James P. Jontz

James P. Jontz Jim Jontz, 55, died Saturday, April 14, in his home in Portland, Oregon. A past member of the U.S. Congress and Indiana House of Representatives and Senate, Jim was an active environmentalist and, most recently, a community organizer for economic issues. Although his influence was nationwide, he was a Hoosier by birth, having graduated from North Central High School and Indiana University (Phi Beta Kappa) as well as doing graduate work at Purdue University. In his youth he was an Eagle Scout and, in the summer, a conservationist for the Indiana State Parks system and a leader of nature hikes in the Indianapolis city parks under the auspices of The Children's Museum. After graduation from I.U. Jim was program director for the Lake Michigan Federation and executive director of the Indiana Conservation Council, the Hoosier affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation. He taught history and political science at Purdue and Butler Universities. Jim's political career began in 1974, sparked by his opposition to a dam-building project in Central Indiana. Running for a seat in the Indiana House of Representatives against the dam's sponsor, the Indiana House majority leader, he was elected by two votes at the age of 22, at the time the second youngest person ever to have served in the Indiana House. He continued to win re-election and served there ten years before being elected to the Indiana Senate in 1984. He represented Indiana's Fifth District in Congress from 1987 to 1993. Defeated in 1992, he lost a race for U.S. Senate in 1994 against incumbent Richard Lugar. Moving to Portland, Oregon, in 1999, he was Executive Director for the Western Ancient Forest Campaign and helped organize the Alliance for Sustainable Jobs and the Environment. In 1998 Jontz was elected president of Americans for Democratic Action. At the time of his death he was ADA president emeritus and served as a project coordinator for ADA's Working Families Win project. Predeceased by his father Leland D. Jontz, Jim is survived by his mother and stepfather, Polly Jontz Lennon and Paul A. Lennon, his sister Mary Lee Turk and his nieces, Katherine, Elizabeth and Emily Turk. A memorial tribute is planned for a later date. Those who wish to be notified of the date and time may e-mail their contact information to jimjontztribute@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Americans for Democratic Action, 1625 K Street NW, Suite 210, Washington, D.C. 20006; the Hoosier Environmental Council Foundation, 1915 West 18th Street, Suite A, Indianapolis, IN 46202, or American Lands Alliance, 726 Seventh Street SE, Washington DC, 20003.