Don Bonker
Don Bonker | |
---|---|
Washington's 3rd district | |
In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1989 | |
Preceded by | Julia Butler Hansen |
Succeeded by | Jolene Unsoeld |
Personal details | |
Born | Denver, Colorado, U.S. | March 7, 1937
Died | May 30, 2023 Silverdale, Washington, U.S. | (aged 86)
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse |
Carolyn Ekern (m. 1971) |
Children | 2 |
Donald Leroy Bonker (March 7, 1937 – May 30, 2023) was an American politician. A member of the
Early life
Bonker attended public schools in
Bonker served in the United States Coast Guard as first class yeoman from 1955 to 1959.[citation needed]
Political career
Bonker served as aide to United States Senator
Bonker ran for
Tenure in Congress
Bonker was elected as a moderate Democrat to the 94th and to the six succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1989). He did not run for reelection in 1988 so he could run for nomination to the United States Senate, where he narrowly lost in the primary to Democrat Mike Lowry, who was defeated in the general election by Republican Slade Gorton.
During his time in the House, Bonker was a senior member of the
Bonker helped establish the Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge and the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, added Protection Island to the National Wildlife Refuge system, preserved the Point of Arches in the Olympic National Park, added 250,000 acres (1000 km2) to the 1984 Washington Wilderness Act, and banned the export of Western Redcedar.
Later career
In 1992, Bonker again ran for a U.S. Senate seat, but was defeated in the primary by the eventual winner, Democratic Senator Patty Murray. In 2000, he ran for Secretary of State again, winning the party nomination in the primary, but losing in the general to Sam Reed.
Bonker was the president and CEO of the International Management and Development Institute, on the board of the Foundation for U.S.-Russia Business Cooperation, and was executive vice president of APCO Worldwide.
In 2009, Bonker was the target of significant criticism by Democrats for endorsing Republican Susan Hutchison for King County Executive against Democratic favorite and eventual winner Dow Constantine.
Bonker was the author of America's Trade Crisis, published by
Bonker was a member of the ReFormers Caucus of Issue One.[1][2]
Personal life
Bonker and his wife, Carolyn Ekern, were married in 1971 and had two children.[3][4][5]
Bonker was diagnosed with liver cancer in May 2023, and died at the hospital Silverdale, Washington, on May 30. He was 86.[6]
See also
- Washington state congressional delegates
References
- ^ "ReFormers Caucus".
- ^ "Don Bonker - APCO Worldwide". apcoworldwide.com. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
- ^ Mize, Jeffrey. "Former 3rd District Rep. Don Bonker decries lack of moral leadership, courage in politics". The Columbian. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ Campiche, David. "Close to Home: A light in the forest". Discover Our Coast.
- ^ "Don & Carolyn Bonker celebrate 50th wedding anniversary". Jane Weber Evergreen Arboretum.
- ^ Fuentes, Carlos. "Don Bonker, former Southwest Washington congressional representative, dead at 86". The Columbian. Retrieved May 31, 2023.