Donn Charnley

Donn Charnley
Charnley in 1971
Member of the Washington State Senate from the 44th district
In office November 25, 1980 – January 10, 1983
Preceded by	Bruce A. Bradburn
Succeeded by	Alan Bluechel
Majority Whip of the Washington House of Representatives
In office January 10, 1983 – January 15, 1985
Preceded by	Gene Struthers
Succeeded by	Jennifer Belcher
Assistant Majority Leader Washington House of Representatives
In office January 10, 1977 – January 8, 1979
Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 44th Pos.1 district
In office January 11th 1971 – November 25th 1980
Preceded by	Arthur C. Brown
Succeeded by	Nancy Rust
Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 1st Pos.2 district
In office January 10, 1983 – January 15, 1985
Personal details
Born	Donn Charnley (1928-04-03)April 3, 1928 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Died	February 5, 2023(2023-02-05) (aged 94) Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Frances “Libby” Graves (Charnley) and later (Tilse), Dr. Lucy Rock (Charnley), Dr. Melinda Denton
Relations	Professor Mitch V. Charnley (Father)
Children	Six (Four Sons & Two Daughters)
Residence	Shoreline, Washington
Alma mater	University of Washington Bachelor's of Arts Sociology 1952, University of Washington Washington State Teaching Certificate 1954, University of Washington M.S. Geology 1960 and University of Minnesota M.A. Educational , Psychology in 1962,
Occupation	Educator,& Local Elected Official

Donn Charnley (April 3, 1928 – February 5, 2023^[1]) was an American politician in the state of Washington. Charnley served in the Washington House of Representatives and Washington State Senate as a Democrat from the 1st and 44th Districts from 1971 until 1985. In his second stint in the House, 1983–1985, Charnley served as the Majority Whip.^[2][3]

Charnely was born in Detroit, Michigan to journalism professor Mitchell V. Charnley and writer Margery “Peg” Lindsay.

In 1937, he went to San Juan International Camp for young men on San Juan Island; later known as Henderson Camp and today called Camp Nor'Wester. He often said the saying he learned there in 1937 helped guide him to his roles in life, from being an educator, ski instructor, lawmaker, and more. The saying "SJS means STO" which stands for San Juan Spirt means Service To Others, from this camp, guided Charnley his whole life.

As a child was in Boy Scouts of America and worked his way up to the Rank of Life before getting active in the Sea Scouts, which he was part of till graduation from High School. Additionally, while in High School served as a volunteer for the Office of Civilian Defense during World War II. In which he was part of a team of youth with a bike route to help relay messages in case the phone lines were out. Charnley's was part of a section on Capitol Hill, which was part of the chain that went from Port of Seattle to Naval Station Puget Sound. Now part of that location is Magnuson Park.

He graduated from Broadway High School in Seattle in 1945.^[4] Charnley graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Master of Science degree in Geology from the University of Washington, and later a mater's degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota in 1965.^[5] He also attended Seattle University for a short time.

His longest-standing best friend was Bill Holm, whom he met in 1946, an artist & art historian, at University of Washington. Later he and his family struck up a friendship with Mungo Martin of the Kwakwaka'wakw Nation, which led to Charnley to help Holm who directed Charnley how to paint and crave totem poles at camp locations of Henderson Camp (Camp Nor'Wester) on Lopez Island and Johns Island, through friendship he received a name and the dance rights to the Humsamla Pole dance.

In January 1955, Charnley started teaching in the Seattle Public Schools, first as a Special Ed. Teacher 1955-6, then Safety Education & Driver Education at Ballard High School & Asa Mercer Jr High School. He taught 7th & 9th grade Science in 1960-1. He was a Counselor at West Seattle High School from 1961-1966.

In 1964, Charnley started teaching at Shoreline Community College, retiring in December 1996. After spending his first ten years in the Seattle Public Schools, including a time at West Seattle High School. He spent one year as a jr. high science teacher at Asa Mercer Middle School, which was in his top three all time years in education, he later would tell his six children, several grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren.

In 1968 was appointed as Precinct Committee Officer (Washington State) or Precinct Captain or precinct committeeman in some states. From there was re-elected in this role every two years, spanning over forty years. Serving in total from 1968 till December 1, 2010. He was succeeded in this role by his youngest son. When his son moved, it ended the Precinct between the two for a total of 55 years.

Charnley ran for and was elected to the Washington House of Representatives in 1970 in the 44th Legislative District Pos.1 . He served in this position until 1980. During this time served on the Transportation Committee and Local Government Committee. 1977 Severed on the Transportation Committee, Energy, Utilities, and Rules. 1978 Charnley served on Local Government, was Chair of the Energy & Utilities Committee, and Transportation. 1979 Committees were Local Government, Dem. Chair, Energy & Utilities, Transportation, and thought about running for Speaker Pro Tem. 1980 in the house was on *Local Government, Dem. Chr.; Energy & Utilities, Transportation. 1981 in the state senate was on Higher Education, Local Government, and Transportation. 1982, continued in the State Senate, served on the Higher Education, Local Government, and Transportation committees.

In 1980, Charnley was elected to the Washington State Senate, serving until 1983. In 1982, after redistricting, Charnley was reelected to the State House representing the 1st. His fellow Democrats elected him to serve as Majority Whip under Speaker of the Washington House of Representatives Wayne Ehlers, Majority Leader of the Washington House of Representatives Denny Heck. During his final term in the House, he served on as a Member of Rules. Transportation and Local Government Committees.

In 1984, Charnley unsuccessfully ran for the State Senate in the 1st against Bill Kiskaddon by a 51.61% to 48.39%.^[6][7] Additionally, in 1981 did talk to Mike Lowry about either running for Congress United States House of Representatives or Lieutenant Governor of Washington, Lowry told him the hours with flights would not be his friend but to look at Lieutenant Governor of Washington in 1988 or 1992 if he could get some "Big Wins" in the state senate.

He served on the Boards of Nature Conservancy of Washington State, Public Health — Seattle & King County Board of Mental Health, North King County, and Northwest Kidney Centers. Was also a member of the Richmond Beach Community Council and the Geological Society of America. Additionally, was a founding member of the Northwest Geological Society in 1987.

In the early 1980's meet and mentored Patty Murray, who would serve as Campaign Manager to Charnley a few times. In 1988, Charnley would serve as Chair of her run for the Washington State Senate. As well as often supported her with her future election and re-elections to the United States Senate in 1992, 1998, 2004, 2010, 2016, and 2022. From Fundraising, Phone Banking, Data Entry, Canvasing, and more.

Would continue to serve as a mentor and guide others who wanted to serve as an elected official. In 2005, after the campaign for King County Council became ugly, he endorsed Bob Ferguson and would go on knock on 504 doors the week before the primary alone. He thought every citizen should spend at least a term on a city council, school board, water district, or other small posts to help with the governing of the United States. As the thought is that if you have more people active with diverse backgrounds,s then it would be a better nation.

Was an early supporter of Cindy Ryu in 2003 before seeing her get elected to the city council in 2005 and two years later becoming the first Korean-American Woman to be Mayor of a city in the United States in 2008. As well, the city of Shoreline's first Native American Mayor, Chris Roberts of the Choctaw Nation. Including Roberts' first run for city council in 2009.

Even after retirement, Donn still found ways to be a teacher. Teaching Geology for the Creative Retirement Institute for Edmonds Community College (Now Edmonds College), as well as for TELOS at Bellevue College, through the UW at Trinity Retirement Community in Redmond. In fact, even after his 94th birthday was on Zoom teaching Geology of Mount St. Helens. Served on the very first Advisory Committee and later on as part of the first Board of Directors for Camp Nor'Wester. He also helped his youngest son with both his Eagle Project at Twin Ponds Park in Shoreline, Washington and the other projects his son did on the way to silver medal, now Summit Rank in Venture Scouts.

• http://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/results_report.aspx?e=&c=Charnley&c2=&t=&t2=&p=&p2=&y=
• http://leg.wa.gov/History/Legislative/Documents/Pictorial_Phone/1983TelephoneDirectory.pdf