Allan Turner Howe (September 6, 1927 – December 14, 2000) was a U.S. Representative from Utah.

Allan Turner Howe
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Utah's 2nd district
In office
January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1977
Preceded byWayne Owens
Succeeded byDavid Daniel Marriott
Personal details
Born(1927-09-06)September 6, 1927
South Cottonwood, Utah
DiedDecember 14, 2000(2000-12-14) (aged 73)
Arlington, Virginia
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materUniversity of Utah
Professionattorney
Military service
Allegiance United States of America
Branch/service United States Coast Guard
Years of service1946–1947

Born in South Cottonwood near Murray, Utah, Howe attended public schools before receiving a B.S. from the University of Utah in 1952 and a J.D.L. from the same university in 1954. He served in the United States Coast Guard from 1946 to 1947.

He held a number of legal and governmental jobs, including as deputy Salt Lake County attorney, South Salt Lake city attorney, administrative assistant and field representative to U.S. Senator Frank E. Moss from 1959 to 1964, assistant attorney general of Utah from 1965 to 1966, administrative assistant to Governor Cal Rampton from 1966 to 1968, and executive director of the Four Corners Regional Development Commission from 1968 to 1972. He also practiced law in Salt Lake City, served as a delegate to Utah State Democratic conventions from 1954 to 1960 and was an alternate delegate to the 1960 Democratic National Convention.

Howe was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fourth Congress in 1974.

Arrest

edit

On June 13, 1976, Howe was arrested in Salt Lake City on misdemeanor charges of soliciting sex for hire after propositioning a police officer posing undercover as a prostitute.[1] As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints representing a district where most voters were members of the church, and amidst a rash of other congressional scandals in the summer of 1976, Howe had maintained that politicians' private moral behavior was relevant to their public service.[2][3] Howe claimed that he was innocent, a victim of a politically motivated "set-up."[4]

He retained the endorsement of local Democratic officials as he'd already been nominated at the party convention. Despite the party's efforts, he refused to step down, and the state Democratic Party executive committee then voted to co-endorse Daryl J. McCarty as a write-in candidate.[5] Howe ultimately lost reelection to Republican Dan Marriott in November 1976.[6][7]

Later career

edit
 
Speaker Carl Albert with Howe's wife Marlene Dee and Howe.

He was convicted of solicitation, and the conviction was upheld on appeal. Following his electoral defeat, Howe stayed in Washington, D.C., and worked as a lobbyist, including, at the end of his career, for the National Park and Hospitality Association.[8]

Death

edit

He died in Arlington, Virginia, on December 14, 2000, at the age of 73.

Electoral history

edit
1974 United States House of Representatives elections[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Allan Howe 105,739 49.48
Republican Stephen Harmsen 100,259 46.92
American Roben J. Schafer 6,482 3.03
Libertarian Karl J. Bray 1,218 0.57
Total votes 213,698 100.0
Democratic hold
1976 United States House of Representatives elections[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David Daniel Marriott 144,861 52.43
Democratic Allan Howe (Incumbent) 110,931 40.15
Independent Darrell McCarty (as a write-in) 20,508 7.42
Total votes 276,300 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Oelsner, Lesley (June 14, 1976). "Rep. Howe Held on Sex Charge in Utah; Gravel Denies Sex on Boat With Miss Ray". New York Times. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  2. ^ Oelsner, Lesley (June 14, 1976). "Rep. Howe Held on Sex Charge in Utah; Gravel Denies Sex on Boat With Miss Ray". New York Times. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  3. ^ "NBC Evening News". June 15, 1976.
  4. ^ "NBC Evening News". June 18, 1976.
  5. ^ "ONLY TIME WILL TELL IF DAMAGE IS REPAIRABLE". Deseret News. 1995-12-10. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  6. ^ Sillito, John (1994), "Howe, Allan Turner", Utah History Encyclopedia, University of Utah Press, ISBN 9780874804256, archived from the original on November 3, 2022, retrieved May 13, 2024
  7. ^ A Timeline of Politicians and Prostitutes, compiled by the library staff of U.S. News & World Report, 3/11/08
  8. ^ Davidson, Lee (December 16, 2000). "Former Rep. Allan Howe dies at 73". Deseret News. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  9. ^ 1974 Election Results
  10. ^ 1976 Election Results
edit
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Utah's 2nd congressional district

1975-1977
Succeeded by