J. Eugene McAteer

J. Eugene McAteer
Member of the California Senate
from the 9th district
In office
January 2, 1967 – May 26, 1967
Preceded byJohn C. Begovich
Succeeded byMilton Marks
Member of the California Senate
from the 14th district
In office
January 5, 1959 – January 2, 1967
Preceded byRobert I. McCarthy
Succeeded byClark L. Bradley
Personal details
Born(1916-02-28)February 28, 1916
San Francisco, California, US
DiedMay 26, 1967(1967-05-26) (aged 51)
San Francisco, California, US
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseFrances
Children3
Military service
Branch/service United States Navy
Battles/warsWorld War II

J. Eugene McAteer (February 28, 1916 – May 26, 1967) was a San Francisco Supervisor (1953–1958) and a California State Senator (1959–1967).[1] He coauthored legislation to create the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission.[2] The commission's first director, Joseph Bodovitz, said, "What people tend to forget now is how unusual it was to have anybody of McAteer's stature interested in an environmental issue in the sixties."[3]

In 1967, McAteer, a Democrat, announced his intent to run for Mayor of San Francisco in the November election, opposing the Democratic incumbent John F. Shelley as well as perennial Republican candidate, Harold Dobbs. The campaign was cut short by McAteer's untimely death at age 51 in May of that year, while playing handball at the Olympic Club's downtown facility. Shortly thereafter, attorney Joseph L. Alioto, then working on the McAteer campaign, entered the race and subsequently won that fall's election, eventually serving two terms in the office of Mayor.

References

  1. ^ "Gene McAteer". JoinCalifornia: Election History for the State of California.
  2. ^ Carlsson, Chris. "Saving San Francisco Bay". FoundSF.
  3. ^ Chall, Malca (1986). The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, 1964-1973: Interviews with Joseph E. Bodovitz, Melvin B. Lane, and E. Clement Shute, Jr. Berkeley: Regional Oral History Office, Bancroft Library, University of California. p. 6.


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