Gordon W. Duffy

Gordon W. Duffy (born 1924) is an American former politician. During World War II he served in the United States Navy, and later was elected to municipal office and then the California state legislature.[1]

Duffy was born in Hanford, California in 1924. His father was an optometrist. Duffy graduated from Hanford High School in 1942 and then began studies at the University of California, Berkeley. He joined the Navy ROTC as well. He finished his bachelors degree in 1944 and was also a sprinter on the tack team at the university. He then became an Ensign in the navy and was involved in World War II in the pacific, being involved in the liberation of some islands from Japanese occupation. He left the navy in 1946 and from 1946 to 1948 studied optometry at Berkeley.

After returning to Hanford he mixed working as a optometrist with being involved in civic affairs. He served as a member of the planning comission, on the school board, as a member of the city council and then as mayor of Hanford. He was elected to the California State Assembly in 1964 and served as an Assemblyman until 1982. He was elected as a Republican. While in office he was one of the principal authors of California's current emergency powers of government act.[2] In 1982 he ran unsuccessfully for the office of California Secretary of State.[3] He then served in the California Cabinet as Secretary of Environmental Affairs and as Chairman of the Air Resources Board. He later spent 10 years as a consultant on government affairs to various businesses.

Sources

References
  1. Vassar, Alexander C. (2011). Legislators of California (PDF). Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  2. Palo Alto Daily Post article on origins of California emergency law
  3. Our Campaigns listing of Duffy's candidacy


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