Gene McNary
Encyclopedia
Gene McNary is an American
politician
. Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service
, Executive Director of the Missouri Gaming Commission
, and County Executive of St. Louis County. He has also been a Republican
candidate for Governor and Senator
in Missouri.
. His Father was and oil jobber
and his mother worked with him. McNary earned both his bachelor's and law degrees from Indiana University
. After law school McNary decided to move to St. Louis
, where he joined the Lashly, Lashly & Miller law firm.
. He won the election and then went on to win reelection. He then ran for County Executive of St. Louis County and won 4 terms in that position. As county executive, he helped create a regional arts commission, merge the county and city hospitals into one regional facility, and create a regional convention and visitors bureau. At the time he also served as the chairman of the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council. In 1980 he was the Republican nominee for Senator. He narrowly lost to incumbent Senator Thomas Eagleton
with a 52.0% to a 47.2% margin. In 1984, McNary lost the Republican primary for Governor to Attorney General John Ashcroft
. In 1989, McNary was appointed Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service
by President George H.W. Bush. The Immigration and Naturalization Service had a budget of $2 million and 18,000 employees. He stayed in that position for over 3 years.
in the United States House of Representatives
. The seat was open because the incumbent, Jim Talent
, decided to run for governor. He narrowly lost the Republican primary to Todd Akin
by about 50 votes. In 2004, McNary ran to become St. Louis County Executive, a position vacated by Buzz Westfall
's death. He lost to Charlie Dooley
with a margin of 45.8% to 52.9%. In 2006, Governor Matt Blunt
appointed McNary the Executive Director of the Missouri Gaming Commission
. McNary was in that position while St. Louis got two new casinos and while the $500 loss limit was ended. McNary left his job at the Missouri Gaming Commission when two new democratic appointees made it possible for him to be removed from his post. He most recently decided to run for assessor of St. Louis County. The Republican Central Committee of St. Louis County chose L.K. "Chip" Wood as the Republican nominee for the position, in a 23-21 vote. McNary has five children and nine grandchildren. One of his children is Missouri State Rep.
Cole McNary
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service
Immigration and Naturalization Service
The United States Immigration and Naturalization Service , now referred to as Legacy INS, ceased to exist under that name on March 1, 2003, when most of its functions were transferred from the Department of Justice to three new components within the newly created Department of Homeland Security, as...
, Executive Director of the Missouri Gaming Commission
Missouri Gaming Commission
The Missouri Gaming Commission is a state agency that regulates riverboat casinos and charitable bingo in Missouri. It is headquartered in Jefferson City.The Gaming Commission was established in 1993 to regulate excursion gambling boats...
, and County Executive of St. Louis County. He has also been a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate for Governor and Senator
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...
in Missouri.
Early life, education, and career
Gene McNary was born September 14, 1935 in Muncie, IndianaMuncie, Indiana
Muncie is a city in Center Township, Delaware County in east central Indiana, best known as the home of Ball State University and the birthplace of the Ball Corporation. It is the principal city of the Muncie, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 118,769...
. His Father was and oil jobber
Jobber (fuel)
A jobber, or petroleum marketer, is a person or company that purchases quantities of refined fuel from refining companies , either for sale to retailers , or to sell directly to the users of those products...
and his mother worked with him. McNary earned both his bachelor's and law degrees from Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
. After law school McNary decided to move to St. Louis
St. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area wherein the independent City of St. Louis and its suburbs in St. Louis County, as well as the surrounding counties in both Missouri and Illinois all...
, where he joined the Lashly, Lashly & Miller law firm.
Early political career
In 1963, McNary began his career as a public servant by becoming assistant public defender. In 1966, he decided to run for Prosecuting Attorney of St. Louis CountyProsecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
. He won the election and then went on to win reelection. He then ran for County Executive of St. Louis County and won 4 terms in that position. As county executive, he helped create a regional arts commission, merge the county and city hospitals into one regional facility, and create a regional convention and visitors bureau. At the time he also served as the chairman of the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council. In 1980 he was the Republican nominee for Senator. He narrowly lost to incumbent Senator Thomas Eagleton
Thomas Eagleton
Thomas Francis Eagleton was a United States Senator from Missouri, serving from 1968–1987. He is best remembered for briefly being the Democratic vice presidential nominee under George McGovern in 1972...
with a 52.0% to a 47.2% margin. In 1984, McNary lost the Republican primary for Governor to Attorney General John Ashcroft
John Ashcroft
John David Ashcroft is a United States politician who served as the 79th United States Attorney General, from 2001 until 2005, appointed by President George W. Bush. Ashcroft previously served as the 50th Governor of Missouri and a U.S...
. In 1989, McNary was appointed Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service
Immigration and Naturalization Service
The United States Immigration and Naturalization Service , now referred to as Legacy INS, ceased to exist under that name on March 1, 2003, when most of its functions were transferred from the Department of Justice to three new components within the newly created Department of Homeland Security, as...
by President George H.W. Bush. The Immigration and Naturalization Service had a budget of $2 million and 18,000 employees. He stayed in that position for over 3 years.
Private practice and later political career
In 1994, McNary went back to St. Louis and joined the Danna law firm. In 1998, he formed a law firm, McNary, Morris & Smalley, that specialized in immigration. While in private practice, he decided to run to represent Missouri's 2nd congressional districtMissouri's 2nd congressional district
Missouri's second congressional district is in the eastern portion of the state, primarily consisting of the suburbs north and west of St. Louis.Its current representative is Republican Todd Akin of Town and Country.-List of representatives:...
in the United States House of Representatives
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...
. The seat was open because the incumbent, Jim Talent
Jim Talent
James Matthes "Jim" Talent is an American politician and former senator from Missouri. He is a Republican and resided in the St. Louis area while serving in elected office. He identifies with the conservative wing of the Republican party, being particularly outspoken on judicial appointments,...
, decided to run for governor. He narrowly lost the Republican primary to Todd Akin
Todd Akin
William Todd Akin is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party.The district includes the western St. Louis suburbs of Ballwin, Kirkwood, Chesterfield, Wildwood, Town and Country, and Des Peres located along Interstate 270 in West County and the...
by about 50 votes. In 2004, McNary ran to become St. Louis County Executive, a position vacated by Buzz Westfall
Buzz Westfall
George "Buzz" Westfall was an American lawyer and politician. He served in the elected offices of Prosecuting Attorney and County Executive of St. Louis County, Missouri. He died, while in office, of staph. aureous meningitis. He was a Democrat.Westfall grew up in public housing in St. Louis....
's death. He lost to Charlie Dooley
Charlie Dooley
Charlie A. Dooley is an American politician. He currently serves as the County Executive of St. Louis County, Missouri. Dooley is the first African American to hold this position. He is a Democrat.- Early life and career :...
with a margin of 45.8% to 52.9%. In 2006, Governor Matt Blunt
Matt Blunt
Matthew Roy Blunt served as the 54th Governor of Missouri from 2005 to 2009. Before his election as governor, Blunt served ten years in the United States Navy, was elected to serve in the Missouri General Assembly in 1998 and as Missouri's Secretary of State in 2000.A Republican, Blunt was elected...
appointed McNary the Executive Director of the Missouri Gaming Commission
Missouri Gaming Commission
The Missouri Gaming Commission is a state agency that regulates riverboat casinos and charitable bingo in Missouri. It is headquartered in Jefferson City.The Gaming Commission was established in 1993 to regulate excursion gambling boats...
. McNary was in that position while St. Louis got two new casinos and while the $500 loss limit was ended. McNary left his job at the Missouri Gaming Commission when two new democratic appointees made it possible for him to be removed from his post. He most recently decided to run for assessor of St. Louis County. The Republican Central Committee of St. Louis County chose L.K. "Chip" Wood as the Republican nominee for the position, in a 23-21 vote. McNary has five children and nine grandchildren. One of his children is Missouri State Rep.
Missouri House of Representatives
The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...
Cole McNary
Cole McNary
Cole McNary is an American high school teacher and a Republican member of the Missouri House of Representatives. He has represented the 86th district, which includes Chesterfield, since 2009.-Early life and career:...
.