Jump to content

Richard A. Tonry: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Specified categories
 
(11 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown)
Line 19: Line 19:
|death_date = {{death date and age|2012|7|3|1935|6|25}}
|death_date = {{death date and age|2012|7|3|1935|6|25}}
|death_place = [[Lumberton, Mississippi]], U.S.
|death_place = [[Lumberton, Mississippi]], U.S.
|resting_place = St. Bernard Memorial Gardens in [[Chalmette, Louisiana|Chalmette]], Louisiana
|party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|education = [[Spring Hill College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Master of Arts|MA]])<br>[[Georgetown University]]<br>[[Loyola University New Orleans]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
|education = [[Spring Hill College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Master of Arts|MA]])<br>[[Georgetown University]]<br>[[Loyola University New Orleans]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
Line 25: Line 26:


==Education==
==Education==
He graduated in 1962 from [[Spring Hill College]] in [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]], [[Alabama]]. In 1967, he earned a law degree from [[Loyola University New Orleans College of Law]]. He practiced law in the New Orleans area for almost a decade before being elected to the [[Louisiana House of Representatives]] in the first-ever [[nonpartisan blanket primary]] held at the state level in the fall of 1975.
He graduated in 1962 from [[Spring Hill College]] in [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]], [[Alabama]]. In 1967, he earned a [[Juris Doctor]] degree from [[Loyola University New Orleans College of Law]]. He practiced law in the New Orleans area for almost a decade before being elected to the [[Louisiana House of Representatives]] in the first-ever [[nonpartisan blanket primary]] held at the state level in the fall of 1975.


==Politics==
==Politics==
He served a year (1976) in Louisiana House District 103. In the state House, he was an unabashed supporter of organized labor and was particularly close to Louisiana AFL-CIO leader [[Victor Bussie]]. Tonry led the push to kill a right-to-work bill in the 1976 legislative session, but those efforts failed and the bill became law without the signature of Governor [[Edwin W. Edwards]], like Tonry, a strong supporter of organized labor and close friend of Bussie. Thus Louisiana became the last Southern state to adopt a right-to-work bill.
He served a year (1976) in Louisiana House District 103. In the state House, he was an unabashed supporter of organized labor and was particularly close to Louisiana AFL-CIO leader [[Victor Bussie]]. Tonry led the push to kill a right-to-work bill in the 1976 legislative session, but those efforts failed and the bill became law without the signature of Governor [[Edwin W. Edwards]], who, like Tonry, was a strong supporter of organized labor and close friend of Bussie's. Thus, Louisiana became the last Southern state to adopt a right-to-work bill.


Shortly after taking his state House seat, Tonry declared his candidacy for the [[United States Congress]] from [[Louisiana's 1st congressional district]] after the 36-year Democratic incumbent, [[Felix Edward Hébert]], announced his retirement. In the Democratic primary, Tonry upset New Orleans City Councilman James Moreau, then narrowly defeated [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] [[Bob Livingston]], an assistant state attorney general, in the general election. It was one of the last congressional elections held before Louisiana adopted its [[nonpartisan blanket primary]] for Congressional elections in 1978.<ref name=Tonry />
Shortly after taking his state House seat, Tonry declared his candidacy for the [[United States Congress]] from [[Louisiana's 1st congressional district]] after the 36-year Democratic incumbent, [[Felix Edward Hébert|F. Edward Hébert]], announced his retirement. In the Democratic primary, Tonry upset New Orleans City Councilman James Moreau, then narrowly defeated [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] [[Bob Livingston]], an assistant state attorney general, in the general election. It was one of the last congressional elections held before Louisiana adopted its [[nonpartisan blanket primary]] for such elections in 1978.<ref name=Tonry />


===Allegations===
===Allegations and conviction ===
Tonry was investigated by the [[U.S. Attorney]] [[Gerald J. Gallinghouse]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=110&dat=19771004&id=qB8vAAAAIBAJ&sjid=y9wFAAAAIBAJ&pg=7289,404315 |title=Bill Crider, "This U.S. Attorney defies patronage system - He stays", October 4, 1977|access-date=June 29, 2013}}</ref> was accused of allowing subordinates to steal votes by stuffing ballot boxes in [[St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana|St. Bernard Parish]], a suburb of New Orleans.<ref>{{cite news | work = [[The New York Times]] | date = Feb 12, 1977 | title = 8 Louisiana Officials Plead Guilty To Vote Fraud in Congress Race | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1977/02/12/archives/8-louisiana-officials-plead-guilty-to-vote-fraud-in-congress-race.html}}</ref>
Tonry was investigated by [[U.S. Attorney]] Gerald J. Gallinghouse <ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=110&dat=19771004&id=qB8vAAAAIBAJ&sjid=y9wFAAAAIBAJ&pg=7289,404315 |title=Bill Crider, "This U.S. Attorney defies patronage system - He stays", October 4, 1977|access-date=June 29, 2013}}</ref> on charges of allowing subordinates to steal votes by stuffing ballot boxes in [[St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana|St. Bernard Parish]], a suburb of New Orleans.<ref>{{cite news | work = [[The New York Times]] | date = Feb 12, 1977 | title = 8 Louisiana Officials Plead Guilty To Vote Fraud in Congress Race | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1977/02/12/archives/8-louisiana-officials-plead-guilty-to-vote-fraud-in-congress-race.html}}</ref> He was also charged with receiving illegal campaign funds beyond the $1,000 federal limit then imposed per contribution.


He was charged with receiving illegal campaign funds beyond the $1,000 federal limit then imposed per contribution. These allegation ultimately led to his resignation, his guilty pleas of campaign finance irregularities, and a six-months prison sentence at the [[Federal Prison Camp, Montgomery|Federal Prison Camp]] in [[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]], [[Alabama]].<ref name=Tonry/>
These allegations ultimately led to his resignation, his guilty pleas of campaign-finance irregularities, and a six-month prison sentence at the [[Federal Prison Camp, Montgomery|Federal Prison Camp]] in [[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]], [[Alabama]].<ref name=Tonry/>


===Resignation===
===Resignation===
Line 74: Line 75:
[[Category:2012 deaths]]
[[Category:2012 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century American lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century American politicians]]
[[Category:American politicians convicted of federal public corruption crimes]]
[[Category:American politicians convicted of federal public corruption crimes]]
[[Category:Burials in Louisiana]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana]]
[[Category:Lawyers from New Orleans]]
[[Category:Lawyers from New Orleans]]
Line 85: Line 84:
[[Category:Politicians from New Orleans]]
[[Category:Politicians from New Orleans]]
[[Category:Spring Hill College alumni]]
[[Category:Spring Hill College alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Louisiana State Legislature]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]

Latest revision as of 03:46, 17 December 2024

Richard A. Tonry
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Louisiana's 1st district
In office
January 3, 1977 – May 4, 1977
Preceded byF. Edward Hébert
Succeeded byBob Livingston
Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from the 103rd district
In office
January 1976 – December 1976
Preceded byElmer R. Tapper
Succeeded byEdward Bopp
Personal details
Born
Richard Alvin Tonry

(1935-06-25)June 25, 1935
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedJuly 3, 2012(2012-07-03) (aged 77)
Lumberton, Mississippi, U.S.
Resting placeSt. Bernard Memorial Gardens in Chalmette, Louisiana
Political partyDemocratic
EducationSpring Hill College (BA, MA)
Georgetown University
Loyola University New Orleans (JD)

Richard Alvin Tonry (June 25, 1935 – July 3, 2012) was an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in the United States House of Representatives for Louisiana's 1st congressional district for a partial term in 1977.

Education

[edit]

He graduated in 1962 from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. In 1967, he earned a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. He practiced law in the New Orleans area for almost a decade before being elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in the first-ever nonpartisan blanket primary held at the state level in the fall of 1975.

Politics

[edit]

He served a year (1976) in Louisiana House District 103. In the state House, he was an unabashed supporter of organized labor and was particularly close to Louisiana AFL-CIO leader Victor Bussie. Tonry led the push to kill a right-to-work bill in the 1976 legislative session, but those efforts failed and the bill became law without the signature of Governor Edwin W. Edwards, who, like Tonry, was a strong supporter of organized labor and close friend of Bussie's. Thus, Louisiana became the last Southern state to adopt a right-to-work bill.

Shortly after taking his state House seat, Tonry declared his candidacy for the United States Congress from Louisiana's 1st congressional district after the 36-year Democratic incumbent, F. Edward Hébert, announced his retirement. In the Democratic primary, Tonry upset New Orleans City Councilman James Moreau, then narrowly defeated Republican Bob Livingston, an assistant state attorney general, in the general election. It was one of the last congressional elections held before Louisiana adopted its nonpartisan blanket primary for such elections in 1978.[1]

Allegations and conviction

[edit]

Tonry was investigated by U.S. Attorney Gerald J. Gallinghouse [2] on charges of allowing subordinates to steal votes by stuffing ballot boxes in St. Bernard Parish, a suburb of New Orleans.[3] He was also charged with receiving illegal campaign funds beyond the $1,000 federal limit then imposed per contribution.

These allegations ultimately led to his resignation, his guilty pleas of campaign-finance irregularities, and a six-month prison sentence at the Federal Prison Camp in Montgomery, Alabama.[1]

Resignation

[edit]

When Tonry resigned from Congress after four months in the office, a special election was called in August 1977. Tonry ran in the Democratic primary for that race, but lost to one of his former colleagues in the state legislature, Ron Faucheux, who was defeated by Livingston in the special election. This seat has remained in Republican hands since that time[1] and is currently held by Steve Scalise after formerly being held by David Vitter and Bobby Jindal.

In 1983, Tonry tried to return to the Louisiana House in District 103, but finished in fourth (dead last) in the nonpartisan blanket primary with 2,693 votes (17.8 percent). Victory went to the Republican Edward Ripoll, who defeated incumbent Edward S. Bopp in a runoff election. Bopp had succeeded Tonry in the state House in 1977.[4]

Death

[edit]

Tonry died of natural causes in 2012 at the age of 77 and is interred at St. Bernard Memorial Gardens in Chalmette, Louisiana.[1]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Cahn, Emily (July 6, 2012). "Former Rep. Richard Tonry of Louisiana Dead at 77". Roll Call. Archived from the original on August 26, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  2. ^ "Bill Crider, "This U.S. Attorney defies patronage system - He stays", October 4, 1977". Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  3. ^ "8 Louisiana Officials Plead Guilty To Vote Fraud in Congress Race". The New York Times. Feb 12, 1977.
  4. ^ Alexander-Bloch, Benjamin (July 6, 2012). "Former U.S. Rep. Richard "Rick" A. Tonry dies at 77 years old". The Times-Picayune. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
[edit]
Louisiana House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from the 103rd congressional district
1976 		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Louisiana's 1st congressional district
1977 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Richard_A._Tonry&oldid=1263523717"