August Paul “Augie” Mardesich was born on February 11, 1920, and died on February 8, 2016, in Mill Creek, Washington.
He was an American politician in the state of Washington.
He attended the University of Washington Law School, graduating in 1948 and admitted to the bar.
He worked in the Washington House of Representatives for District 38 (parts of Snohomish County) from 1950 to 1963, as a Democrat.
August P. Mardesich served as majority leader in the 1950s, during his third term. In 1962, he ran for election to the Washington State Senate for the same district, on the premise of the four-year terms that it offered, rather than the two-year terms that the house offered.
In 1972, August became majority leader, replacing Senator R.R. (Bob) Grieve, who had previously held the position for 16 years.
In 1975, he was charged by a grand jury on charges of coercion and tax evasion, charges he was later to be found innocent of, on July 3, 1975.
Later in 1975, the minister was sued by Attorney General Slade Gorton on charges of influence peddling and violating public disclosure laws regarding payments between Mardesich and two banks.
August P. Mardesich resigned as majority leader later that year.
Three years following that, in 1978, he lost re-election to the state senate, effectively ending his political career.
August P. Mardesich would later attempt to win re-election to his old senate seat held by Larry Vognild, but was defeated in the primary.
He also served on the Industrial Insurance Appeals Board, appointed by Governor Dixy Lee Ray, and also worked as a lobbyist.
Though he had survived another fishing accident when a boat with him and his daughters capsized in Alaska, in 1976, he also returned to fishing.
During his legislative service, he was admired for his ability to simplify and explain confusing bills and pieces of legislation.
And was also widely regarded as one of the most influential persons in the state.
His wife was Rosemary and with her has six children.
The family resided in Mill Creek, Washington.
August P. Mardesich will be remembered as one of the most influential legislators the political history of the state.
August P. Mardesich passed away at 95 yrs old.