Walter Lee Mingledorff Jr. (November 7, 1914 – February 18, 1985) was a politician from Georgia, United States, and was a former Mayor of Savannah. He was a Democrat and belonged to the local Citizen's Committee faction of the party.

Background

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He was born in the Savannah area and made a career in the shipyard industry.[1] He was married to Huldah Cail.

Political career

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City politics

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Mingledorff ran for Mayor of Savannah and defeated Conservative Democratic candidate Charles Musante in 1954.[2] He took office on January 24, 1955 and became the first Savannah mayor to serve under the council-manager form of municipal government.[3] The number of aldermen was reduced from twelve to six under the new city charter.

He was re-elected for a two-year term in 1956 with his second term beginning January 21, 1957 and for a four-year term in 1958.[4][5]

The Mingledorff administration is credited with a number of accomplishments, including:

  • Eliminating the city's deficit
  • Establishing a municipal civil service
  • Implementing an urban renewal program
  • Improving the road system, with the construction of expressways

County politics

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Mingledorff resigned as mayor on August 1, 1960[5] to become a candidate on the Chatham County Commission.[6] He was succeeded as Mayor by vice-mayor Malcolm Maclean for the remainder of his term running through October 1, 1962.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Arnsdorff Genealogy Website Archived 2005-02-11 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Savannah Morning News, December 14, 1954,
  3. ^ Spracher, Luciana M. (2004). "History & Highlights of the City of Savannah's Council-Manager Form of Government 1954-2004". savannahga.gov. p. 20.
  4. ^ Savannah Morning News, May 27, 1958
  5. ^ a b c "A List of Mayors and Aldermen of the City of Savannah, Georgia, 1790-2012". savannahga.gov.
  6. ^ Savannah Morning News, July 31, 1960,
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Political offices
Preceded by
Olin Fulmer
Mayor of Savannah
1955–1960
Succeeded by