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Federal Election Commission | United States of America

John W. McGarry

Headshot of
Democrat
October 1978 to August 1998
(Reappointed July 1983 and October 1989)

Biography

Mr. McGarry retired from the Commission on August 11, 1998. First appointed to the Commission in 1978, Mr. McGarry was reappointed in 1983 and 1989. He served as FEC Chairman in 1981, 1985, 1991 and 1997. Before his 1978 Commission appointment, Commissioner McGarry served as special counsel on elections to the House Administration Committee. He previously combined private law practice with service as chief counsel to the House Special Committee to Investigate Campaign Expenditures, a special committee established by Congress every election year through 1972. Before his work with Congress, Commissioner McGarry was the Massachusetts assistant attorney general. After graduating cum laude from Holy Cross College, Commissioner McGarry did graduate work at Boston University and earned a J.D. degree from Georgetown University Law School.