Martin J. Dunn
{{Short description|American lawyer and politician (1956–2020)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Martin J. Dunn
| image = MartinJohnDunn 1991.png
| caption =
| office = Member of the Massachusetts Senate from the Hampden and Hampshire District
| term_start = January 1991
| term_end = 1993
| predecessor = John P. Burke
| successor = Shannon O'Brien
| office2 = 39th Mayor of Holyoke, Massachusetts
| term_start2 = 1987
| term_end2 = February 6, 1991
| predecessor2 = Ernest E. Proulx
| successor2 = Joseph M. McGivern
| birth_date = {{birth date|1956|3|9}}
| birth_place = Holyoke, Massachusetts
| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|9|11|1956|3|9}}
| death_place =
| party = Democratic
| spouse =
| relations = Maurice A. Donahue (uncle){{Cite news |date=September 12, 2020 |title=Former Holyoke Mayor and state Sen. Martin J. Dunn dead at 64 |work=MassLive |url=https://www.masslive.com/news/2020/09/former-holyoke-mayor-and-state-sen-martin-j-dunn-dead-at-64.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200921212013/https://www.masslive.com/news/2020/09/former-holyoke-mayor-and-state-sen-martin-j-dunn-dead-at-64.html |archive-date=September 21, 2020 |access-date=September 12, 2020 }}
| children =
| alma_mater = Columbia University
Suffolk University Law School
}}
Martin John Dunn (March 9, 1956{{snd}}September 11, 2020) was an American lawyer and politician who served as Mayor of Holyoke, Massachusetts and in the Massachusetts Senate. Dunn served two terms as the Mayor of Holyoke before successfully seeking election to one term in the Massachusetts Senate before retiring after one term.
Early life
Martin John Dunn was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts, on March 9, 1956. He graduated from high school in 1974, Mount Herman Academy in 1975, Columbia University in 1979,{{Cite web|title=Attorneys At Law - Holyoke, MA - Dunn & Wilson Attorneys At Law|url=https://www.dunn-wilson.com/attorneys|access-date=2021-09-26|website=www.dunn-wilson.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2022-01-18|title=Obituaries|url=https://www.college.columbia.edu/cct/issue/winter-2021%E2%80%9322/article/obituaries|access-date=2022-01-20|website=Columbia College Today|language=en}} and Suffolk University Law School in 1982.{{Cite news |date=November 4, 1987 |title=Public officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts |page=52 |work=The Berkshire Eagle |url=https://archive.org/stream/publicofficersof19911992bost#page/52/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200921211508/https://archive.org/stream/publicofficersof19911992bost%23page/52/mode/2up |archive-date=September 21, 2020}}
Career
=Local politics=
Dunn served as an alderman in Holyoke, Massachusetts for two terms. In 1987, Dunn ran in the Holyoke mayoral election where he placed first out of three candidates in the primary, ahead of twelve-year incumbent Mayor Ernest E. Proulx.{{Cite news |date=October 7, 1987 |title=Challenger attracts more votes |page=2 |work=North Adams Transcript |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59726894/north-adams-transcript/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200921205849/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59726894/north-adams-transcript/ |archive-date=September 21, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=September 21, 2020 }} During the campaign both Dunn and Proulx were investigated by the Massachusetts Ethics Commission.{{Cite news |date=October 27, 1987 |title=Candidates face conflict probes |page=2 |work=North Adams Transcript |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59727728/north-adams-transcript/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200921210512/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59727728/north-adams-transcript/ |archive-date=September 21, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=September 21, 2020 }} Dunn defeated Proulx in the general election.{{Cite news |date=November 4, 1987 |title=Proulx defeated |page=4 |work=The Berkshire Eagle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59727858/the-berkshire-eagle/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200921210712/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59727858/the-berkshire-eagle/ |archive-date=September 21, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=September 21, 2020 }} He was reelected in 1989.{{Cite news |date=November 8, 1989 |title=1989 election results |page=6 |work=The Berkshire Eagle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59734366/the-berkshire-eagle/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200921224213/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59734366/the-berkshire-eagle/ |archive-date=September 21, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=September 21, 2020 }}
On February 2, 1988, the board of alderman voted eleven to four to not welcome Jane Fonda when she came to film Union Street which Dunn stated was a "disaster for the city".{{Cite news |date=February 4, 1988 |title=Protest won't stop Fonda film |page=2 |work=North Adams Transcript |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59729165/north-adams-transcript/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200921212731/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59729165/north-adams-transcript/ |archive-date=September 21, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=September 21, 2020 }} Dunn declined the NAACP's call for an independent review of police brutality charges in 1988.{{Cite news |date=August 4, 1988 |title=Cities charged with police brutality |page=18 |work=North Adams Transcript |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59729622/north-adams-transcript/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200921213118/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59729622/north-adams-transcript/ |archive-date=September 21, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=September 21, 2020 }} A Hispanic group withdrew its community service award for Dunn and disinvited him to a dinner after complaints of his support for the English-only movement.{{Cite news |date=August 11, 1988 |title=Hispanic group withdraws award |page=5 |work=North Adams Transcript |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59729585/north-adams-transcript/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200921213358/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59729585/north-adams-transcript/ |archive-date=September 21, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=September 21, 2020 }}
=Massachusetts Senate=
In 1990, John P. Burke announced that he would not seek reelection to the Massachusetts Senate. Dunn, who had previously considered running for Hampden County district attorney, announced that he would run for the Democratic nomination to succeed Burke, which was the seat that was held by Dunn's uncle Maurice A. Donahue.{{Cite news |date=March 1, 1990 |title=Holyoke mayor to run for Senate |page=5 |work=North Adams Transcript |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59735226/north-adams-transcript/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200921225728/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59735226/north-adams-transcript/ |archive-date=September 21, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=September 21, 2020 }} He won the Democratic nomination and defeated Republican nominee Walter R. Bilski in the general election.{{Cite news |date=September 20, 1990 |title=1990 primary results |page=43 |work=The Boston Globe |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59735207/the-boston-globe/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200921225928/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59735207/the-boston-globe/ |archive-date=September 21, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=September 21, 2020 }}{{Cite news |date=November 8, 1990 |title=1990 election results |page=46 |work=The Boston Globe |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59735418/the-boston-globe/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200921230038/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59735418/the-boston-globe/ |archive-date=September 21, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=September 21, 2020 }}
Dunn was appointed to serve on the Local affairs committee and as chairman of the School committee.{{Cite news |date=January 16, 1991 |title=House, Senate leaders |page=25 |work=The Boston Globe |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59742478/the-boston-globe/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200922005740/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59742478/the-boston-globe/ |archive-date=September 22, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=September 22, 2020 }}{{Cite news |date=January 30, 1991 |title=Official plans to cut off Holyoke schools' utilities |page=29 |work=The Boston Globe |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59742651/the-boston-globe/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200922010029/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59742651/the-boston-globe/ |archive-date=September 22, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=September 22, 2020 }} He took office in the Massachusetts Senate in January 1991, and resigned from the Holyoke mayoralty on February 6, and was replaced by City Council President Joseph M. McGivern as acting mayor.{{Cite news |date=February 7, 1991 |title=McGivern takes over |page=1 |work=North Adams Transcript |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59742528/north-adams-transcript/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200922010214/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59742528/north-adams-transcript/ |archive-date=September 22, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=September 22, 2020 }} Dunn announced that he would not seek reelection in 1992.{{Cite news |date=March 17, 1992 |title=Retiring legislator lauded |page=18 |work=North Adams Transcript |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59743057/north-adams-transcript/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200922010439/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59743057/north-adams-transcript/ |archive-date=September 22, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=September 22, 2020 }} In 1992, Dunn was named Legislator of the Year by the Massachusetts Teachers' Association.
Later life
Dunn was given the staff attorney position in the Massachusetts Senate counsel's office in 1994.{{Cite news |date=May 17, 1994 |title=Ex-legislator gets $46,000 state post |page=28 |work=The Boston Globe |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59743321/the-boston-globe/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200922011132/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59743321/the-boston-globe/ |archive-date=September 22, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=September 22, 2020 }} In 2015, he was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Holyoke Democratic Committee, and was given a medal from the St. Thomas More Society in 2018. Dunn died on September 11, 2020.
Electoral history
{{Election box open primary begin no change|title = 1987 Holyoke, Massachusetts mayoral election}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Nonpartisan politician
|candidate = Martin J. Dunn
|votes = 3,810
|percentage = 50.22%
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Nonpartisan politician
|candidate = Ernest E. Proulx (incumbent)
|votes = 2,613
|percentage = 34.44%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Nonpartisan politician
|candidate = Charles F. Smith
|votes = 1,164
|percentage = 15.34%
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 7,587
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Nonpartisan politician
|candidate = Martin J. Dunn
|votes = 8,091
|percentage = 58.41%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Nonpartisan politician
|candidate = Ernest E. Proulx (incumbent)
|votes = 5,760
|percentage = 41.59%
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 13,851
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change|title = 1989 Holyoke, Massachusetts mayoral election}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Nonpartisan politician
|candidate = Martin J. Dunn (incumbent)
|votes = 8,673
|percentage = 80.91%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Nonpartisan politician
|candidate = Edward O'Connor
|votes = 2,046
|percentage = 19.09%
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 10,719
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change|title = 1990 Massachusetts Senate Hampden and Hampshire district election}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Martin J. Dunn
|votes = 9,907
|percentage = 49.60%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Dolores Asselin
|votes = 6,816
|percentage = 34.13%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Kenneth R. Haar
|votes = 1,775
|percentage = 8.89%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Daniel M. Knapp
|votes = 1,475
|percentage = 7.38%
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 19,973
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Martin J. Dunn
|votes = 32,529
|percentage = 66.36%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Walter R. Bilski
|votes = 16,491
|percentage = 33.64%
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 49,020
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dunn, Martin J.}}
Category:Columbia College (New York) alumni
Category:Mayors of Holyoke, Massachusetts
Category:Massachusetts city council members
Category:Massachusetts lawyers
Category:Democratic Party Massachusetts state senators
Category:Northfield Mount Hermon School alumni
Category:School board members in Massachusetts
Category:Suffolk University Law School alumni
Category:20th-century members of the Massachusetts General Court