Joel Hefley

Infobox Congressman
name= Joel Hefley

---

date of birth = birth date and age|1935|4|18
place of birth= Ardmore, Oklahoma
state = Colorado
district = 5th
term =January 6, 1987–January 4, 2007
preceded = Ken Kramer
succeeded = Doug Lamborn
party = Republican
religion = Presbyterian
spouse = Dr. Lynn Christian Hefley
residence=Colorado Springs, Colorado
occupation=business consultant, nonprofit program coordinator
alma_mater=Oklahoma Baptist University, Oklahoma State University

Joel M. Hefley (born April 18, 1935) is a U.S Republican politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives representing the 5th Congressional District of Colorado from 1987 to 2007. His wife, Dr. Lynn Hefley, is currently a member of the Colorado State House of Representatives. They have three daughters.

He was born in Ardmore, Oklahoma, earned his B.A. at Oklahoma Baptist University and his M.A. at Oklahoma State University. He worked as a management consultant and then as executive director of the Colorado Community Planning and Research Council, an nonprofit organization. He was a member of the Colorado House of Representatives for one term in 1977-78. Hefley was subsequently elected to the Colorado Senate before entering the U.S. House of Representatives.

He served as chairman of the House Ethics Committee until 2005. His tenure propelled him from being "among the most obscure members" in the House to gaining national attention, when the Committee formally admonished House Majority Leader Tom DeLay three times over actions that allegedly went "beyond the bounds of acceptable conduct." Hefley also handled the expulsion case of James Traficant, who went on countless tirades and used derogatory language before the committee, and oversaw the investigation of Alan Mollohan. Because Hefley did not acquit DeLay, Republican leadership removed Hefley from his chairmanship.

When the new Congress opened in January 2005, House Republicans pushed through new rules curtailing the ways ethics investigations can be launched. While Hefley voted for the rules, he criticized the procedure, "saying he thought the changes were a mistake since they were done without bipartisan discussion." [cite news | publisher=Washington Post | title=GOP Shifts Gears on Ethics Rule: House Democrats Assail Change Limiting Ways an Investigation Can Start | author=Mike Allen | date=January 5, 2005 | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48431-2005Jan4.html ] Within a month, Hefley was ousted as chair, because, he said, that "he was too independent." [cite news | publisher=Washington Post | title=House GOP Leaders Name Loyalist to Replace Ethics Chief | author=Mike Allen | date=February 3, 2005 | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58884-2005Feb2.html] Doc Hastings of Washington was chosen as his replacement.

On February 16, 2006, Hefley ended speculation as to whether he would seek re-election in 2006, instead retiring after 10 terms in Congress, despite pledging in 1986 that he would not serve longer than three terms (6 years.)

2006 Congressional race

In the August GOP primary to succeed him, Hefley backed his long-time aide, former administrative director Jeff Crank, who lost in a contentious six-way race to State Senator Doug Lamborn. Hefley was incensed at the tactics used in the election, particularly a mailed brochure from the Christian Coalition of Colorado associating Crank with "public support for members and efforts of the homosexual agenda." Hefley said that he "suspected, but couldn't prove, collusion between Lamborn's campaign, which is managed by Jon Hotaling, and the Christian Coalition of Colorado, which is run by Hotaling's brother, Mark." cite news | last=Foster |first=Dick | title=Hefley denies da
] Hefley called it "one of the sleaziest, most dishonest campaigns I've seen in a long time," and, as a result, refused to endorse Lamborn.

References

External links

*CongBio|H000444
* [http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Joel_Hefley.htm OnTheIssues]
* [http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/h000444 Voting record maintained by the Washington Post]