Ira J. McDonald
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Ira J. McDonald (1895–1964) was a Downey, California, attorney and City Council member in Los Angeles, California, between 1941 and 1945.


Biography

McDonald was born May 1, 1895, in
Craig, Nebraska Craig is a village in Burt County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 199 at the 2010 census. History During the 19th century the land near Craig was inhabited by the Pawnee, Otoe-Missouria, and Omaha people. American Indian inhabitan ...
, the son of John S. McDonald and Amanda B. Hildreth, both of
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. 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 years. He was also the secretary of a
building and loan association A savings and loan association (S&L), or thrift institution, is a financial institution that specializes in accepting savings deposits and making mortgage and other loans. The terms "S&L" or "thrift" are mainly used in the United States; simi ...
for four years. "In 1917 he went overseas with the
6th Marines The 6th Marine Regiment (also referred to as "6th Marines") is an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The regiment falls under the command of the 2nd Marine Division of th ...
and served with that outfit in all its major engagements." He received his
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 confer a license themselves. A legal license is gra ...
from the
University of Nebraska A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, the ...
and was elected treasurer of his home town, Havelock, Nebraska. He moved to California and began practicing there in 1928 or 1929.Los Angeles Public Library reference file
/ref> He died December 6, 1964, leaving his wife, Mary, of 7821 Springfield Street, Downey; and a son, Paul."Funeral Set Thursday for Ira J. McDonald," ''Los Angeles Times,'' December 9, 1964, page 27
/ref>


Public service


Elections

''See also List of Los Angeles municipal election returns, 1941–45'' In 1941
Los Angeles City Council District 5 Los Angeles City Council District 5 is one of the 15 districts of the Los Angeles City Council. District 5 represents Los Angeles communities in the Westside, central-eastern Santa Monica Mountains, and central-southern San Fernando Valley. Katy ...
was bounded on the north by
Wilshire Boulevard Wilshire Boulevard is a prominent boulevard in the Los Angeles area of Southern California, extending from Ocean Avenue in the city of Santa Monica east to Grand Avenue in the Financial District of downtown Los Angeles. One of the principal ...
, on the east by
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or
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, on the south by Exposition Boulevard and on the west by Arlington,
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and minor streets. McDonald ran against incumbent 5th District City Councilman
Arthur E. Briggs Arthur Elbert Briggs (April 26, 1881 – July 25, 1969) was a teacher and law school dean who was a Los Angeles City Council member from 1939 to 1941 and the leader of the Ethical Society of Los Angeles in 1953. Biography Briggs was born on Ap ...
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 (August 13, 1887 – September 11, 1968) was an American lawyer, judge, and politician. He was the 35th mayor of Los Angeles, California, from September 26, 1938, until June 30, 1953. He was at the time the city's longest-serving ...
, first;
Clifford Clinton Clifford E. Clinton (August 3, 1900 – November 20, 1969) was a California restaurateur who founded Meals for Millions, one of two parent organizations of Freedom from Hunger, in 1946. In 1905, Clifford Clinton traveled to China (for the firs ...
, second, and
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, third. He also ran unsuccessfully for state
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in 1946 and for Municipal Judge, Office No. 1, in 1947. After he moved to
Downey, California Downey is a city located in Southeast Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is considered part of the Gateway Cities. The city is the birthplace of the Apollo space program. It is also the home of ...
, where he resumed the practice of law and became a board member in the
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, 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 (September 8, 1894 – November 24, 1978) 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 ...
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:
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."Councilmen Reach Punching Point in Pay Boost Dispute," December 10, 1942, page 1
/ref>
Politics, 1944. He accused Mayor
Fletcher Bowron Fletcher Bowron (August 13, 1887 – September 11, 1968) was an American lawyer, judge, and politician. He was the 35th mayor of Los Angeles, California, from September 26, 1938, until June 30, 1953. He was at the time the city's longest-serving ...
'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 Walter Baumgartner (May 17, 1890 - November 9, 1973) was a civil engineer who was a member of the Los Angeles, California, City Council from 1933 to 1945. Biography Baumgartner was born on May 17, 1890, on a ranch in Los Angeles located at w ...
opposed issuance of $12.5 million in bonds to improve
Los Angeles Airport Los Angeles International Airport , commonly referred to as LAX (with each letter pronounced individually), is the primary international airport serving Los Angeles, California and its surrounding metropolitan area. LAX is located in the ...
on the grounds that "airlines, like railroads, should pay for their terminals instead of having a terminal financed by the taxpayers.""Airport Authorized," ''Los Angeles Times,'' March 13, 1945, page 4
/ref>


References

Access to the ''Los Angeles Times'' links may require the use of a library card. ---- {{DEFAULTSORT:Mcdonald, Ira J. 1895 births 1964 deaths Los Angeles City Council members People from Downey, California 20th-century American politicians