David W. Dowd

David William Dowd (February 7, 1921 – October 20, 1988) was an American Republican Party politician and minor league baseball player with the New York Yankees organization.

Early life Dowd was born in West Orange, New Jersey on February 7, 1921. He was the son of Thomas A. Dowd and Margaret J. Dowd. His father owned a real estate brokerage firm. Dowd attended Livingston High School, Villanova University and received his law degree from Rutgers University. He was married to Connie Sansone Dowd and had seven children.

Baseball career

In 1942, Dowd signed a contract with the New York Yankees and was assigned to the Wellsville Yankees in the New York–Penn League. He played in 11 games, with a .182 batting average. His teammates included future Yankees Jerry Coleman and Charlie Silvera. Dowd's baseball career ended later that season when he joined the U.S. Army during World War II.

Dowd ran for the New Jersey State Senate in 1967. He won a hotly contested primary on a Reform Republican slate, finishing fourth in a field of thirteen candidates for six Senate seats elected at-large in Essex County. The General Election turned out to be a strong environment for Republicans; it was the mid-term election of Governor Richard J. Hughes's second term. Republicans won all six Senate seats, with Dowd running fifth. The four Democratic Senators elected in 1965 -- Nicholas Fernicola, John J. Giblin, Maclyn Goldman and Hutchins Inge—were all defeated.

On November 16, 1970, Dowd resigned from the Senate to become the General Counsel of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. He held that post until 1974.

Later life Dowd practiced law in New Jersey and lived in Howell Township, New Jersey and in Florida. He died in 1988 at age 67.

Election results

1967 Republican State Senate Primary results

Winner Votes Loser Votes James Wallwork 21,156 Frederic Remington 19,087 Gerardo Del Tufo 19,889 Jack J. Soriano 18,668 Alexander Matturri 19,723 Irwin I. Kimmelman 18,525 David W. Dowd 19,324 Frank L. Bate 18,225 Michael Giuliano 19,245 J. Harry Smith 17,659 Milton Waldor 19,243 Thomas E. Boyle 35,517 C. Marion Scipio 712

1967 Essex County State Senator General Election results

Winner Party Votes Loser Party Votes Michael Giuliano Republican 122,354 Nicholas Fernicola Democrat 91,812 Gerado Del Tufo Republican 119,956 John J. Giblin Democrat 89,297 Alexander Matturri Republican 119,152 Maclyn Goldman Democrat 88,796 James Wallwork Republican 118,834David Mandelbaum Democrat 85,131 Milton Waldor Republican 117,280 Victor Addonizio Democrat 83,587 David W. Dowd Republican 115,568 Hutchins Inge Democrat 83,543