Donald L. Totten

Donald Totten
Donald Totten
Member of the Illinois Senate; from the 3rd district
	In office; 1981–1983
Preceded by	David J. Regner
Succeeded by	William Marovitz
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
	In office; 1973–1981
Personal details
Born	February 19, 1933; Brooklyn, New York
Died	April 2, 2019 (aged 86); Cornelius, North Carolina
Political party	Republican
Residence	Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Alma mater	University of Notre Dame
Profession	Mechanical Engineer; Politician

Donald Lee Totten (February 19, 1933 – April 2, 2019) was an American mechanical engineer and politician who served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1973 to 1981 and in the Illinois Senate from 1981 to 1983.

Early life and career

Totten was born in Brooklyn in New York City. He lived with his family in Ridgewood, New Jersey. Totten attended Ridgewood High School in Ridgewood and Perkiomen School in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania. In 1955, Totten received his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from University of Notre Dame. In 1955 he moved to Illinois and worked as an industrial plant engineer.

Political career

He was involved with the Republican Party and with Schaumburg Township Republican Party Committee. Totten served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1973 to 1981 and in the Illinois Senate from 1981 to 1983. In 1982, Totten ran for the Republican nomination for Lietuenant Governor, finishing third behind Susan Catania and Republican nominee George Ryan.^[1] He helped with the presidential campaigns for Ronald Reagan in 1980 and 1984, and served as the Illinois coordinator for the presidential campaign of Jack Kemp in the 1988 Republican primaries.^[2] He also served on the Regional Transportation Authority in Illinois.

Death

Totten died from heart failure at his daughter's house in Cornelius, North Carolina.^[3]^[4]^[5]

Notes

^ "Thompson nominated, to face Stevenson". The Southeast Missourian. Associated Press. March 17, 1982. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
^ "Kemp Coordinator is Optimistic". The State Journal-Register. November 27, 1987. p. 9.
^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1981-1962,' Biographical Sketch of Donald L. Totten, pg. 74
^ Goldsborough, Bob. "Donald Totten, Cook County Republican leader who led Midwest efforts for two Reagan presidential runs, dies", Chicago Tribune, April 12, 2019. Accessed September 23, 2020.
^ Donald Lee Totten-obituary

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[1] "Thompson nominated, to face Stevenson". The Southeast Missourian. Associated Press. March 17, 1982. Retrieved August 9, 2021.

[2] "Kemp Coordinator is Optimistic". The State Journal-Register. November 27, 1987. p. 9.

[3] 'Illinois Blue Book 1981-1962,' Biographical Sketch of Donald L. Totten, pg. 74

[4] Goldsborough, Bob. "Donald Totten, Cook County Republican leader who led Midwest efforts for two Reagan presidential runs, dies", Chicago Tribune, April 12, 2019. Accessed September 23, 2020.

[5] Donald Lee Totten-obituary

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