Danny K. Davis
Encyclopedia
For other persons named Danny Davis, please see Daniel Davis (disambiguation)
.
Daniel K. (Danny) Davis (born September 6, 1941) is the U.S. Representative
for , serving since 1997. He is a member of the Democratic Party
.
, and educated at Arkansas AM&N College
(B.A. 1961), Chicago State University
(M.S. 1968) and the Union Institute & University
in Cincinnati, Ohio
(Ph.D. 1977). Davis worked as a government clerk, a high school teacher, executive director of the Greater Lawndale Conservation Commission, director of training at the Martin L. King Neighborhood Health Center, and executive director of the Westside Health Center before entering politics, where he represented Chicago's 29th Ward. He challenged Congresswoman Cardiss Collins
in Democratic primaries in 1984 and 1986, but lost both races. Davis was then elected to the Cook County Board of Commissioners
, serving from 1990 to 1996 before entering the House.
Davis had also waged an unsuccessful campaign against Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley
in the 1991 Democratic mayoral primary.
Davis is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus
, Progressive Caucus
, and Democratic Socialists of America
.
Davis was one of 31 U.S. Representatives who voted against counting the electoral votes from Ohio
in the 2004 presidential election
.
, Ed Smith
, and Dorothy Tillman
. Five other Democratic candidates entered the race later: S. Mendenhall, Joan Sullivan, G. Winbush, Anthony Travis, and Joan Powell making it the largest field of candidates for U.S. Congress in Illinois for 1996. Davis resided a block outside the 7th Congressional District, but he was familiar in the district, and actual residency was not required Davis ran on the progressive Democratic platform popular in the district. He was pro-choice
and supported gay rights, the ERA
, single-payer health care
, and some federal support for child nutrition and care.
In early January 1996, the FBI revealed its Operation Silver Shovel
, which included an investigation into Alderman Percy Z. Giles. What Operation Silver Shovel may have done to undermine Giles's chances for election are unclear as he was already lagging with a mere 3% among likely Democratic primary voters in a mid-December poll compared to Davis’ 33%, Smith’s 8%, Tillman’s 7%, and Steele’s 6%. However, up until Operation Silver Shovel Giles did have Mayor Richard M. Daley
's support and that of other well-known area figures—some of whom continued their support during the controversy.
On March 10, 1995, during a radio debate hosted by WMAQ-AM, Tillman and Smith called for Davis to reject the endorsement of former alderman candidate Wallace "Gator" Bradley, spokesman for convicted Gangster Disciples
leader Larry Hoover
. "Why do you keep badgering me with this question? You got a problem with something? You're not going to catch me going around saying I hate Gator Bradley….I'm not in the business of disavowing individuals. The good Lord said he hated sin, but not sinners. I'm not hating Gator Bradley. I disagree with those who commit crime and those who'd use drugs, but you won't catch me going around saying that I hate Gator Bradley."
Davis never rejected Bradley’s endorsement during the campaign and after winning the primary claimed that Bradley’s endorsement played no role in the outcome, though Bradley asserted the contrary.
During the campaign, Tillman highlighted comments Davis made in an August 1970 issue of Ebony: “(T)he white female often gives the black man certain kinds of recognition that the black woman oftentimes does not give him." The Davis campaign countered that Davis was speaking as a psychologist
in his role as a training director at a health center.
Although Davis was fully promoted as a Democratic candidate, he also ran as a New Party candidate. Supporting this was New Party’s celebration of him as the “first New Party member elected to the U.S. Congress.” Although the State of Illinois did not permit fusion voting, New Party advocated fusion voting as a means to promote their party and party agenda and to particularly project New Party ideology into the mainstream Democratic Party. Candidates were referred to as “N[ew]P[arty] Democrats” and were required to sign a contract mandating a “visible and active relationship” with New Party. During this timeframe, New Party was experiencing substantial growth and included in its ranks a young Barack Obama
.
Davis also received the endorsement of the Chicago Democratic Socialists of America
(CDSA) of which he is a member and had a relationship pre-dating his congressional run. ACORN
, AFL-CIO
, Sierra Club
, and International Brotherhood of Teamsters are included in other groups also endorsing Davis in his bid.
In the March 19 Democratic primaries, Davis received more votes than the two closest candidates — Tillman and Smith — combined. The first five announced candidates all received more than double the five late-entering candidates with none of the latter receiving more than 2,700 votes. In the November 5 general election, Davis won with over 82 percent of the votes cast over Republican Randy Borow and third-party candidates Chauncey L. Stroud (Independent), Toietta Dixon (Libertarian), and Charles A. Winter (Natural Law).
's replacement in the U.S. Senate
, and Illinois Governor in late 2008 before his own major scandal erupted. In a December 31, 2008 article published on the website of The New York Times
, Davis said that he turned down an offer from representatives of Blagojevich to appoint him to the Senate. Instead, Blagojevich appointed Roland W. Burris.
in a religious ceremony at the Dirksen Senate Office Building honoring the controversial spiritual leader.[35][36] Moon declared himself the Messiah at the crowning ceremony, in which Davis appeared on the invitation as a sponsoring co-chair.[36] Davis wore white gloves and carried the crown on a pillow to crown Moon and his wife "the King and Queen of Peace."[37] Davis told Christian Challenge that Moon declaring himself the Messiah "was similar to a baseball team owner telling team members that 'we are the greatest team on earth'" prior to a baseball game. Davis said the peace awards were to "recognize people for promoting peace. Of course the highest recognition goes to the highest promoter and the highest promoter is Reverend Moon, so they come up with something higher than the certificates and plaques that other folks get."[36] Salon later said that Davis was the only member of Congress in attendance who took pride in the ceremony. They also reported that Davis has accepted money from fundraisers organized by Moon.[2] In 2003, Davis gave a speech on the House floor and praised Moon, along with Congressman Curt Weldon. Davis said, "Many of my colleagues will join me and the gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr. Weldon, co-chair, in giving tribute to some of the outstanding Americans from our districts. We are grateful to the founders of Ambassadors for Peace, the Reverend and Mrs. Sun Myung [Moon], for promoting the vision of world peace, and we commend them for their work."[2]
fraternity. Davis is notable for his support of the National Federation of the Blind
. He has spoken at their conventions in 2004 and 2005.
Interviews
Daniel Davis (disambiguation)
-Daniel:*Daniel Davis , militia captain during the American Revolutionary War, and pioneer to the Ohio Country*Daniel C. Davis , captain in the Mormon Battalion*Daniel Davis, Jr. , photographer...
.
Daniel K. (Danny) Davis (born September 6, 1941) is the U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for , serving since 1997. He is a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
Early life, education and career
Davis was born in Parkdale, ArkansasParkdale, Arkansas
Parkdale is a city in Ashley County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 377 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Parkdale is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land....
, and educated at Arkansas AM&N College
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is a historically black university located in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States. Founded in 1873, it is the oldest HBCU and the second oldest public institution in the state of Arkansas . UAPB is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund...
(B.A. 1961), Chicago State University
Chicago State University
Chicago State University is a state university of the U.S. state of Illinois, located in Chicago.-History:Cook County Normal School was founded in 1867, largely through the initiative of John F. Eberhart, the Commissioner of Schools for Cook County...
(M.S. 1968) and the Union Institute & University
Union Institute & University
Union Institute & University is a non-profit private college, specializing in limited residence and distance learning programs. With the main campus in Cincinnati, Union Institute & University operates -from Ohio- "satellite campuses" located in Montpelier, Vermont; Brattleboro, Vermont; North...
in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
(Ph.D. 1977). Davis worked as a government clerk, a high school teacher, executive director of the Greater Lawndale Conservation Commission, director of training at the Martin L. King Neighborhood Health Center, and executive director of the Westside Health Center before entering politics, where he represented Chicago's 29th Ward. He challenged Congresswoman Cardiss Collins
Cardiss Collins
Cardiss H. Collins, originally Cardiss Robertson, is a Democratic politician from Illinois who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1973 to 1997...
in Democratic primaries in 1984 and 1986, but lost both races. Davis was then elected to the Cook County Board of Commissioners
Cook County Board of Commissioners
The Cook County Board of Commissioners is a legislative body made up of 17 commissioners who are elected by district for four year terms. Cook County, which includes the City of Chicago, is the nation's second largest county with a population of 5.2 million residents...
, serving from 1990 to 1996 before entering the House.
Davis had also waged an unsuccessful campaign against Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley
Richard M. Daley
Richard Michael Daley is a United States politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party, and former Mayor of Chicago, Illinois. He was elected mayor in 1989 and reelected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. He was the longest serving Chicago mayor, surpassing the tenure of his...
in the 1991 Democratic mayoral primary.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Homeland SecurityUnited States House Committee on Homeland SecurityThe U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. Its responsibilities include U.S...
- Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Management
- Subcommittee on Transportation Security
- Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
- Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service and Labor Policy
- Subcommittee on Health Care, District of Columbia, Census and the National Archives (Ranking Member)
Party leadership and Caucus membership
- Chair of the Congressional Postal Caucus
- Regional Whip
Davis is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus
Congressional Black Caucus
The Congressional Black Caucus is an organization representing the black members of the United States Congress. Membership is exclusive to blacks, and its chair in the 112th Congress is Representative Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri.-Aims:...
, Progressive Caucus
Progressive caucus
The term Progressive caucus is used to describe American left-liberal caucuses within either the Democratic Party or the Democratic caucus in various legislatures:* Congressional Progressive Caucus* Arizona Progressive Democrats...
, and Democratic Socialists of America
Democratic Socialists of America
Democratic Socialists of America is a social-democratic organization in the United States and the U.S. affiliate of the Socialist International, an international federation of social-democratic,democratic socialist and labor political parties and organizations.DSA was formed in 1982 by a merger of...
.
Davis was one of 31 U.S. Representatives who voted against counting the electoral votes from Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
in the 2004 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
.
Political campaigns
On December 6, 1995, Davis announced his candidacy for the 7th Congressional District, adding his name to the already announced Democratic candidates including Alderman Percy Z. Giles, Bobbie L. SteeleBobbie L. Steele
Bobbie L. Steele was sworn in as the 32nd president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners on August 1, 2006. She had been commissioner for the 2nd District of Cook County, Illinois for 20 years and served out the remainder of the current presidential term through December 4, 2006.-Early...
, Ed Smith
Edward Smith (Illinois Democratic politician)
Edward M. Smith is an American labor leader from Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois, who now resides in Olive Branch, Illinois.- Labor :Edward M. Smith has served as Midwest Regional Manager of the Laborers' International Union of North America since 1994. He was elected a Vice President of the...
, and Dorothy Tillman
Dorothy Tillman
Dorothy J. Tillman is a former Chicago alderman in the 3rd Ward . A member of the Democratic Party, she represented part of the city's South Side in the Chicago City Council. As an Alderman, Tillman was a strong advocate of reparations for slavery. In April 2007, she was defeated in a runoff...
. Five other Democratic candidates entered the race later: S. Mendenhall, Joan Sullivan, G. Winbush, Anthony Travis, and Joan Powell making it the largest field of candidates for U.S. Congress in Illinois for 1996. Davis resided a block outside the 7th Congressional District, but he was familiar in the district, and actual residency was not required Davis ran on the progressive Democratic platform popular in the district. He was pro-choice
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
and supported gay rights, the ERA
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution. The ERA was originally written by Alice Paul and, in 1923, it was introduced in the Congress for the first time...
, single-payer health care
Single-payer health care
Single-payer health care is medical care funded from a single insurance pool, run by the state. Under a single-payer system, universal health care for an entire population can be financed from a pool to which many parties employees, employers, and the state have contributed...
, and some federal support for child nutrition and care.
In early January 1996, the FBI revealed its Operation Silver Shovel
Operation Silver Shovel
Operation Silver Shovel was a major United States Federal Bureau of Investigation probe into political corruption in Chicago during the 1990s...
, which included an investigation into Alderman Percy Z. Giles. What Operation Silver Shovel may have done to undermine Giles's chances for election are unclear as he was already lagging with a mere 3% among likely Democratic primary voters in a mid-December poll compared to Davis’ 33%, Smith’s 8%, Tillman’s 7%, and Steele’s 6%. However, up until Operation Silver Shovel Giles did have Mayor Richard M. Daley
Richard M. Daley
Richard Michael Daley is a United States politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party, and former Mayor of Chicago, Illinois. He was elected mayor in 1989 and reelected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. He was the longest serving Chicago mayor, surpassing the tenure of his...
's support and that of other well-known area figures—some of whom continued their support during the controversy.
On March 10, 1995, during a radio debate hosted by WMAQ-AM, Tillman and Smith called for Davis to reject the endorsement of former alderman candidate Wallace "Gator" Bradley, spokesman for convicted Gangster Disciples
Gangster Disciples
The Black Gangster Disciple Nation is a gang which was formed on the South-side of Chicago in the late 1960s, by David Barksdale, leader of the Black Disciples, and Larry Hoover, leader of the Supreme Gangsters. The two groups united to form the Black Gangster Disciple Nation .The gang has made...
leader Larry Hoover
Larry Hoover
Larry Hoover was the leader of the Chicago street gang called Gangster Disciples.-Early life:...
. "Why do you keep badgering me with this question? You got a problem with something? You're not going to catch me going around saying I hate Gator Bradley….I'm not in the business of disavowing individuals. The good Lord said he hated sin, but not sinners. I'm not hating Gator Bradley. I disagree with those who commit crime and those who'd use drugs, but you won't catch me going around saying that I hate Gator Bradley."
Davis never rejected Bradley’s endorsement during the campaign and after winning the primary claimed that Bradley’s endorsement played no role in the outcome, though Bradley asserted the contrary.
During the campaign, Tillman highlighted comments Davis made in an August 1970 issue of Ebony: “(T)he white female often gives the black man certain kinds of recognition that the black woman oftentimes does not give him." The Davis campaign countered that Davis was speaking as a psychologist
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
in his role as a training director at a health center.
Although Davis was fully promoted as a Democratic candidate, he also ran as a New Party candidate. Supporting this was New Party’s celebration of him as the “first New Party member elected to the U.S. Congress.” Although the State of Illinois did not permit fusion voting, New Party advocated fusion voting as a means to promote their party and party agenda and to particularly project New Party ideology into the mainstream Democratic Party. Candidates were referred to as “N[ew]P[arty] Democrats” and were required to sign a contract mandating a “visible and active relationship” with New Party. During this timeframe, New Party was experiencing substantial growth and included in its ranks a young Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
.
Davis also received the endorsement of the Chicago Democratic Socialists of America
Democratic Socialists of America
Democratic Socialists of America is a social-democratic organization in the United States and the U.S. affiliate of the Socialist International, an international federation of social-democratic,democratic socialist and labor political parties and organizations.DSA was formed in 1982 by a merger of...
(CDSA) of which he is a member and had a relationship pre-dating his congressional run. ACORN
Acorn
The acorn, or oak nut, is the nut of the oaks and their close relatives . It usually contains a single seed , enclosed in a tough, leathery shell, and borne in a cup-shaped cupule. Acorns vary from 1–6 cm long and 0.8–4 cm broad...
, AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
, Sierra Club
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
, and International Brotherhood of Teamsters are included in other groups also endorsing Davis in his bid.
In the March 19 Democratic primaries, Davis received more votes than the two closest candidates — Tillman and Smith — combined. The first five announced candidates all received more than double the five late-entering candidates with none of the latter receiving more than 2,700 votes. In the November 5 general election, Davis won with over 82 percent of the votes cast over Republican Randy Borow and third-party candidates Chauncey L. Stroud (Independent), Toietta Dixon (Libertarian), and Charles A. Winter (Natural Law).
Other political interests
Davis expressed interest in being President Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's replacement in the U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, and Illinois Governor in late 2008 before his own major scandal erupted. In a December 31, 2008 article published on the website of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, Davis said that he turned down an offer from representatives of Blagojevich to appoint him to the Senate. Instead, Blagojevich appointed Roland W. Burris.
Moonies controversy
In 2004, Davis was met with national controversy when he crowned the Rev. Sun Myung MoonSun Myung Moon
Sun Myung Moon is the Korean founder and leader of the worldwide Unification Church. He is also the founder of many other organizations and projects...
in a religious ceremony at the Dirksen Senate Office Building honoring the controversial spiritual leader.[35][36] Moon declared himself the Messiah at the crowning ceremony, in which Davis appeared on the invitation as a sponsoring co-chair.[36] Davis wore white gloves and carried the crown on a pillow to crown Moon and his wife "the King and Queen of Peace."[37] Davis told Christian Challenge that Moon declaring himself the Messiah "was similar to a baseball team owner telling team members that 'we are the greatest team on earth'" prior to a baseball game. Davis said the peace awards were to "recognize people for promoting peace. Of course the highest recognition goes to the highest promoter and the highest promoter is Reverend Moon, so they come up with something higher than the certificates and plaques that other folks get."[36] Salon later said that Davis was the only member of Congress in attendance who took pride in the ceremony. They also reported that Davis has accepted money from fundraisers organized by Moon.[2] In 2003, Davis gave a speech on the House floor and praised Moon, along with Congressman Curt Weldon. Davis said, "Many of my colleagues will join me and the gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr. Weldon, co-chair, in giving tribute to some of the outstanding Americans from our districts. We are grateful to the founders of Ambassadors for Peace, the Reverend and Mrs. Sun Myung [Moon], for promoting the vision of world peace, and we commend them for their work."[2]
Personal life
Davis is a member of Alpha Phi AlphaAlpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
fraternity. Davis is notable for his support of the National Federation of the Blind
National Federation of the Blind
The National Federation of the Blind is an organization of blind people in the United States. It is the oldest and largest organization led by blind people in the United States...
. He has spoken at their conventions in 2004 and 2005.
External links
- U.S. Congressman Danny K. Davis official House site
- Danny K. Davis for U.S. Congress official campaign site
Interviews
- BuzzFlash Interview: Congressman Danny Davis April 2001