Representative Ernest King 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 born in Fresno, California, and spent his early years in the state he would later represent in Congress. His early life in California preceded a long career in education, local government, and national politics.

Bramblett pursued higher education at Stanford University, where he graduated in 1925 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in education. Following his undergraduate studies, he attended several other colleges for post‑graduate work, further developing his expertise in educational administration and public affairs. Before entering public office, he worked in private enterprise, including positions in insurance sales and automobile sales, experiences that provided him with familiarity with business and community concerns in California.

Transitioning from business to education, Bramblett became a high school teacher, principal, and administrator. His work in the school system culminated in a key administrative role in Monterey County. From 1943 to 1946 he was responsible for coordinating the curriculum between the high schools and elementary schools of the Monterey County school system, a position that placed him at the center of regional educational policy and administration. This experience in public education and administration helped establish his reputation as a civic leader and prepared him for elective office.

A member of the Republican Party, Bramblett entered local politics in Pacific Grove, California. He served as Mayor of Pacific Grove from 1939 to 1947, overseeing municipal affairs during the challenging years that spanned World War II and the immediate postwar period. Concurrently, he was active in party politics at the state level, serving as a member of California’s Republican State Central Committee from 1944 to 1946. These roles elevated his profile within the Republican Party and positioned him for a run for national office.

In the 1946 election, amid the national Republican landslide, Bramblett was elected to the 80th United States Congress, representing California’s Central Coast. He defeated Democratic incumbent Representative George Outland, marking a significant partisan shift in the district. Bramblett took his seat in the House of Representatives on January 3, 1947, and was reelected three times, serving four consecutive terms from January 3, 1947, to January 3, 1955. During his tenure in Congress, he participated in the legislative process at a time of major developments in American domestic and foreign policy in the early Cold War era, representing the interests of his California constituents as a Republican member of the House. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1954.

Bramblett’s congressional career was overshadowed by a criminal case arising from his management of his congressional office. In February 1954, he was convicted on several charges related to payroll fraud involving his congressional staff. The case established that he had arranged for salaries to be paid to four individuals who performed no work for him; these individuals then returned the money to Bramblett, enabling him to convert the funds to his personal use. As a result of the conviction, he was sentenced to a term of four months to one year in prison, though the sentence was suspended. He was fined $5,000 and placed on probation for one year. The federal government subsequently brought a civil action to recover the funds he had obtained through the fraudulent scheme and obtained a judgment against him.

Following his departure from Congress and the resolution of his criminal case, Bramblett remained in southern California and worked as a government affairs consultant, drawing on his experience in public office and legislative processes. He became a resident of Woodland Hills, California, where he lived during his later years. Ernest King Bramblett died in Woodland Hills on December 27, 1966. He was buried at Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery in Chatsworth, California, closing a public career that had spanned education, municipal leadership, and four terms in the United States House of Representatives.