Fnews%2FStateofCity2007.pdf City of San Leandro zoning document]</ref>
 
Maltester died on May 1, 2009, at the age of 95.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2009/05/05/maltester-ex-san-leandro-mayor-dies-at-95/|title=Maltester, ex-San Leandro mayor, dies at 95|date=2009-05-05|work=East Bay Times|access-date=2018-09-05|language=en-US}}</ref>
Maltester remained active in San Leandro business and politics, serving terms as President of the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce and the California League of Cities. In 1992, the channel leading into the San Leandro Marina was named the "Jack D. Maltester Channel". <ref>[http://www.americanrivers.org/site/DocServer/wrda92.pdf?docID=795 Water Resources Development Act of 1992, ''American Rivers'']</ref>
 
In attendance at his funeral were State of California Treasurer [[Bill Lockyer]] and State Senator [[Ellen Corbett]]. Former Alameda County Sheriff [[Charles Plummer (sheriff)|Charles "Charlie" Plummer]] gave a eulogy in praise of Maltester, recounting with fondness about the day, despite barely knowing Maltester, he was invited to have lunch with Maltester. When Plummer arrived at the restaurant he asked why was he invited since he barely knew Maltester, to which Maltester replied; "Because you're running for Sheriff".{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}}
Maltester died May 1, 2009 at the age of 95.
 
==References==
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{{refbegin}}
;General
* [http://www.sanleandrobytes.com/archives/008606.html Obituary, ''San Leandro Bytes''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716003838/http://www.sanleandrobytes.com/archives/008606.html |date=2011-07-16 }}
;Specific
{{reflistReflist}}
{{refend}}
 
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==External links==
* [http://www.sanleandrobytes.com/archives/005435.html Maltester's testimony before the U.S. Commission on Human Rights] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022091001/http://www.sanleandrobytes.com/archives/005435.html |date=2008-10-22 }}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maltester, Jack D.}}
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[[Category:1913 births]]
[[Category:2009 deaths]]
[[Category:People from San Leandro, California]]
[[Category:20th-century American politicians]]
[[Category:Presidents of the United States Conference of Mayors]]