George Theodore Werts

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George Theodore Werts (March 24, 1846 – January 17, 1910) was an American attorney, judge, and Democratic politician who served as the 28th governor of New Jersey from 1893 to 1896. Born in Hackettstown, he studied law in Morristown and built a successful practice. He served as mayor of Morristown from 1886 to 1892 and was in the New Jersey Senate from 1887 to 1893, including a term as president of the Senate.

Elected governor in 1892 with the support of Governor Leon Abbett, Werts faced the Panic of 1893, a severe economic downturn that affected New Jersey politics. He supported prison expansion, a juvenile reform program, and ballot reform. He vetoed a racetrack gambling bill in 1893, but it was later passed again over his veto.

During his term, Republicans gained control of the Legislature, and a constitutional crisis erupted in 1894 when a rump session tried to certify elections; the dispute was resolved by the state Supreme Court. The following years saw battles over public schools, religion, and corruption investigations into past Democratic officials. In 1895 the Storrs Naturalization Act, which restricted naturalization near elections, was passed over his veto. Werts left office in 1896 after John W. Griggs was elected governor, leaving the state with a budget surplus.

He helped create the Palisades Interstate Park Commission to protect the New Jersey Palisades from quarrying. He married Emma Stelle in 1872, and they had two daughters. After leaving office, he returned to law practice in Jersey City and died in 1910 at age 63. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Morristown.