Jason Chaffetz

Infobox Person
name = Jason Chaffetz
birth_name =
birth_date = March 26, 1967
birth_place =
death_place =
other_names =
known_for = Republican nominee for the 3rd Congresssional District of Utah
occupation = Politician
nationality = American
spouse =
alma_mater = Brigham Young University
party = Republican
religion = The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
website = [http://www.jasonforcongress.com/ Campaign website]

Jason Chaffetz (born March 26, 1967) is a Utah politician who is the Republican nominee for the 3rd Congressional District in Utah.

Early life and education

Chaffetz's father was briefly married to Kitty Dukakis and Chaffetz has an older half brother, John Dukakis. [Jerry Crowe, [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/59892465.html?dids=59892465:59892465&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Sep+16%2C+1988&author=Jerry+Crowe&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=College+Football+At+BYU%2C+Democrat+Led+Early+but+Fell+Behind&pqatl=google "College Football At BYU, Democrat Led Early but Fell Behind"] , "Los Angeles Times", September 16, 1988]

Chaffetz attended Brigham Young University (BYU) on an athletic scholarship. He was the starting place kicker on the BYU football team in 1988 and 1989, and still holds the BYU individual records for most PATs attempted in a game (10), most PATs made in a game (10), and most consecutive PATs made (10). [ [http://www.byucougars.com/football/history/records.jsp "BYU Football Records"] , BYUCougars.com, "Offical Home of the Brigham Young University Athletics"]

While at BYU, Chaffetz became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [Emily Welch, [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-124906285.html "Former BYU athlete tackles new job as UVSC trustee"] , "University Wire", June 8, 2006] He graduated from BYU with a BA in Communications.

Chaffetz grew up as a Democrat. While a student at BYU, he was a Utah co-chairman for Michael Dukakis's 1988 campaign for U.S. President.Michael Teitelbaum, [http://www.nytimes.com/cq/2007/06/07/cq_2852.html "Immigration Issue Again Draws In-House Rivals to Utah Lawmaker"] , "New York Times", June 7, 2007] He later became a Republican after meeting Jon Huntsman, Jr.

Career

After college, began Chaffetz joined the local business community. His work included being a spokesman for Nu Skin International. [Adrienne Drell, [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4051904.html "Nu Skin recruiting pitch lures sellers - and probers"] , "Chicago Sun-Times", April 30, 1991]

In 2004, Chaffetz was the campaign manager for Jon Huntsman. When Huntsman took office in January 2005, Chaffetz became his chief of staff. [Dan Harrie, [http://www.stateline.org/live/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=136&languageId=1&contentId=15892 "Huntsman ties his success as gov to Utah economy"] , Stateline.org, January 4, 2005]

In November 2005, Chaffetz returned to the private sector, managing his own company, Maxtera Utah, which offer services in the areas of corporate communications and marketing.

2008 Congressional campaign

In June 2007, Chaffetz announced he would challenge the 3rd District's six-term incumbent, Chris Cannon, for the Republican nomination. Chaffetz said that Cannon “has failed us for not instituting conservative principles," specifically mentioning stronger measures to prevent illegal immigration. He continued to criticize Cannon during the campaign on the issue of illegal immigration. [ [http://www.kutv.com/content/news/topnews/story.aspx?content_id=1fc9ce11-b6a3-438b-9556-505e126a4617 "Cannon Forced Into Republican Primary"] , KUTV.com, May 10, 2008] Cannon was one of the most conservative members of the House, but had been forced to fend off primary challengers running well to his right in recent years.

In May 2008, Chaffetz almost won the Republican nomination, competing against Cannon at the Republican State Convention. Chaffetz won 59 percent of the delegates; had a few more votes gone his way, he would have won 60 percent of the delegates and gained the Republican nomination without the need for a primary. [Frank Pignanelli, [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20080518/ai_n25448346 "Chaffetz has a shot at defeating Cannon"] , "Deseret News", May 18, 2008]

In the primary on June 24, 2008, Chaffetz defeated Cannon by a vote of 60% to 40%. [Tad Walch, [http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700237809,00.html "Chaffetz wins big — He turns Cannon into a lame duck"] , "Deseret News", June 25, 2008] Chaffetz's victory was shocking on several fronts. Cannon was endorsed by George W. Bush [ [http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695276748,00.html "Bush sends letter endorsing Cannon"] , "Deseret News", May 6, 2008] , the state's two U.S. Senators (Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett) and virtually all of the state Republican establishment. Cannon outspent him by 6 to 1 [Joe Pyrah, [http://heraldextra.com/content/view/271526/999999/ "Chaffetz defeats Cannon"] , "Daily Herald", June 25, 2008] had a paid staff, as well as the endorsement of all three of the local newspapers. In contrast, Chaffetz won no significant endorsements and refused to buy meals and trinkets for his supporters. He had unpaid staff and a grass roots organization of over one thousand volunteers. He received the bulk of his campaign contributions from individual donors and his campaign was 100% debt-free.

Chaffetz faces Democrat Bennion Spencer in the general election. However, Utah's 3rd district is so heavily Republican that Chaffetz is overwhelmingly favored in November.

Personal

Chaffetz and his wife Julie have three children. They live in Alpine, Utah; a suburb of Provo.

Other

In 2007, Chaffetz was appointed by the Governor, and unanimously confirmed by the Utah State Senate, as a Trustee for Utah Valley State College. He has also served as the President, BYU Cougar Club-Utah County, member of the Highland City Planning Commission, and as the Chairman for the Utah National Guard Adjutant General Review.

References