Ira J. McDonald
Encyclopedia
Ira J. McDonald was a Downey, California, attorney and City Council member in Los Angeles, California, between 1941 and 1945.
, the son of John S. McDonald and Amanda B. Hildreth, both of Jamestown, Tennessee
. He was married to Helen M. Warga of Havelock, Nebraska, on March 28, 1923. They had one son, Paul Ira McDonald. While in Los Angeles they lived at 2063 South Oxford Street, east of South Western Avenue
. He was a Presbyterian, a Democrat and a Mason.
McDonald went to Nebraska State Teachers College and taught school for 3-1/2 years. He was also the secretary of a building and loan association for four years. "In 1917 he went overseas with the 6th Marines and served with that outfit in all its major engagements." He received his law degree
from the University of Nebraska and was elected treasurer of his home town, Havelock, Nebraska. He moved to California and began practicing there in 1928 or 1929.
He died December 6, 1964, leaving his wife, Mary, of 7821 Springfield Street, Downey; and a son, Paul.
In 1941 Los Angeles City Council District 5 was bounded on the north by Wilshire Boulevard
, on the east by Western or Vermont
, on the south by Exposition Boulevard and on the west by Arlington, Crenshaw and minor streets.
McDonald ran against incumbent 5th District City Councilman Arthur E. Briggs
in 1941 and triumphed in the final election. Two years later, he easily won in the primary. In 1945 he left his council job and ran for mayor; he came in fourth in the primary vote, after Fletcher Bowron
, first; Clifford Clinton
, second, and Roger Jessup, third.
He also ran unsuccessfully for state controller
in 1946 and for Municipal Judge, Office No. 1, in 1947.
After he moved to Downey, California
, where he resumed the practice of law and became a board member in the Chamber of Commerce
, he ran for the City Council there in 1954.
Reward, 1941. Only he and fellow Councilman
Charles A. Allen voted for a motion granting a citizen, Warren J. Hall, a reward of $25 for the arrest and conviction of another man who turned in a false fire alarm. The other council members thought it would set a bad precedent and turned it down.
Harby, 1941. After much debate, the council adopted a motion offered by McDonald that effectively put an "official business" stamp on an unauthorized trip that Councilman Harold Harby
had taken in a city automobile to Montana. Harby was later indicted and removed from office for the misadventure.
Slapping, 1942. McDonald struck fellow Councilman Carl C. Rasmussen
in the face over a dispute about raising city wages. They shook hands later in the same December 1942 meeting, but McDonald nevertheless issued a press statement saying that:
Politics, 1944. He accused Mayor Fletcher Bowron
's administration of developing a "political slush fund" in finances for the city's Civilian Defense Council.
Airport, 1945. He and Councilman John W. Baumgartner
opposed issuance of $12.5 million in bonds to improve Los Angeles Airport on the grounds that "airlines, like railroads, should pay for their terminals instead of having a terminal financed by the taxpayers."
Biography
McDonald was born May 1, 1895, in Craig, NebraskaCraig, Nebraska
Craig is a village in Burt County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 199 at the 2010 census. The village was established as a water-station on the Chicago, St...
, the son of John S. McDonald and Amanda B. Hildreth, both of Jamestown, Tennessee
Jamestown, Tennessee
Jamestown is a city in Fentress County, Tennessee, United States. It is the county seat of Fentress County. The city population was 1,839 at the 2000 census. The 2008 estimated population is about 2,300.-History:...
. He was married to Helen M. Warga of Havelock, Nebraska, on March 28, 1923. They had one son, Paul Ira McDonald. While in Los Angeles they lived at 2063 South Oxford Street, east of South Western Avenue
Western Avenue
Western Avenue, some 10 miles in length, is one of the major roads leading out of London, England. It is part of the A40, leaving the city in a north-westerly direction...
. He was a Presbyterian, a Democrat and a Mason.
McDonald went to Nebraska State Teachers College and taught school for 3-1/2 years. He was also the secretary of a building and loan association for four years. "In 1917 he went overseas with the 6th Marines and served with that outfit in all its major engagements." He received his law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
from the University of Nebraska and was elected treasurer of his home town, Havelock, Nebraska. He moved to California and began practicing there in 1928 or 1929.
He died December 6, 1964, leaving his wife, Mary, of 7821 Springfield Street, Downey; and a son, Paul.
Elections
See also List of Los Angeles municipal election returns, 1941–45In 1941 Los Angeles City Council District 5 was bounded on the north by Wilshire Boulevard
Wilshire Boulevard
Wilshire Boulevard is one of the principal east-west arterial roads in Los Angeles, California, United States. It was named for Henry Gaylord Wilshire , an Ohio native who made and lost fortunes in real estate, farming, and gold mining. Henry Wilshire initiated what was to become Wilshire...
, on the east by Western or Vermont
Vermont Avenue
Vermont Avenue is one of the longest running north/south streets in Los Angeles, California with a length of about . Located just west of the Harbor Freeway for the major portion south of Downtown Los Angeles, it starts in Griffith Park at the Greek Theatre in the Los Feliz neighborhood as a...
, on the south by Exposition Boulevard and on the west by Arlington, Crenshaw and minor streets.
McDonald ran against incumbent 5th District City Councilman Arthur E. Briggs
Arthur E. Briggs
Dr. Arthur Elbert Briggs was a teacher and law school dean who was a Los Angeles, California, City Council member from 1939 to 1941 and the leader of the Ethical Society of Los Angeles in 1953.-Biography:...
in 1941 and triumphed in the final election. Two years later, he easily won in the primary. In 1945 he left his council job and ran for mayor; he came in fourth in the primary vote, after Fletcher Bowron
Fletcher Bowron
Fletcher Bowron was the 35th Mayor of Los Angeles, California from September 26, 1938 until June 30, 1953. Until Thomas Bradley passed his length of service during the 1980s, Bowron held the distinction of having the longest tenure in that position in city history.Bowron was born in Poway,...
, first; Clifford Clinton
Clifford Clinton
Clifford E. Clinton was a Californian restaurateur who founded Meals for Millions, one of two parent organizations of Freedom from Hunger, in 1946....
, second, and Roger Jessup, third.
He also ran unsuccessfully for state controller
California State Controller
The State Controller is the Chief Financial Officer of the State of California in the United States. The post has broader responsibilities and authority than the California State Treasurer...
in 1946 and for Municipal Judge, Office No. 1, in 1947.
After he moved to Downey, California
Downey, California
Downey is a city located in southeast Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city is best known as the birthplace of the Apollo space program, and is the city where folk singer Karen Carpenter lived and died...
, where he resumed the practice of law and became a board member in the Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
, he ran for the City Council there in 1954.
Los Angeles City Council
As a City Council member, McDonald took these positions:Reward, 1941. Only he and fellow Councilman
Charles A. Allen voted for a motion granting a citizen, Warren J. Hall, a reward of $25 for the arrest and conviction of another man who turned in a false fire alarm. The other council members thought it would set a bad precedent and turned it down.
Harby, 1941. After much debate, the council adopted a motion offered by McDonald that effectively put an "official business" stamp on an unauthorized trip that Councilman Harold Harby
Harold Harby
Not to be confused with Harold A. Henry, Los Angeles City Council member 1945–66.Harold Harby was elected to the Los Angeles, California, City Council in 1939, but he had to leave office in 1942 when he was convicted of using a city car for a trip out of the state. He was reelected in 1943 and...
had taken in a city automobile to Montana. Harby was later indicted and removed from office for the misadventure.
Slapping, 1942. McDonald struck fellow Councilman Carl C. Rasmussen
Carl C. Rasmussen
Carl Christian Rasmussen was a Lutheran minister who was also a member of the Los Angeles, California, City Council between 1939 and 1947.-Biography:...
in the face over a dispute about raising city wages. They shook hands later in the same December 1942 meeting, but McDonald nevertheless issued a press statement saying that:
Councilman Rasmussen is well known for bringing personalities into an argument and making insulting remarks. A few days ago he called me a vile and profane name. Today he again endeavored to make insulting remarks to me. I thought it time to show my disapproval and took direct action which any red-blooded man would do.
Politics, 1944. He accused Mayor Fletcher Bowron
Fletcher Bowron
Fletcher Bowron was the 35th Mayor of Los Angeles, California from September 26, 1938 until June 30, 1953. Until Thomas Bradley passed his length of service during the 1980s, Bowron held the distinction of having the longest tenure in that position in city history.Bowron was born in Poway,...
's administration of developing a "political slush fund" in finances for the city's Civilian Defense Council.
Airport, 1945. He and Councilman John W. Baumgartner
John W. Baumgartner
John Walter Baumgartner was a civil engineer who was a member of the Los Angeles, California, City Council from 1933 to 1945.-Biography:...
opposed issuance of $12.5 million in bonds to improve Los Angeles Airport on the grounds that "airlines, like railroads, should pay for their terminals instead of having a terminal financed by the taxpayers."