Woldhardt Madsen
(1902-1983), mayor of Skive Købstadskommune 1936-1967, member of the Social Democratic Party.
Background of the mayor
Woldhardt Madsen was a trained typographer and worked as a young man on the typesetting department at Skive Folkeblad’s printing house. Typographers often had a strong political awareness, and this probably contributed to bringing Woldhardt Madsen into municipal politics.
Mayor of Skive
In the 1936 municipal elections, Woldhardt Madsen was elected mayor. He then held the post until 1967, becoming Skive’s longest-serving mayor. He was also the first native Skive resident to hold the post, and he was the first professional mayor, as unlike previous mayors, he received a salary for his work.
Politics and politics
During his time as mayor, Woldhardt Madsen created a very stable collaboration with the Social Liberal Party, which meant that he was safely in the saddle as mayor even after 1958, when the Social Democrats actually lost the majority in the city council. Woldhardt Madsen also led Skive through the occupation from 1940-1945. He held several different positions, including chairman of the Social Democratic Association, chairman of the Workers’ Union and from 1950 chairman of the Trade Association, which gave him a great influence on the Danish municipalities.
Woldhardt Madsen retired in 1967, at the age of 63. He was then chairman of the Credit Association of Municipalities in Denmark until 1975. He died on March 20, 1983.
Sources
- Mortensen, Niels: 125 år på Skiveegnen – byen, egnen og Salling Bank 1876-2001, Salling Bank, 2001, p. 164-167.
- Stavnsbjerg, Helge: Woldhardt: the founder of modern Skive, Limfjordsforlaget, 2017.