Joseph Mitchell (city manager)

Joseph Mitchell
Mitchell at a city forum in 1961
City manager of Newburgh, New York
In office October 17, 1960 – September 6, 1963
Preceded by	Albert J. Abrams
Succeeded by	Thomas L. Rose
Personal details
Born	(1922-03-25)March 25, 1922 Chevy Chase, Maryland, U.S.
Died	March 26, 1993(1993-03-26) (aged 71) Bunnell, Florida, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Maryland American University University of Southern California
Known for	Conservative welfare policies in Newburgh

Joseph McDowell "Joe" Mitchell (March 25, 1922 – March 26, 1993) was a local official and conservative activist who served as city manager of Newburgh, New York, from 1960 to 1963. During his controversial tenure there—a period known as the "Battle of Newburgh"—he introduced a wide-ranging reform plan aiming to scale back and regulate the provision of welfare in the city. Though only a small part of his plan was implemented due to opposition from the state government and successive court injunctions against it, his efforts garnered him national fame, attracting the praise of conservative figures such as Barry Goldwater and the condemnation of moderates and liberals, and gave him a historical legacy as a pioneer of workfare policies.

Mitchell was born in Maryland, and held office as a municipal administrator in California and Pennsylvania before coming to Newburgh. He resigned his position there in 1963 after an accusation of bribery, despite his acquittal of the charge, and went on to be associated with the White Citizens' Councils until 1966. He returned to his vocation as a city manager and ultimately retired in Florida, where he died in 1993.

Mitchell was born in Chevy Chase, Maryland, on March 25, 1922. He studied political science at the University of Maryland as an undergraduate, followed by postgraduate courses in municipal government at the American University and the University of Southern California. He began his career in city management as assistant city manager of Culver City, California, in 1957, and subsequently held office as township manager of Marple Township, Pennsylvania. His legacy in the latter position was controversial: historian Rick Perlstein labels his tenure at Marple Township "disastrous".

Mitchell became city manager of Newburgh on October 17, 1960, succeeding Albert J. Abrams, who had resigned in August. Mitchell had been tapped by conservative city councillor George McKneally, who was concerned over the influx of African-American internal immigrants to the city—a phenomenon he ascribed to the city's generous welfare policies. Soon after assuming office, Mitchell introduced a range of controversial welfare reforms, which made him a popular figure among American conservatives, while attracting strong criticism from liberals. The dispute over his reforms became known as the "Battle of Newburgh", following an NBC White Paper documentary aired under that title in 1962.