Franck R. Havenner

Who was Franck R. Havenner?

Franck Roberts Havenner was a six-term United States Representative from California's 4th congressional district beginning in 1936. He is a graduate from Columbian College. Havenner, originally a Republican, served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for twelve years. In 1935, he ran for president of the Board of Supervisors and won. As supervisor he fought to fulfill the Raker Act of 1913 and bring public power to the City and County of San Francisco, but he was not successful.

In 1936 he ran a winning race for Congress as the candidate of the United States Progressive Party, defeating Republican Florence Kahn. In this initial race, he received endorsements from the Progressive Party as well as the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee, despite the fact that there was a "Roosevelt Democrat," James Brennan, running for the post, according to an August 19, 1936 Daily News item. Havenner served two terms in Congress. In 1939 he reregistered as a Democrat. In that year he also ran a losing race for mayor against Angelo Rossi. He was defeated for reelection to Congress in 1940, but regained his old seat in 1944, when he served on the House Armed Services Committee. In 1952 he was defeated by Republican William S. Mailliard. Thereafter, he retired from politics, working for the American Federation of Labor.