Ernest K. Bramblett

Ernest King Bramblett (April 25, 1901 – December 27, 1966) was an American Republican politician who represented California's Central Coast in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1947 to 1955 when he was convicted of fraud. He was elected to the U.S. House in the 1946 Republican landslide when he ousted Democratic incumbent Rep. George Outland.

Ernest K. Bramblett
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California
In office January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1955
Preceded by	George E. Outland
Succeeded by	Charles M. Teague
Constituency	11th district (1947–1953) 13th district (1953–1955)
Personal details
Born	Ernest King Bramblett (1901-04-25)April 25, 1901 Fresno, California, U.S.
Died	December 27, 1966(1966-12-27) (aged 65) Woodland Hills, California, U.S.
Resting place	Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery
Political party	Republican
Education	Stanford University (BA)

Biography

Born in Fresno, California, Bramblett graduated from Stanford University in 1925 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in education, and later attended several other colleges for post-graduate work.^[1][2] He worked in insurance sales and car sales before becoming a high school teacher, principal and administrator.^[3][4] From 1943 to 1946 he was responsible for coordinating the curriculum between high schools and elementary schools of the Monterey County school system.^[5]

Early political career

A Republican, Bramblett was Mayor of Pacific Grove from 1939 to 1947,^[6] and a member of California's Republican Central Committee from 1944 to 1946.^[7]

Congress

In 1946, Bramblett was elected to the 80th United States Congress. He was reelected three times, and served from January 3, 1947, to January 3, 1955. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1954.

Conviction

In February 1954, Bramblett was convicted of several charges related to payroll fraud with his Congressional staff; he paid salaries to four individuals who did no work for him.^[8] They returned the money to Bramblett so he could convert it to his personal use.^[9][10] He was sentenced to four months to a year in prison, which was suspended. He was also fined $5,000, and was placed on probation for a year. The federal government later sued to recoup the money he had acquired from his fraud, and obtained a judgment against him.

Later years

After his conviction, Bramblett became a government affairs consultant in southern California, and was a resident of Woodland Hills.

Death and burial

He died in Woodland Hills on December 27, 1966, and was buried at Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery in Chatsworth.

Electoral history

1946 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ernest K. Bramblett	41,902	53.1
	Democratic	George E. Outland (Incumbent)	36,996	46.9
Total votes			78,898	100.0
Turnout
	Republican gain from Democratic

1948 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ernest K. Bramblett (Incumbent)	87,143	80.8
	Progressive	Cole Weston	14,582	13.5
	Democratic	George E. Outland (write-in)	6,157	5.7
Total votes			107,882	100.0
Turnout
	Republican hold

1950 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ernest K. Bramblett (Incumbent)	59,780	52.1
	Democratic	Ardis M. Walker	55,020	47.9
Total votes			114,800	100.0
Turnout
	Republican hold

1952 United States House of Representatives elections in California^[14]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ernest K. Bramblett (Incumbent)	79,496	51
	Democratic	Will Hays	76,516	49
Total votes			156,012	100
Turnout
	Republican hold

See also

• List of American federal politicians convicted of crimes
• List of federal political scandals in the United States
• U.S. Congressional Delegations from California

References

1. Annual register. Stanford University: Stanford, CA. 1936. p. 525.
2. California Blue Book. Sacramento, CA: State Printing Office. 1954. p. 55.
3. Cloud, Roy Walter (1952). Education in California: Leaders, Organizations, and Accomplishments of the First Hundred Years. Stanford University Press: Stanford, CA. p. 271.
4. "Teachers End 3-Day Session in Watsonville". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Santa Cruz, CA. November 23, 1939. p. 8.
5. "E. K. Bramblett in Congress Race from 11th District". Oxnard Press-Courier. Oxnard, CA. March 13, 1946. p. 1.
6. Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1971. US Government Printing Office: Washington, DC. 1971. p. 628.
7. Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-12005. US Government Printing Office: Washington, DC. 2005. p. 697. ISBN 9780160731761.
8. "Congressman Convicted for Padded Payroll". Stanford Daily. Stanford, CA. United Press International. February 10, 1954. p. 1.
9. "Congressman Convicted for Padded Payroll"
10. Rosenzweig, David (December 9, 1995). "Tucker Is Fourth California Congressman to Be Convicted Since 1936". Los Angeles Times.
11. 1946 election results
12. 1948 election results
13. 1950 election results
14. "1952 election results" (PDF).

External links

• United States Congress. "Ernest K. Bramblett (id: B000762)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Ernest K. Bramblett at Political Graveyard

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by George E. Outland	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 11th congressional district 1947–1953	Succeeded by Justin L. Johnson
Preceded by C. Norris Poulson	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 13th congressional district 1953–1955	Succeeded by Charles M. Teague