Mike Ross

Infobox_Congressman
name =Mike Ross

---

date of birth= birth date and age|1961|08|2
place of birth= Texarkana, Arkansas
alma_mater=University of Arkansas at Little Rock
residence=Prescott, Arkansas
state = Arkansas
district = 4th
term_start = January 3, 2001
preceded = Jay Dickey
succeeded = Incumbent
party = Democrat
religion = Methodist
spouse = Holly Ross
occupation=Former Small Business Owner

Michael Avery “Mike” Ross (born August 2, 1961) is an American politician. He has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 2001, representing the 4th District of Arkansas ( [http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/ar04_109.gifmap] ). In the 2000 election, he was the only Democrat outside of California to defeat a Republican incumbent. In the 2004 election, the Republican Party did not run a challenger against him.

Personal and Professional Life

Ross was born in Texarkana, Arkansas, the son of two teachers, and he attended high school in Hope, Arkansas. He was educated at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, working as an announcer at the campus radio station while in school. Together with his wife, Ross owned a pharmacy in Prescott, Arkansas, which they sold in May 2007. The Ross family has two children and attend the First United Methodist Church of Prescott.

Before entering the House, Ross was elected to the Arkansas State Senate. He served in this body for 10 years, becoming the legislature's youngest member when he first entered it in 1990.

Congressional career

Ross is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, and he considers himself a social moderate and fiscal conservative. Ross supports stem cell research but opposes abortion. He also is against gun control. [ [http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Mike_Ross.htm Mike Ross on the Issues ] ]

Ross won a narrow victory against incumbent Jay Dickey in 2000 by portraying himself as a moderate, as is in line with the political tendencies of his district. In contrast, Dickey was seen as a controversial conservative because of his comments on stem cell research and homosexuality. Ross easily defeated Dickey in a 2002 rematch, then ran unopposed in 2004. He picked up an easy victory in the 2006 election, defeating the similarly named Republican, real estate executive Joe Ross, 75 percent-25 percent.

Ross considered running for the position of Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman for the 110th Congress; however, he deferred to incumbent John Larson after Rahm Emanuel chose to run for caucus chair, which is the position for which Larson had been running. [cite web|url=http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/110906/deal.html
date=November 9, 2006|title=House Dems strike leadership deal] .

Committee Assignments

*Committee on Energy and Commerce
**SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND AIR QUALITY
**SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH
**SUBCOMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, TRADE, AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
*Committee on Science and Technology
**SUBCOMMITTEE ON SPACE AND AERONAUTICS
**SUBCOMMITTEE ON TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
*North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Parliamentary Assembly (NATO-PA)

References

External links

* [http://www.house.gov/ross/ Congressman Mike Ross] official U.S. House website
* [http://www.ross4congress.com/ Congressman Mike Ross] official campaign website
* [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Mike_Ross Profile] at SourceWatch Congresspedia