George Radanovich

Infobox_Congressman
name = George Radanovich

---

date of birth= birth date and age|1955|06|20
place of birth= Mariposa, California
occupation=banker, construction worker, vineyard owner
alma_mater= California Polytechnic State University
state = California
district = 19th
term_start = January 3, 1995
preceded = Richard Lehman
succeeded = Incumbent
party = Republican
religion = Roman Catholic
spouse = Ethie Radanovich
children = King Radanovich
residence = Mariposa, California

George P. Radanovich (born June 20 1955) is a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1995, representing the 19th Congressional District of California. ( [http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/ca19_109.gifmap] ) The district includes most of northern Fresno, as well as several rural areas northeast of the city.

Background

Radanovich was born in Mariposa, California to a Roman Catholic family of Croatian extraction [ [http://www.radanovich.org/bio.html] ] . He was educated at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. After college, he performed a variety of jobs, including work as a banker, substitute teacher, and consturction worker.

Radanovich began growing grapes in his native Mariposa County in 1982, after observing a microclimate in the area suitable for their growth. In 1986, he opened the Radanovich Winery, the first winery in the region. He was a member of the Mariposa County board of supervisors from 1988 to 1992, serving as chairman in 1991. He first ran for Congress in 1992 after his home in Mariposa was shifted to the 19th District, and lost in the Republican primary to Fresno businessman Tal Cloud.

1994 Election

Radanovich defeated Michael Der Manouel Jr and Ron Gulke in the Republican primary in 1994. It was a spirited race in which Radanovich and Der Manouel exchanged barbs.

In the general election, Radonovich faced six-term incumbent Democrat Richard H. Lehman in the following November election. Lehman had only defeating Cloud by 1,100 votes in the pervious election cycle, and speculation had abounded that the 19th would not stay Democratic for long. Radanovich defeated Lehman by a shocking 17-point margin (56 percent to Lehman's 39 percent). It was one of the largest margins of defeat for an incumbent in a cycle that saw many tenured Democrats lose their seats.

2003 Steve Samuelian scandal

in 2003 George Radanovich's former chief of staff was accused of soliciting prostitutes for a second time. George Radanovich called for his resignation

2006 Election

He ran against Chemical Engineer T. J. Cox, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Cox was arguably Radanovich's most serious and well-funded challenger since his 1994 election. However, Michael Der Manouel Jr. commented on Cox's chances for election by saying, "Cox could spend $10 million and Nancy Pelosi could spend another $10 million and Congressman Radanovich wouldn't lose." However, since the October 2008 "Bailout" bill in which Radanovich voted YES to approve, there is a major uprising of disenchanted voters from the district looking to defeat his re-election in 2010. His yes vote was submitted despite a reported 90% call/fax/letter campaign of his constituents who opposed the bill.

Radanovich was reelected with 60% of the vote in 2006.

He is unopposed in 2008 in what is now considered one of the most Republican districts in California.

Votes & Positions

As is typical of most Republicans elected in 1994, Radanovich's voting record is strongly conservative. He was president of the Republican freshman class of 1994, and is a member of the Republican Study Committee.

*September 29, 2008: Voted YES, for the "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008" (Paulson Bailout Bill).
*June 16, 2006: Voted to reject timetables for withdrawal from Iraq.
*December 14 2005: Voted for to reauthorize the Patriot Act.
*June 29, 2005: Voted for the increase of funds by another $25 million for anti-marijuana print a TV ads.
*October 6, 2005: Voted for the Department of Homeland Security. [http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/]

Committee Assignments

* Committee on Energy and Commerce
** Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection
** Subcommittee on the Environment and Hazardous Materials
** Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
* Co-Chair of the Water Caucus
* Co-Chair of the Congressional Wine Caucus
* Co-Chair of the Congressional Croatian Caucus

Family

He is married to Ethie Radanovich; and they have one son, King.

References

External links

* [http://www.radanovich.house.gov/ U.S. Congressman George Radanovich] official House site
*CongBio|r000004
* [http://herndon1.sdrdc.com/cgi-bin/can_detail/H2CA19054 Federal Election Commission — George Radanovich] campaign finance reports and data
* [http://www.ontheissues.org/CA/George_Radanovich.htm On the Issues — George Radanovich] issue positions and quotes
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.asp?CID=N00007507 OpenSecrets.org — George Radanovich] campaign contributions
* [http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=CNIP5917 Project Vote Smart — Representative George P. Radanovich (CA)] profile
* [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Radanovich SourceWatch Congresspedia — George Radanovich] profile
* [http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/r000004/ Washington Post — Congress Votes Database: George Radanovich] voting record
* [http://www.radanovich.org/ George Radanovich] official campaign site
*Jim Boren, "The Fresno Bee", Published on May 25, 1994, Page B3, Article 8
* [http://www.fresnobeehive.com/opinion/2006/02/is_radanovich_worried_about_re.html Is Radanovich vulnerable?] Jim Boren, "The Fresno Bee", February 18, 2006