Martin Durkan

Martin James Durkan Sr. (June 30, 1923 – May 29, 2005) was an American politician from the state of Washington. He served in 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 House of Representatives for the 31st district
In office
1957–1959
Member of the Washington State Senate for the 47th district
In office
1959–1975
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 Elizabeth Noonan Durkan (m. 1951)
Children8, including Jenny (1 adoptive)

After his retirement from the Senate, Durkan became one of the state's top lobbyists. He raised eight children with his wife Lorraine, including current 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 marine 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 entered a private practice in Seattle.[10][11] Durkan lived on Mercer Island in the mid-1950s[12] and later Bellevue[13] before settling in Issaquah by 1963.[14]

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.[15] 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.[16] He continued to appear on panel discussion groups in regards to Initiative 199 as a Democratic committee member.[17]

Durkan was elected to the Washington House of Representatives in 1956, defeating Republican William Crow to win the 31st district.[7][18] 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.[19]

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.[20] 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.[21]

In 1963 Durkan became chairperson of the Subcommittee on Revenue and Regulatory Agencies.[22] 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.[23] He introduced a bill to remove tax exemption from cooperative apartment buildings for senior citizens.[24] After reducing budgetary spending on funding for mentally handicapped people, he introduced legislation to close Northern State Hospital in Sedro-Woolley.[25] He was the Western Washington campaign manager for President Lyndon B. Johnson's 1964 presidential campaign.[26]

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.[27] He continued campaigning throughout the state.[28]

Personal life and family

Durkan and his wife Lorraine had seven children: Kathleen, Martin, Ryan, Jenny, Matt, Timothy and Megan. They also raised the late David Grant from the age of 12 after his parents moved out of state. The Durkan household was known to be welcoming to neighborhood children; daughter Jenny Durkan said that her mother's motto was: "There may not be much food, but there are always plenty of chairs."[9][29]

The Durkan’s were a Roman Catholic family. Jenny Durkan said that the family was raised to value “doing what’s right for the common good and answering the call to public service.”[30] Tim Durkan said that "honesty was a cornerstone in the household...All you have in this life is your family and your word." Tim Durkan said that he once lied to his mother Lorraine and she refused to speak to him for weeks.[9] Political discussions were also encouraged and sometimes resulted in "heated discussions around the family dinner table."[30] Durkan, Lorraine and son Martin "Jamie" Durkan Jr. were pro life due to their Catholic faith, but the rest of the family was pro choice. Durkan later said "We taught our kids to be independent, to do what they thought was right. We don't agree sometimes, but we respect what they do."[7] Durkan often took his family hunting and fishing, allowing his children to fire hunting rifles at a young age.[30]

Seattle mayor Jenny Durkan, his fourth child, in 2018

Some of Durkan's children also pursued a political career. He was described as a "patriarch of a leading family in Washington state law, politics and influence"; his influence and connections aided his children's careers.[31][32] Washington State Representative Denny Heck said that the Durkan family "never quite became the Washington version of the Massachusetts Kennedys, but came about as close as you could get."[10] Eldest daughter Kathleen was an NBC News foreign correspondent and lobbyist with her father.[7] Son "Jamie" (AKA Jim Durkan) is a retired corporate lobbyist who made millions selling the Dura-Kan trash cans used throughout King County.[33][34][35] Daughter Jenny Durkan is currently the mayor of Seattle. Son Tim Durkan was special assistant to former Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels[10] and worked for the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods under mayor Mike McGinn.[7] Daughter Theresa "Ryan" Durkan is a well regarded land use lawyer who has worked for the University of Washington and on construction of the Washington State Convention Center.[31] In 2002 Ryan and Jamie lobbied Seattle City Council on behalf of luxury hotel developer R. C. Hedreen and Co., asking the council to exempt the developer from building $6 million of low-income housing in downtown Seattle. After pressure from Council member Nick Licata, Mayor Nickels vetoed the legislature.[36] Hedreen Holdings later donated $20,000 to Jenny Durkan's mayoral campaign.[37] Jamie Durkan also worked for Republican Dino Rossi during his 2004 campaign for Governor of Washington, while Jenny Durkan worked as the legal council for Governor Christine Gregoire during the same election.[31][38] Ryan Durkan was appointed Washington State University regent by Governor Gregoire in 2011.[39]

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."[40] The award has been presented since the 1970s and was previously called the "Steve O'Donnell Award".[41]

Durkan had six grandchildren: Jamie, Danny, Taryn, Colman, James and Teegan. In his later years Durkan and Lorraine moved 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.[38] He died on May 29, 2005 at Maui Memorial Medical Center.[31] Jenny Durkan did not attend her father's funeral since she was occupied arguing a court case for Governor Gregoire in Chelan County.[38]

See also

References
  1. http://leg.wa.gov/History/Legislative/Documents/MembersOfLeg2011.pdf
  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 June 28, 2020. 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. "50 From County Will Attend Prelegislative Conference". The Seattle Times. December 6, 1956.
  12. "Dominic A. Noonan". The Seattle Times. October 16, 1962.
  13. Cunningham, Ross; Burt, Lyle (January 23, 1963). "Senate Gets First of Bills on Sunday Closure of Businesses". The Seattle Times.
  14. "Young Demos of King County to Elect Officers". The Seattle Times. November 9, 1955.
  15. "Question Before the House". The Seattle Times. February 26, 1956.
  16. "Redistricting to be discussed". The Seattle Times. March 17, 1956.
  17. "Crow, Durkan to Speak". The Seattle Times. October 2, 1956.
  18. "Demo Club urges veto of 199 substitute". The Seattle Times. March 16, 1957.
  19. "Absentees To Decide Vote in 45th District". The Seattle Times. November 7, 1958.
  20. Wilson, Marshall; Johnsrud, Byron (February 19, 1961). "Buying Methods Issue in Liquor Board Battle". The Seattle Times.
  21. Cunningham, Ross; Burt, Lyle (January 17, 1963). "'Battle of Budget' Going to Ring". The Seattle Times.
  22. "Bill Due on Monorail Operation". The Seattle Times. January 28, 1963.
  23. Cunningham, Ross; Burt, Lyle (February 7, 1963). "Bill Aims at Homes for Elderly". The Seattle Times.
  24. "Solon Urges Closing of State Hospital". The Seattle Times. August 15, 1963.
  25. "3 Kitsap County Men Appointed By Democrats". The Seattle Times. October 11, 1964.
  26. Cunningham, Ross; Burt, Lyle (March 25, 1965). "Congressional-Districting Fight Threatened". The Seattle Times.
  27. "Frustrated Ambition". The Seattle Times. October 22, 1965.
  28. "Lorraine Elizabeth (Noonan) Durkan". Westside Seattle. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  29. Garner, Julie (September 2014). "U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan is known as a straight shooter". University of Washington Magazine. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  30. "Washington political figure Martin Durkan dies at 81". The Lewiston Review. June 1, 2005. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  31. Langston, Jennifer (May 30, 2005). "Martin Durkan Sr., 1923-2005: Ex-state senator was 'old-style Irish pol'". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  32. Leovy, Jill (July 17, 1991). "Jamie Durkan, Hired By Kent, Puts On Political-Consultant Hat". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  33. Smith, Carlton (November 11, 1986). "Garbage-pickup plan could be a sticky subject". The Seattle Times. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  34. Smith, Carlton (February 3, 1987). "Scent of politics wafts from garbage-can deals - City takes indirect route toward new trash contract". The Seattle Times. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  35. Stevens, Jeff (October 30, 2017). "Following Jenny's Money". The Seattle Star. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  36. Glaser, David (October 26, 2017). "Money in Politics Buys Influence". South Seattle Emerald. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  37. Postman, David (June 1, 2005). "Father's death doesn't keep attorney from election trial". The Seattle Times.
  38. Connelly, Joel (December 14, 2011). "Ron Sims, Ryan Durkan — new WSU regents". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  39. "Jockey Connie Doll and trainers David Martinez and Martin Pimentel win Lindy Award". The Courier Herald. September 25, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  40. Cain, Holly (April 19, 2001). "'They're off' at Emerald Downs". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
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