A. A. Adams | |
---|---|
Member of the
Washington House of Representatives from the 26th district | |
In office 1969–1973 Serving with
Thomas A. Swayze Jr. | |
Preceded by | Homer Humiston |
Succeeded by | Clifford W. Beck |
Member of the
Washington House of Representatives from the 27th district | |
In office 1973–1981 Serving with
R. Lorraine Wojahn and James E. Salatino | |
Preceded by | Frank Marzano |
Succeeded by | Art Wang |
Personal details | |
Born | Bellingham, Washington, U.S. | August 22, 1900
Died | May 31, 1985 Pacific, Washington, U.S. | (aged 84)
Political party | Democratic |
Occupation | Politician |
Abner Allen "Doc" Adams (August 22, 1900 – May 31, 1985) was an American politician in the state of Washington. He served in the Washington House of Representatives from 1969 to 1981. A Democrat, Adams was noted as a supporter of progressive policies, including assisted suicide, marijuana legalization, and abortion. In addition to his career as a state Representative, Adams was an accomplished chiropractor who served as president of the American Chiropractic Association.
Adams was born in Bellingham, Washington, on August 22, 1900. [1] [2] He studied at the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, graduating in 1924. [3]
In 1945, Adams moved to Tacoma, Washington, and opened an office there. [2] Active in the wider chiropractor community, Adams was legislative chairman and later president of the Washington Chiropractors Association. [3] He was elected president of the American Chiropractic Association in 1965 and served one term. [4] [2] Adams was also vice president of the International Chiropractors Association for some time. [1] He retired from private practice in 1973. [5]
Adams began his political career in 1960 as a member of the Tacoma Utility Board. A Democrat, he was first elected to the Washington House of Representatives in 1968, defeating the Republican nominee by a 52–48 margin, with a campaign heavily focusing on pension issues. [6] [7] One of his first actions in the House was to cosponsor a bill banning the carry of "dangerous weapons" at protests. [8] The bill was initially contested due to unclear language, however, it was passed unanimously when the Seattle Black Panthers announced their intention to protest the bill. [9] [10] He supported the 1970 legislation which legalized abortion in Washington. [11]
Adams ran for reelection in 1970. While he won the primary, he had a lower vote total than his Republican opponents. [12] He won the general election, again by a 52–48 margin. [13] [14] He was a cosponsor of the law which introduced mandatory vehicle insurance in Washington. [15] In 1972, the redistricting process placed him in the 27th district, where he defeated Dennis Flannigan in a close primary. [16] [17] He went on to win reelection to a third term by a 67–33 margin and was made chair of the House Social and Health Services Committee. [18] [19] At 72 years old, Adams was the oldest representative in Washington. [20]
In 1974, he sponsored the Senior Services Act, which created a Meals on Wheels program. [5] He also led a probe into escapes at Western State Hospital, which quickly expanded to cover security at all state institutions and a variety of other issues. [21] [22] Adams beat his opponent in the primary and won the general election 66–34. [23] [24] He opposed the 1976 effort to remove Leonard A. Sawyer from his position of Speaker of the House. [25] That same year, he won election for his fifth term 62–38. [26]
Adams sponsored a " Death with Dignity" bill in 1977 that would have legalized a form of assisted suicide in Washington. [27] He also supported a bill to decriminalize marijuana and a bill to legalize the prescription of Laetrile. [28] [29] He supported decriminalization of marijuana again the following year, saying that "We need to send Washington, D.C., a message." [30] He won re-election 65–35. [31]
In 1979, Adams continued to push for assisted suicide and marijuana legislation, successfully passing both bills through the House. [32] [33] He also cosponsored a bill creating a state lottery, although this did not ultimately pass. [34] [35] In May, Adams received criticism for taking a two-week vacation to Hawaii because his absence gave the Republicans a one-vote majority in the House, with an editorial in The News Tribune describing him as being "out of bounds." [36] [37] The following year, Adams opted to not run for reelection, citing a need to spend time with his family. [5] He was succeeded by fellow Democrat Art Wang, who defeated his Republican opponent 71–29. [38]
Adams was married to Mildred S. Adams (1899–1993), a music and art teacher, on August 22, 1923. [2] [39] They had one child together. [39] He was a Shriner. [40] Adams supported the legalization of greyhound racing. [41] Late in his political career, Adams was arrested for driving while intoxicated. [42]
Adams died on May 31, 1985. [40] His wife, Mildred, died on March 21, 1993. [39]
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Republican | Homer Humiston | 8,929 | 52.58 | |
Democratic | A.A. Adams | 5,068 | 29.84 | |
Democratic | Don Smith | 2,985 | 17.58 | |
Total votes | 16,982 | 100.00 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | A.A. Adams | 15,053 | 51.96 | |
Republican | Homer Humiston | 13,918 | 48.04 | |
Total votes | 28,971 | 100.0 |
A. A. Adams | |
---|---|
Member of the
Washington House of Representatives from the 26th district | |
In office 1969–1973 Serving with
Thomas A. Swayze Jr. | |
Preceded by | Homer Humiston |
Succeeded by | Clifford W. Beck |
Member of the
Washington House of Representatives from the 27th district | |
In office 1973–1981 Serving with
R. Lorraine Wojahn and James E. Salatino | |
Preceded by | Frank Marzano |
Succeeded by | Art Wang |
Personal details | |
Born | Bellingham, Washington, U.S. | August 22, 1900
Died | May 31, 1985 Pacific, Washington, U.S. | (aged 84)
Political party | Democratic |
Occupation | Politician |
Abner Allen "Doc" Adams (August 22, 1900 – May 31, 1985) was an American politician in the state of Washington. He served in the Washington House of Representatives from 1969 to 1981. A Democrat, Adams was noted as a supporter of progressive policies, including assisted suicide, marijuana legalization, and abortion. In addition to his career as a state Representative, Adams was an accomplished chiropractor who served as president of the American Chiropractic Association.
Adams was born in Bellingham, Washington, on August 22, 1900. [1] [2] He studied at the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, graduating in 1924. [3]
In 1945, Adams moved to Tacoma, Washington, and opened an office there. [2] Active in the wider chiropractor community, Adams was legislative chairman and later president of the Washington Chiropractors Association. [3] He was elected president of the American Chiropractic Association in 1965 and served one term. [4] [2] Adams was also vice president of the International Chiropractors Association for some time. [1] He retired from private practice in 1973. [5]
Adams began his political career in 1960 as a member of the Tacoma Utility Board. A Democrat, he was first elected to the Washington House of Representatives in 1968, defeating the Republican nominee by a 52–48 margin, with a campaign heavily focusing on pension issues. [6] [7] One of his first actions in the House was to cosponsor a bill banning the carry of "dangerous weapons" at protests. [8] The bill was initially contested due to unclear language, however, it was passed unanimously when the Seattle Black Panthers announced their intention to protest the bill. [9] [10] He supported the 1970 legislation which legalized abortion in Washington. [11]
Adams ran for reelection in 1970. While he won the primary, he had a lower vote total than his Republican opponents. [12] He won the general election, again by a 52–48 margin. [13] [14] He was a cosponsor of the law which introduced mandatory vehicle insurance in Washington. [15] In 1972, the redistricting process placed him in the 27th district, where he defeated Dennis Flannigan in a close primary. [16] [17] He went on to win reelection to a third term by a 67–33 margin and was made chair of the House Social and Health Services Committee. [18] [19] At 72 years old, Adams was the oldest representative in Washington. [20]
In 1974, he sponsored the Senior Services Act, which created a Meals on Wheels program. [5] He also led a probe into escapes at Western State Hospital, which quickly expanded to cover security at all state institutions and a variety of other issues. [21] [22] Adams beat his opponent in the primary and won the general election 66–34. [23] [24] He opposed the 1976 effort to remove Leonard A. Sawyer from his position of Speaker of the House. [25] That same year, he won election for his fifth term 62–38. [26]
Adams sponsored a " Death with Dignity" bill in 1977 that would have legalized a form of assisted suicide in Washington. [27] He also supported a bill to decriminalize marijuana and a bill to legalize the prescription of Laetrile. [28] [29] He supported decriminalization of marijuana again the following year, saying that "We need to send Washington, D.C., a message." [30] He won re-election 65–35. [31]
In 1979, Adams continued to push for assisted suicide and marijuana legislation, successfully passing both bills through the House. [32] [33] He also cosponsored a bill creating a state lottery, although this did not ultimately pass. [34] [35] In May, Adams received criticism for taking a two-week vacation to Hawaii because his absence gave the Republicans a one-vote majority in the House, with an editorial in The News Tribune describing him as being "out of bounds." [36] [37] The following year, Adams opted to not run for reelection, citing a need to spend time with his family. [5] He was succeeded by fellow Democrat Art Wang, who defeated his Republican opponent 71–29. [38]
Adams was married to Mildred S. Adams (1899–1993), a music and art teacher, on August 22, 1923. [2] [39] They had one child together. [39] He was a Shriner. [40] Adams supported the legalization of greyhound racing. [41] Late in his political career, Adams was arrested for driving while intoxicated. [42]
Adams died on May 31, 1985. [40] His wife, Mildred, died on March 21, 1993. [39]
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Republican | Homer Humiston | 8,929 | 52.58 | |
Democratic | A.A. Adams | 5,068 | 29.84 | |
Democratic | Don Smith | 2,985 | 17.58 | |
Total votes | 16,982 | 100.00 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | A.A. Adams | 15,053 | 51.96 | |
Republican | Homer Humiston | 13,918 | 48.04 | |
Total votes | 28,971 | 100.0 |