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
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and served with that outfit in all its major engagements." He received his law degree 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, ...
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
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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
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, 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, 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 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 fi ...
, 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.


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'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.""Airport Authorized," ''Los Angeles Times,'' March 13, 1945, page 4
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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