George Theodore Werts

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George Theodore Werts (March 24, 1846 – January 17, 1910) was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 28th Governor of New Jersey from 1893-1896. Werts created the Palisades Interstate Park Commission which saved the New Jersey Palisades from being quarried for their rock.

Born in 1846, Werts moved in 1863 to Morristown at age 17 and soon became a lawyer. He built a law practice over the next 16 years. In 1872, he married Emma Stelle. Werts, a Democrat, entered politics and in 1886 was elected mayor of Morristown. He was also elected to the New Jersey Senate, serving from 1887 to 1892. Werts moved from Morristown to Jersey City and lived in a mansion on Crescent Avenue on the present site of Lincoln High School in Jersey City.

Governor Leon Abbett named Werts as a state judge in 1892. Abbett supported him to be his replacement when Abbett ran for the United States Senate. Werts, riding Grover Cleveland's coattails, defeated the Republican candidate John Kean, Jr. However, as governor, Werts was fairly ineffectual. His administration was mired in a racetrack gambling controversy which hurt the entire Democratic Party in the state. His lack of leadership, caused both parties to fight over power.

In 1895, a scandal involving corruption among many Democratic legislative was exposed. Though Werts was not involved, this brought an end of a quarter of a century domination of New Jersey politics by the Democratic Party. He was the last of seven consecutive Democratic governors. Leaving office after one term, Werts returned to his law practice in Jersey City. He would die 20 years later at age 63. he was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, in Morristown, New Jersey.