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Damon Dunn

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Damon Dunn
No. 87
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:(1976-03-15)March 15, 1976(age 48)
Fort Worth, Texas,U.S.
Height:5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:182 lb (83 kg)
Career information
High school:Arlington (TX) Houston
College:Stanford
Undrafted:1998
Career history
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:5
Receptions:1
Receiving yards:6
Player stats atPFR

Damon Jerrel Dunn(born March 15, 1976) is an American politician, commercial real estate developer, minister, and formerfootballplayer.

Early life

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Dunn was born in 1976 inFort Worth, Texasto a 16-year-old mother, Ramona Dunn. When Dunn was three years old his father,Texas Longhornsstarting wide receiver, Mike Lockett, was killed in a car accident.[2][3]Dunn grew up in a trailer on his grandparents' farm.[4]Dunn was an honor student inSam Houston High SchoolinArlington, Texasand an All-State Texas football player.[4][5]

College

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After high school Dunn attendedStanford Universityon a football scholarship after being recruited byBill Walsh.[citation needed]Dunn also ran track at Stanford.[citation needed]At Stanford Dunn was coached byTyrone Willinghamand Dunn has said he viewed him as a father figure, having grown up without a male role model in his life.[citation needed]While at Stanford Dunn set numerous records and was awarded an NCAA Academic Scholarship, All-Pac-10 Honors and Academic All-Pac-10 Honors, and the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Award.[5]During his career at Stanford Dunn participated as an associate pastor in the Jerusalem Baptist Church, where he managed youth ministries.[2]

NFL career

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Dunn graduated from Stanford in 1998 with a degree inpublic policy.[5]He was not picked in the1998 NFL Draft.[6]The season after he graduated from Stanford, Dunn was on the practice squad of theNational Football LeagueteamJacksonville Jaguars.[7]Dunn then played for theCleveland Brownsin 1999. The next year, Dunn played in theBerlin ThunderofNFL Europe,theNew York Jetsof the NFL, and the Browns in 2000.[8]In 2001, Dunn played for theXFLteamLos Angeles Xtreme;the XFL folded after that season.[9]Dunn joinedDallas Cowboystraining camp before the2001 NFL season.[7]He left the NFL after being injured there.[4]

Other ventures

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After retiring from the NFL, Dunn and a former Stanford roommate became partners in anIrvine, California-based real estate business, which developed several shopping centers.[4]

Politics

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California Secretary of State

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In 2009, Dunn announced that he would run forCalifornia Secretary of Statechallengingincumbent DemocratDebra Bowen.TheLos Angeles Sentinelquoted Dunn: "There are a lot of African Americans that are conservative fiscally, but we don't have the welcoming face in the Republican Party."[10]

In March 2010,Orly Taitzqualified to run for the office ofCalifornia Secretary of State.At the same time, she unsuccessfully challenged the eligibility of herRepublican Partyprimaryopponent, Dunn, claiming that he was pretending to be a Republican. While playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dunn had registered to vote as aDemocratin 1999 but that registration expired in 2005.[11]

On May 12, 2010,Pamela Barnett(named plaintiff from Taitz's lawsuitBarnett v. Obama) filed a lawsuit in the Sacramento County Superior Court alleging that Dunn was not eligible to run for Secretary of State.[12][13][14]

TheSan Francisco Chronicleendorsed Dunn for the June 2010 primary.[15]Ronnie Lott,a Hall of Fame NFL player, endorsed Dunn the following month.[16]

Taitz was defeated by Dunn in the June 8 primary by a margin of about three to one,[17]losing by over 900,000 votes.[18]

On June 17, 2010, Taitz filed a lawsuit in the Orange County Superior Court contesting the election results, again alleging Dunn's ineligibility.[19]On March 17, 2011, the judge ruled against Taitz.[20]On May 1, 2012, aCalifornia Court of Appealaffirmed the superior court's ruling.[21][22]

Mayor of Long Beach

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In 2014Dunn ran forMayor of Long Beach.[23]He qualified for the runoff by finishing second in the primary election, and facedRobert Garciaon June 3.[24]

Dunn lost the election to Robert Garcia, former vice-mayor on June 3, 2014.[25]

Electoral history

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California Secretary of State election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Debra Bowen(incumbent) 3,786,174 53.1
Republican Damon Dunn 2,751,863 38.6
Green Ann Menasche 204,236 2.9
Libertarian Christina Tobin 157,974 2.2
American Independent Merton D. Short 121,023 1.6
Peace and Freedom Marylou Cabral 120,338 1.6
Total votes 7,141,608 100.00
Democratichold

Personal life

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While in the NFL, Dunn worked with the Make-a-Wish Foundation visiting kids with terminal diseases.[citation needed]Dunn started the Fighting Giants Ministry that ministers to children with life changing injuries. Dunn has also worked with St. Augustine Soup Kitchen, the Cops-N-Kids program and theCleveland ClinicFoundation.[citation needed]Dunn served as president of his localFellowship of Christian Athleteschapter and has spoken nationally at FCA events.[citation needed]Dunn is also a licensedBaptistminister and a member ofAntioch Church of Long Beach.[citation needed]He lives inLong Beach, California.[4]

References

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  1. ^"Transactions".NFL.com.
  2. ^abBarnes, Evan (December 10, 2009)."Damon Dunn: Republican for State Office".Los Angeles Sentinel.RetrievedDecember 30,2010.
  3. ^DeVaughn, Mark (January 11, 2010)."Damon Dunn for CA Sec. of State!".The Bootleg.Scout.com. Archived fromthe originalon July 16, 2011.RetrievedDecember 30,2010.
  4. ^abcdeSkelton, George (December 24, 2009)."Stanford football hero warms up for a statewide run".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedDecember 30,2010.
  5. ^abc"1997 Graduated Senior Bios".GoStanford.com.CBS Sports. Archived fromthe originalon August 19, 2011.RetrievedDecember 30,2010.
  6. ^"The Positions: WR".CNNSI.com.April 13, 1998.RetrievedDecember 31,2010.
  7. ^abFitzGerald, Tom (August 7, 2001)."Dunn is a Cowboy with a tale to tell".San Francisco Chronicle.RetrievedDecember 31,2010.
  8. ^"Damon Dunn Stats, News and Video - WR".NFL.com.
  9. ^"Damon Dunn".all-xfl.com.RetrievedDecember 30,2010.
  10. ^"Damon Dunn: Republican for State Office".LA Sentinel. December 10, 2009.RetrievedMarch 17,2016.
  11. ^Activist who challenges Obama's citizenship is booted from Tax Day Tea Party,Los Angeles Times,Seema Mehta, April 13, 2010. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  12. ^Wisckol, Martin (May 12, 2010)."Lawsuit would benefit Obama birthplace lawyer".The Orange County Register.Archived fromthe originalon May 15, 2010.RetrievedAugust 15,2010.
  13. ^Weigel, David(March 10, 2010)."Orly Taitz Challenges the Eligibility of an African-American Politician".The Washington Independent.Archived fromthe originalon March 22, 2010.RetrievedAugust 15,2010.
  14. ^Kornhaber, Spencer (March 8, 2010)."Orly Taitz's Claims About Damon Dunn's Eligilibity: False!".OC Weekly.Archived fromthe originalon May 14, 2010.RetrievedMay 4,2010.
  15. ^"Chronicle endorsements".San Francisco Chronicle.June 8, 2010. p. A15.
  16. ^Marinucci, Carla (July 28, 2010)."CA GOP Sec of State candidate Damon Dunn, former NFL player, lands endorsement of Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott".San Francisco Chronicle Politics Blog.RetrievedDecember 31,2010.
  17. ^"Mercury News (AP):" Dunn to face Bowen for Calif secretary of state "".San Jose Mercury News.June 8, 2010.RetrievedAugust 15,2010.[dead link]
  18. ^California Secretary of State's website.Retrieved June 21, 2010.ArchivedJune 9, 2010, at theWayback Machine
  19. ^Kornhaber, Spencer (July 1, 2010)."UPDATED: Orly Taitz Continues Jihad Against Damon Dunn (And, Now, Us)".OC Weekly.Archived fromthe originalon August 12, 2010.RetrievedAugust 15,2010.
  20. ^Coker, Matt (March 18, 2011)."Donald Trump Gives Orly Taitz Sloppy Wet Kiss".OC Weekly.Archived fromthe originalon March 20, 2011.RetrievedMarch 18,2011.
  21. ^"Docket".California Appellate Courts.RetrievedMay 2,2012.
  22. ^Moxley, R. Scott (May 2, 2012)."Orly Taitz Booted From California Court of Appeal in Election Fraud Case".OC Weekly.Archived fromthe originalon May 5, 2012.RetrievedMarch 17,2016.
  23. ^Stewart, Joshua (May 29, 2014)."In a liberal city, candidates don't want to be a Republican".Orange County Register.RetrievedJuly 23,2018.
  24. ^Bradley, Eric (April 9, 2014)."Robert Garcia wins, Damon Dunn second as Long Beach mayor race goes to runoff".Long Beach Press Telegram.RetrievedMarch 17,2016.
  25. ^Robert Garcia beats Damon Dunn, becomes Long Beach’s youngest mayor[permanent dead link],Long Beach Press Telegram,June 4, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
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