Martin Durkan

Martin James Durkan Sr. (June 30, 1923 – May 29, 2005) was an American attorney, politician, and lobbyist from the state of Washington. He served as a member of the Washington House of Representatives from 1957 to 1959 and in the State Senate from 1959 to 1975.[1][2] Durkan also ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Washington in 1972 and the U.S. House of Representatives in 1977.

Martin Durkan
Durkan in 1967
Member of the Washington State Senate for the 47th district
In office
1959–1975
Member of the
Washington House of Representatives
from the 31st district
In office
1957–1950
Personal details
Born
Martin James Durkan

(1923-06-30)June 30, 1923
Great Falls, Montana, U.S.
DiedMay 29, 2005(2005-05-29) (aged 81)
Maui, Hawaii, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Lorraine Durkan (m. 1951)
Children8, including Jenny
EducationUniversity of Washington (LLB)
Military service
Branch/service United States Marine Corps
 United States Navy
Battles/warsWorld War II

After his retirement from the Senate, Durkan became one of the state's top lobbyists. He raised eight children with his wife Lorraine, including Seattle mayor and former U.S. attorney Jenny Durkan.[3]

Early life and education

Martin Durkan was born to a Catholic family in Great Falls, Montana on June 30, 1923. His father, Martin Durkan, had immigrated from County Mayo, Ireland[4] and served one term in the Montana House of Representatives as the Democratic representative from Cascade County from 1913 to 1914.[5][6] His mother was a schoolteacher.[7]

Durkan attended Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. He volunteered for the United States Marine Corps a week after the Attack on Pearl Harbor, soon transferring to the U.S. Navy and receiving training at the Naval V12 program at the University of Washington. He was commissioned an ensign at Northwestern University in 1943, earning the rank of lieutenant.[8] He fought with the Navy amphibious squad in the South Pacific Theater of World War II, and was injured in Saipan. He spent 16 months recovering in naval hospitals in California and Seattle and was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Area Ribbon with 3 stars, the World War II victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.[8] While at the University of Washington Durkan met student Lorraine "Lolly" Noonan, whom he began a relationship with and later married in 1951.[9]

He earned a law degree from the University of Washington School of Law in 1953 and established a private practice in Seattle.[10][11]

Career

Durkan began his political career when he was elected the third vice president of King County Young Men's Democratic Club in November 1955.[12] In February 1956 he appeared on a televised panel discussion called "Will Re-Districting Work", alongside State Senators Albert Rosellini, John Ryder and State Representative R. Mort Frayn.[13] He continued to appear on panel discussion groups in regards to Initiative 199 as a Democratic committee member.[14]

Durkan was elected to the Washington House of Representatives in 1956, defeating Republican William Crow to win the 31st district.[7][15] He was a member of the Subcommittee on Ways and Means, which urged Governor Rosellini to veto Initiative 199 after it was approved by voters the previous year.[16]

In November 1958, Durkan was elected State Senator of Washington's 47th district, receiving 10,319 votes to Republican John B. Stander's 5,054 votes.[17] In 1961 the Washington State Liquor Control Board was accused of over-purchasing liquor from distilleries, forcing the state to sell the excess liquor at reduced prices. Many distilleries were represented by close associates of politicians, such as Durkan's brother Thomas.[18]

In 1963 Durkan became chairperson of the Subcommittee on Revenue and Regulatory Agencies.[19] He drafted legislation allowing the Seattle Center Monorail of the 1962 World's Fair to be owned an operated by the state instead of the city, which Rosellini was against.[20] He introduced a bill to remove tax exemption from cooperative apartment buildings for senior citizens.[21] After reducing budgetary spending on funding for mentally handicapped people, he introduced legislation to close Northern State Hospital in Sedro-Woolley.[22] He was the Western Washington campaign manager for President Lyndon B. Johnson's 1964 presidential campaign.[23]

In 1965 Durkan organized a public hearing on former Governor Rosellini's tax plan. The Seattle Times called this Durkan's "first move" towards a run for governor in 1968, and introduced him to eastern Washington voters.[24] He continued campaigning throughout the state.[25]

Personal life
Seattle mayor Jenny Durkan, his fourth child, in 2018

Durkan lived on Mercer Island in the mid-1950s[26] and later Bellevue[27] before settling in Issaquah in 1963.[28] Durkan was Roman Catholic.

Durkan and his wife Lorraine had seven children, including Seattle mayor Jenny Durkan. They also raised the late David Grant from the age of 12 after his parents moved out of state.[9][29]

Durkan was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, the Auburn Elk's club, the Veteran of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and the Washington Athletic Club and was President of the Horseman's Associations for owners and trainers.[8] The Emerald Downs horse race track presents an annual "Martin Durkan award" which "honors trainers that exhibit leadership, cooperation, sportsmanship and excellence on and off the track throughout the 75-day meeting."[30] The award has been presented since the 1970s and was previously called the "Steve O'Donnell Award".[31]

Durkan had six grandchildren: Jamie, Danny, Taryn, Colman, James and Teegan. In his later years, Durkan and his wife retired to Maui, Hawaii.[9] Durkan suffered a heart attack in November 1996[7] and was in poor health for the last few years of his life; having another heart attack in mid-May 2005.[32] He died on May 29, 2005 at Maui Memorial Medical Center.[33]

See also

References
  1. State of Washington Members of the Legislature Members of the Washington State Legislature 1889 – 2011 1889 – 2011
  2. http://leg.wa.gov/History/Legislative/Documents/Pictorial_Phone/43rdSession1973opt.pdf
  3. http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Martin-Durkan-Sr-1923-2005-Ex-state-senator-1174760.php
  4. Keane, John F. (2007). Irish Seattle. Images of America. Arcadia Publishing. p. 84. ISBN 9780738548784. OCLC 99995836. Retrieved November 8, 2017 – via Google Books.
  5. House Journal of the Thirteenth Session of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Montana. Helena, Montana: Independent Publishing Company. March 1913. p. 3. hdl:2027/mdp.39015068119257. OCLC 789282042.
  6. "1912 Legislative Election Results" (PDF). Secretary of State of Montana. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  7. "Martin James Durkan". The Seattle Times. June 5, 2005. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  8. Willmsen, Christine (February 25, 2008). "Lorraine Durkan, 83, "always willing to listen" - Wife of late legislator Martin Durkan kept an open heart, home". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  9. Heffter, Emily (May 31, 2005). "Former lawmaker Martin J. Durkan Sr. was political giant". The Seattle Times. p. A1. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  10. Garner, Julie (September 2014). "Straight Shooter". Columns: The University of Washington Alumni Magazine. University of Washington Alumni Association. p. 22. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  11. "Young Demos of King County to Elect Officers". The Seattle Times. November 9, 1955.
  12. "Question Before the House". The Seattle Times. February 26, 1956.
  13. "Redistricting to be discussed". The Seattle Times. March 17, 1956.
  14. "Crow, Durkan to Speak". The Seattle Times. October 2, 1956.
  15. "Demo Club urges veto of 199 substitute". The Seattle Times. March 16, 1957.
  16. "Absentees To Decide Vote in 45th District". The Seattle Times. November 7, 1958.
  17. Wilson, Marshall; Johnsrud, Byron (February 19, 1961). "Buying Methods Issue in Liquor Board Battle". The Seattle Times.
  18. Cunningham, Ross; Burt, Lyle (January 17, 1963). "'Battle of Budget' Going to Ring". The Seattle Times.
  19. "Bill Due on Monorail Operation". The Seattle Times. January 28, 1963.
  20. Cunningham, Ross; Burt, Lyle (February 7, 1963). "Bill Aims at Homes for Elderly". The Seattle Times.
  21. "Solon Urges Closing of State Hospital". The Seattle Times. August 15, 1963.
  22. "3 Kitsap County Men Appointed By Democrats". The Seattle Times. October 11, 1964.
  23. Cunningham, Ross; Burt, Lyle (March 25, 1965). "Congressional-Districting Fight Threatened". The Seattle Times.
  24. "Frustrated Ambition". The Seattle Times. October 22, 1965.
  25. "50 From County Will Attend Prelegislative Conference". The Seattle Times. December 6, 1956.
  26. "Dominic A. Noonan". The Seattle Times. October 16, 1962.
  27. Cunningham, Ross; Burt, Lyle (January 23, 1963). "Senate Gets First of Bills on Sunday Closure of Businesses". The Seattle Times.
  28. "Lorraine Elizabeth (Noonan) Durkan". Westside Seattle. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  29. "Jockey Connie Doll and trainers David Martinez and Martin Pimentel win Lindy Award". The Courier Herald. September 25, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  30. Cain, Holly (April 19, 2001). "'They're off' at Emerald Downs". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  31. Postman, David (June 1, 2005). "Father's death doesn't keep attorney from election trial". The Seattle Times.
  32. "Washington political figure Martin Durkan dies at 81". The Lewiston Review. June 1, 2005. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
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