Patrick D. McGee
Encyclopedia
Patrick D. McGee was a Republican member of the California State Assembly from 1950 to 1957 and from 1966 until his death in 1970. He was a Los Angeles City Council member from 1957 to 1961, when he opposed the city's agreement to bring the Dodgers baseball team to a new stadium in Chavez Ravine.
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. as a child. He attended Notre Dame University until he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force
in 1940 and later the U.S. Navy during World War II. He received a Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
for bravery. After the war, he earned a degree at Harvard Law School
. He next became a research attorney with the District Court of Appeal
in Los Angeles.
McGee, who was divorced, had a son, Thomas D'Arcy McGee. He was a golfer and a chess player.
He died in San Francisco on May 27, 1970; he had cancer of the spine. Rosary was recited and requiem mass celebrated at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Reseda.
McGee gave up his Assembly position to run in the conservatively oriented Los Angeles City Council District 3 in the West San Fernando Valley
, which included Woodland Hills
, Encino, Tarzana, Northridge
, Reseda
and Canoga Park. He won an easy victory in the 1957 primary for a four-year term.
In 1961, however, he did not campaign for reelection but instead ran for mayor; he came in third after Norris Poulson
and Sam Yorty, who then met in a runoff election.
" for Southern California.
and Southern California
over water rights. He said he would accept no salary from the state. Nevertheless, Attorney-General Jerry Brown
ruled
that McGee's stand presented "a distinct conflict of interests" but that only the Assembly could eject McGee. City Controller Dan O. Hoye said he would refuse to give McGee his check for July 1957 because of the situation. On August 1 McGee got neither his pay of $1,000 a month from the city nor his $500-a-month salary from the state because he "presumably" was one of 119 state employees who that month received pay envelopes "mailed out by mistake with nothing in them." McGee resigned from the Assembly near the end of the month.
Dodgers, 1958. McGee was one of the three council members—Harold A. Henry
and John C. Holland
being the others—who voted in 1958 against a proposal to turn Chavez Ravine
over to the Brooklyn Dodgers for use as a baseball stadium. Calling the proposed pact with the Dodgers stupid, immoral and misleading, he claimed the contract:
Trampolines, 1960. He urged the city Health Department to study the health effects of the popular trampoline
centers then opening up in the city.
Boroughs, 1960. He urged the establishment of a borough system to provide more local representation for the San Fernando Valley
.
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Biography
McGee was born March 5, 1916, near Osceola, Ontario, Canada, and moved to Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. as a child. He attended Notre Dame University until he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
in 1940 and later the U.S. Navy during World War II. He received a Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
for bravery. After the war, he earned a degree at Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. He next became a research attorney with the District Court of Appeal
United States courts of appeals
The United States courts of appeals are the intermediate appellate courts of the United States federal court system...
in Los Angeles.
McGee, who was divorced, had a son, Thomas D'Arcy McGee. He was a golfer and a chess player.
He died in San Francisco on May 27, 1970; he had cancer of the spine. Rosary was recited and requiem mass celebrated at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Reseda.
State
McGee ran for the 64th Assembly District seat in election years 1950 through 1956 and won all four times. He sought the 38th District seat in the State Senate in 1962, but lost. He was reelected in the 64th Assembly District in 1966 and 1968,City
See also List of Los Angeles municipal election returns, 1957 and after.McGee gave up his Assembly position to run in the conservatively oriented Los Angeles City Council District 3 in the West San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
, which included Woodland Hills
Woodland Hills
Woodland Hills is the name of various communities in the United States, including:*Woodland Hills, Cleveland, a neighborhood on the east side of Cleveland, Ohio.* Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in Los Angeles, California...
, Encino, Tarzana, Northridge
Northridge
Northridge is the name of some places in the United States of America:*Northridge, Los Angeles, California, a community in California's San Fernando Valley** California State University, Northridge** The Northridge earthquake of 1994...
, Reseda
Reseda
Reseda may refer to:*Reseda , a plant genus also known as mignonette*1081 Reseda, a minor planet that orbits the Sun; named for the reseda plant genus*Reseda, Los Angeles, a suburb in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California...
and Canoga Park. He won an easy victory in the 1957 primary for a four-year term.
In 1961, however, he did not campaign for reelection but instead ran for mayor; he came in third after Norris Poulson
Norris Poulson
C. Norris Poulson served as the 36th Mayor of Los Angeles, California from 1953 to 1961, after having been a California State Assemblyman and then a member of the United States Congress for eight years...
and Sam Yorty, who then met in a runoff election.
State Assembly
As an Assembly member, McGee was active in a bid to obtain legislation to establish a rapid transit authority in the Los Angeles area and was also in "the thick of the fight to get Feather River waterCalifornia State Water Project
The California State Water Project, commonly known as the SWP , is the world's largest publicly built and operated water and power development and conveyance system. The SWP was designed and is operated by the California Department of Water Resources...
" for Southern California.
City Council
Conflict, 1957. McGee occasioned controversy when he announced that he would keep his State Assembly seat while serving as a city councilman because, he said, he could then work with fellow state legislators on a solution to a squabble between NorthernNorthern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
and Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
over water rights. He said he would accept no salary from the state. Nevertheless, Attorney-General Jerry Brown
Jerry Brown
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...
ruled
that McGee's stand presented "a distinct conflict of interests" but that only the Assembly could eject McGee. City Controller Dan O. Hoye said he would refuse to give McGee his check for July 1957 because of the situation. On August 1 McGee got neither his pay of $1,000 a month from the city nor his $500-a-month salary from the state because he "presumably" was one of 119 state employees who that month received pay envelopes "mailed out by mistake with nothing in them." McGee resigned from the Assembly near the end of the month.
Dodgers, 1958. McGee was one of the three council members—Harold A. Henry
Harold A. Henry
Not to be confused with Harold Harby, Los Angeles City Council member 1943–57.Harold A. Henry was a community newspaper publisher who was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 1945 and was its president for four terms from 1947 to 1962....
and John C. Holland
John C. Holland
John C. Holland was one of the longest-serving Los Angeles City Council members, for 24 years from 1943 to 1967, and was known for his losing fight against bringing the Los Angeles Dodgers to Chavez Ravine and for his reputation as a watchdog over the city treasury.-Biography:Holland was born...
being the others—who voted in 1958 against a proposal to turn Chavez Ravine
Chávez Ravine
Chavez Ravine is an area in Sulfir Canyon that is the current site of Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California.It was named after Julian Chavez, a Los Angeles Councilman in the 19th century.-History:...
over to the Brooklyn Dodgers for use as a baseball stadium. Calling the proposed pact with the Dodgers stupid, immoral and misleading, he claimed the contract:
- Did not provide for revenue for the city.
- Contained an "illegal and immoral" provision to divide any future oil revenues between the city and a trust fund to be spent for a Dodger youth program, which represented an agreement to "spend public money for private individuals."
- Failed to specify that if the land were not used for baseball if would revert to the city.
- Bound the city to spend up to $2 million to improve the land before it is turned over to the Dodgers.
- Was worded so the Dodgers could violate the agreement but still keep title to the land.
Trampolines, 1960. He urged the city Health Department to study the health effects of the popular trampoline
Trampoline
A trampoline is a device consisting of a piece of taut, strong fabric stretched over a steel frame using many coiled springs. People bounce on trampolines for recreational and competitive purposes....
centers then opening up in the city.
Boroughs, 1960. He urged the establishment of a borough system to provide more local representation for the San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
.
External links
- http://scocal.stanford.edu/opinion/re-mcgee-26358 In re McGee , 36 Cal.2d 592 [L. A. No. 21755. In Bank. Jan. 10, 1951.] In re Patrick D. McGee, Contesting Nomination to an Office. Eldon James Markwort, appellant, v. Patrick D. McGee, respondent.
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