Bill Delahunt

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Bill Delahunt
Official portrait, 2008
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 10th district
In office
January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2011
Preceded byGerry Studds
Succeeded byBill Keating
District Attorney of Norfolk County
In office
January 1975 – January 1997
Preceded byGeorge G. Burke
Succeeded byBill Keating
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office
January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1975
Preceded byJoseph E. Brett
Succeeded byJames A. Sheets
Constituency3rd Norfolk district (1973–1974)
4th Norfolk district (1974–1975)
Personal details
Born
William David Delahunt

(1941-07-18)July 18, 1941
Quincy, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedMarch 30, 2024(2024-03-30) (aged 82)
Quincy, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseKatharina E. Delahunt (divorced)
Children2
EducationMiddlebury College (AB)
Boston College (LLB)
Signature
Military service
Branch/service United States Coast Guard
Years of service1963–1971
UnitReserves

William David Delahunt[1] (July 18, 1941 – March 30, 2024) was an American lawyer and politician from Massachusetts. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Massachusetts's 10th congressional district from 1997 to 2011. Delahunt did not seek re-election in 2010, and left Congress in January 2011. He was succeeded by Norfolk County District Attorney Bill Keating.

Early life, education, and early career[edit]

Delahunt was born in Quincy, Massachusetts, on July 18, 1941.[2] He was educated at Thayer Academy, Middlebury College, and Boston College Law School.[3] He served as a radarman (RD3) in the United States Coast Guard in 1963 and the United States Coast Guard Reserve from 1963 to 1971.[4][5]

Delahunt was elected as a town councillor for Quincy, taking office in January 1972.[6] He served a term in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1973 to 1975 before serving as district attorney of Norfolk County from 1975 to 1996.[7]

U.S. House of Representatives[edit]

Elections[edit]

In 1996, Democratic Congressman Gerry Studds decided to retire. Delahunt decided to run for Massachusetts's 10th congressional district. On September 17, 1996, Delahunt won the Democratic primary election with a plurality of 38% of the vote. He won the Plymouth County portion of the district, while losing the Norfolk County portion. He narrowly defeated state legislator Philip W Johnston of Marshfield by just 119 votes[8] after a recount, which was conducted in a handful of contested towns. Following the recount, Delahunt sought judicial review in the Massachusetts Superior Court. After reviewing about 900 ballots, Judge Elizabeth B. Donovan declared Delahunt the victor. The case was appealed to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, which upheld the lower court ruling.[9] The case had the issue of "hanging chads" in punch-card voting machines.[9] On November 5, 1996, Delahunt defeated Republican state Representative Edward B. Teague III 54%–42%.[10]

Delahunt won re-election six times, defeating his opponent by at least 32 percentage points each time.[11] On March 4, 2010, The Boston Globe confirmed that Delahunt would retire that year rather than seek reelection for an eighth term.[12] Shortly before the announcement of his retirement, it was discovered that Delahunt, while serving as district attorney for Norfolk County, Massachusetts, had refused to file charges against Amy Bishop for shooting and killing her brother in 1986. On February 12, 2010, Bishop murdered three of her colleagues at the University of Alabama in Huntsville after being denied tenure.[13][14]

Tenure[edit]

As one of his first initiatives in Congress, Delahunt created the bipartisan caucus on the United States Coast Guard in 1999,[15] which he co-chaired with two other Coast Guard veterans, Reps. Howard Coble (R-NC) and Gene Taylor (D-MS). This benefited his district through getting the problems of outpaced resources and security recognized at the ports of Massachusetts.[15]

In November 2005, Delahunt met with President of Venezuela Hugo Chávez to arrange an assistance program in which Venezuela would supply winter home heating oil at a 40 percent price reduction to thousands of low-income Massachusetts residents.[16] The program, which has since been expanded to help 500,000 people across the U.S., was carried out via the Venezuelan owned Citgo,[17] and brought accusations that Delahunt was assisting an anti-American leader. Delahunt, however, sometimes criticized Chávez, such as in a September 2006 letter expressing disgust at a speech given by Chávez to the United Nations, in which he personally attacked President George W. Bush, calling it "silly" and "inappropriate".[18]

In the 110th U.S. Congress, Delahunt served as the chair of the United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight.[19]

Delahunt was a consistent opponent of the war in Iraq.[20] However, on March 10, 2010, he voted against a measure to bring troops home from Afghanistan.[21]

Committee assignments[edit]

Caucus memberships[edit]

  • Co-chair of the bipartisan Coast Guard Caucus
  • Co-chair of the House Older Americans Caucus
  • Co-chair of the Congressional Working Group on Cuba

Delahunt was a member of the United States House Foreign Affairs Committee, Judiciary Committee, House Older Americans Caucus, and the Congressional Working Group on Cuba. In 1999, he co-founded the bipartisan Coast Guard Caucus. The Coast Guard presented him with their Distinguished Public Service Award in June 2010.[15]

Post-congressional career[edit]

Lobbying[edit]

Upon Delahunt's retirement, he formed the Delahunt Group,[22] a lobbying firm ("multi-service consulting firm focused on Government Affairs, International Market Entry Strategies, Corporate and Development Advisory, Federal and State Funding, and Appropriations, Regulatory and Permitting Assistance, Public Policy Strategies and Public Relations"). Delahunt told the Cape Cod Times that he viewed it as an extension of his work in Congress. As a legislator, he explained, he set policy at a macro level. Now, he said: "we're taking that and bringing it down here to the communities, to encourage implementation. We're working with the private sector and the public sector in a way that's a win-win for everyone." He told the Times he was particularly interested in work that encourages regional tourism and economic development."[23]

Delahunt portrait

Less than two months after leaving Congress, Delahunt lobbied on behalf of the Wampanoag people in Massachusetts to help them secure Indian gaming rights with the state legislature. Delahunt filled a gap left by the Wampanoag's previous lobbyist Jack Abramoff following his conviction associated with the renowned Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal. Delahunt received over $15,000 in campaign contributions from the Wampanoag and Abramoff prior to leaving office sparking criticisms from good government advocates and casino opponents. While Delahunt was precluded by law from lobbying the Congress for at least one year, rules did not preclude him from lobbying state legislatures.[24]

Delahunt formally announced his retirement from Congress in March 2010. Between March and December 2010, he made over $10,000 in campaign contributions to Massachusetts state legislators from his federal congressional PAC – a 500 percent increase from previous years' contributions.[25]

Delahunt also established a lobbying partnership with the Washington, DC-based Prime Policy Group on ways American companies can establish themselves in foreign countries while helping foreign businesses with connections to in United States markets.[26] Prime Policy Group's clients include companies like Accenture,[27] which have been criticized for moving offshore to avoid paying U.S. taxes. This partnership dovetails with Delahunt's work on behalf of the Wampanoag as their primary backers are the Malaysian gambling giant Genting Group. Genting is seeking to establish a foothold in the United States with ventures in New York, Miami and Massachusetts. The Wampanoag venture, if approved, would give Genting a tax-free foothold in Indian gaming in the United States.[28]

Medical marijuana[edit]

Delahunt, who was President of Medical Marijuana of Massachusetts Inc.,[29] applied for three medical marijuana dispensary licenses from the Massachusetts state Department of Public Health. The businesses would be located in Mashpee, Plymouth and Taunton. The locations were all planned to be in separate counties, so they would not compete with each other in the selection process.[30]

Delahunt supported the creation of medical marijuana dispensaries to thwart the rise in prescription drug abuse. He was also significantly involved in the operations of any of the dispensaries that Medical Marijuana of Massachusetts opens.[30]

In September 2014, Delahunt resigned from his position as President of Medicial Marijuana of Massachusetts Inc. after the licenses for his planned dispensaries were rejected by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.[31]

Harvard Institute of Politics[edit]

In late May 2017, Delahunt became the acting director of the Harvard Institute of Politics.[32]

Diplomacy[edit]

In 2013, Delahunt helped free a U.S. citizen who was imprisoned by the Venezuelan government.[33]

Personal life and death[edit]

Delahunt's paternal grandfather immigrated to the United States from Canada and his paternal grandmother's family was Irish.[34]

Bill Delahunt and his wife, Katharina, divorced in 1986. They had one daughter, Kristin, and adopted another, Kara Mai (née Nguyen Mai Tai Trang), from Vietnam in 1975. While Congress was in session, Delahunt lived in a rented house with fellow Democratic politicians George Miller, Chuck Schumer, and Richard Durbin.[35] At the time of his death, he was engaged to attorney Julie Pagano.[36]

Delahunt died at his Quincy home on March 30, 2024, at the age of 82.[36]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "United States congressional serial set DOC 14489 1998". HathiTrust. hdl:2027/mdp.39015087610658.
  2. ^ Langer, Emily (April 2, 2024). "William Delahunt, congressman who eased international adoption, dies at 82". Washington Post. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  3. ^ Sudborough, Susannah (March 31, 2024). "Former U.S. Rep. from Mass. who spent 14 years in Congress dies from long-term illness". masslive. Archived from the original on March 31, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  4. ^ "CNN/AllPolitics Election '98". www.cnn.com. Archived from the original on March 31, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  5. ^ Rolbein, Seth. "Bill Delahunt: Advocate of bipartisanship, opponent of Iraq war, patient lawmaker". Cape Cod Times. Archived from the original on March 31, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  6. ^ "Congressman Bill Delahunt Reflects". The Vineyard Gazette – Martha's Vineyard News. Archived from the original on March 31, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  7. ^ "Former US Rep. William Delahunt of Massachusetts has died at age 82 : NPR". NPR. Archived from the original on March 31, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  8. ^ "Our Campaigns – MA District 10 – D Primary Race – Sep 17, 1996". Ourcampaigns.com. Archived from the original on October 6, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  9. ^ a b "Candidate's Ballot Surprise". The New York Times. Associated Press. October 6, 1996. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  10. ^ "Our Campaigns – MA District 10 Race – Nov 05, 1996". Ourcampaigns.com. Archived from the original on October 6, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  11. ^ "Our Campaigns – Candidate – William D. "Bill" Delahunt". Ourcampaigns.com. Archived from the original on April 26, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  12. ^ "Delahunt will not seek reelection – Political Intelligence – A national political and campaign blog from The Boston Globe". Boston.com. March 4, 2010. Archived from the original on March 8, 2010. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
  13. ^ "Shooting becomes issue for Delahunt – POLITICO". Politico. Archived from the original on March 31, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  14. ^ "Delahunt on Not Charging Amy Bishop in 1986 Shooting". March 25, 2014. Archived from the original on March 31, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  15. ^ a b c FRASER, DOUG. "Delahunt's record draws praise". Cape Cod Times. Archived from the original on March 31, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  16. ^ "Delahunt: A warm Venezuelan gift in a cold winter". Archived from the original on March 31, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  17. ^ "Citgo-Venezuela Heating Oil Program". Citgo Corporation. 2011. Archived from the original on May 7, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  18. ^ "Article clipped from The Boston Globe". The Boston Globe. September 21, 2006. p. 4. Archived from the original on March 31, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Democratic Lawmakers to Introduce Bill to Cut Funds for Iraq Agreement – CBS News". CBS News. March 12, 2008. Archived from the original on March 31, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  20. ^ "Bill Delahunt on the Issues". Ontheissues.org. March 7, 2011. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  21. ^ "House Roll Call #98: Democrats Voting 'Nay'". OpenCongress. March 10, 2010. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  22. ^ "The Delahunt Group". The Delahunt Group. Archived from the original on March 25, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  23. ^ "Delahunt moves beyond Congress". CapeCodOnline.com. June 19, 2011. Archived from the original on May 14, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  24. ^ Tribe hires Bill Delahunt as lobbyist, replaces Abramoff Archived July 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Plymouth Daily News, March 11, 2011.
  25. ^ Wampanoag lobbyist Bill Delahunt campaign contributions used federal PAC Archived March 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, WampaLeaks, June 21, 2010.
  26. ^ Prime Policy Group partners with former congressman Bill Delahunt Archived June 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Prime Policy Group press release, February 16, 2011.
  27. ^ Prime Policy Group – Accenture Archived July 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Sunlight Foundation Reporting Group, January 1, 2010.
  28. ^ Who lobbied for Genting? Archived July 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Eye on Miami, June 1, 2011.
  29. ^ "Business Entity Summary". Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  30. ^ a b Chesto, Jon (November 24, 2014). "Former congressman Bill Delahunt looks to open three medical marijuana centers". Boston Business Journal. American City Business Journals. Archived from the original on November 26, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  31. ^ Ronan, Patrick (September 15, 2014). "Delahunt resigns from medical marijuana non-profit". The Patriot Ledger. Archived from the original on March 30, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  32. ^ "Acting Director". Harvard Institute of Politics. Archived from the original on September 14, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  33. ^ "DeCock: Hockey diplomacy was Tripp Tracy's only hope to rescue brother". Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  34. ^ "RootsWeb.com Home Page". Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Archived from the original on October 3, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  35. ^ "New York Times — Taking Power, Sharing Cereal". The New York Times. January 18, 2007. Archived from the original on April 25, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  36. ^ a b Marquard, Bryan. "William Delahunt, former congressman who led a groundbreaking prosecutor's office, dies at 82". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on March 30, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2024.

External links[edit]

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 10th congressional district
1997–2011 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bill_Delahunt&oldid=1217500296"