Jim Matheson

Infobox_Congressman
name = Jim Matheson


date of birth = birth date and age|1960|03|21
place of birth = Salt Lake City, Utah
state = Utah
district = 2nd
term_start = January 3, 2001
preceded = Merrill Cook
succeeded = Incumbent
party = Democrat
spouse = Amy Matheson
religion = The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
alma_mater= Harvard University, UCLA
residence= Salt Lake City, Utah
occupation= energy consultant

James David "Jim" Matheson (born March 21 1960) is a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Utah's 2nd congressional district ( [http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/ut02_109.gifmap] ). He is a Democrat, and the only member of his party currently representing Utah at the federal level.

Early life and career

Matheson was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and obtained a bachelor's degree from Harvard University and his M.B.A from the University of California, Los Angeles. [cite web |url=http://www.house.gov/matheson/bio.shtml |title=Congressman Jim Matheson — Biography |accessdate=2006-11-09] His father, Scott M. Matheson, served as Governor of Utah from 1977 to 1985, [cite web |url=http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/m/MATHESON%2CSCOTT.html |title=Scott M. Matheson |accessdate=2006-11-09 |author=John McCormick |work=Utah History Encyclopedia |publisher=University of Utah Press ] and his brother, Scott Matheson Jr., was the 2004 Democratic nominee for Governor. [cite news |author=Bob Bernick Jr. |title=Only a few Democrats were able to survive Utah's GOP 'sweep' |url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595102960,00.html |work=Deseret Morning News |publisher= |date=2004-11-04 |accessdate=2006-11-09 ] Matheson is also a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [cite news |author=Jerry Spangler |title=Mormon Democrats link up in Congress |url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600108572,00.html |work=Deseret Morning News |publisher= |date=2005-01-31 |accessdate=2006-11-09 ]

Prior to entering politics, Matheson worked in the energy field, working for several different companies and studying environmental policy. He later started his own energy consulting firm.

Political career

In 2000, Matheson was tapped to run in the 2nd District. The Democrats had high hopes of taking the seats in part because the 2nd has historically been friendlier to Democrats than the rest of Utah and in part because two-term incumbent Merrill Cook had a reputation for erratic behavior. The prospect of losing the seat frightened district Republicans enough that Cook was unseated in the primary by computer executive Derek Smith. However, Matheson defeated Smith handily, taking 56 percent of the vote even as George W. Bush won the district with 57% of the vote.

During the 2000s round of redistricting, the Republican-controlled state legislature significantly altered Matheson's district. The old 2nd had been located entirely in Salt Lake County since the 1980s round of redistricting; Salt Lake County has historically been much more liberal than the rest of Utah. The legislature drew all or part of 14 mostly rural counties in eastern and southern Utah into the 2nd. They were only connected to Salt Lake City by a narrow band of territory in Utah County. In addition, the legislature shifted most of western Salt Lake City to the 1st, leaving the more conservative eastern part of the city in the 2nd. The new district was approximately six points more Republican than its predecessor. Matheson was thought to face difficult odds for reelection, even though his family has roots in southern Utah. As expected, the 2002 race was very close. Matheson defeated State Representative John Swallow by only 1,600 votes, due almost entirely to trouncing Swallow by 25,800 votes in Salt Lake County.

According to at least one study, some extra financial help from the Republican Party might have helped Swallow defeat Matheson. However, national Republican leaders had been assured that the new 2nd was unwinnable for any Democrat, even one with Matheson's roots in the state. [http://csed.byu.edu/Assets/Pew/2002%20Monograph.pdf]

Over the next two years, Matheson worked his new, mostly rural district well. It paid off in 2004 when he defeated Swallow again--this time by a convincing 12-point margin even as Bush won the state handily (and carried the district with 67 percent of the vote). In 2006, he defeated State Representative LaVar Christensen by 22 points.

Like most Utah Democrats, Matheson is fairly conservative by national party standards.cite news |author=Bob Bernick Jr. |title=Matheson far enough to the right for Utahns |url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,645195985,00.html |work=Deseret Morning News |publisher= |date=2006-08-31 |accessdate=2006-11-09 ] Matheson is co-chairman of the Blue Dog Coalition, [cite news |author=Bob Bernick Jr. |title=Frugal Matheson walks to own beat |url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650202661,00.html |work=Deseret Morning News |publisher= |date=2006-10-29 |accessdate=2006-11-09 ] a conservative group of 44 Democrats in the House. He also is a member of the New Democrat Coalition.

Among other significant votes, Matheson voted against raising the federal debt limit; as well as against both Republican and Democratic budgets that do not reduce the deficit. Matheson, a former energy industry businessman, voted against authorizing the construction of new oil refineries. In March, 2007, Matheson was one of 14 Democrats who voted against a bill that would require President George W. Bush to bring combat troops home from Iraq by September 1, 2008.

Matheson is facing Republican challenger Bill Dew in the 2008 general election.

Committee Assignments

Congressman Matheson sits on these committees and subcommittees in the 110th Congress:

*Committee on Energy and Commerce
**Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection
**Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality
**Subcommittee on Health
*Committee on Science and Technology
**Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation

Electoral history

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
+ ushr|Utah|2|: Results 2000–2006cite web |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |title=Election Statistics |accessdate=2008-01-10 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives ] !|Year!!|Democrat!|Votes!|Pct!!|Republican!|Votes!|Pct!!|3rd Party!|Party!|Votes!|Pct!!|3rd Party!|Party!|Votes!|Pct!
-
2000|
Party shading/Democratic |nowrap|Jim Matheson
Party shading/Democratic align="right" |145,021
Party shading/Democratic |56%|
Party shading/Republican |nowrap|Derek W. Smith
Party shading/Republican align="right" |107,114
Party shading/Republican |41%|
Party shading/Independent |Bruce Bangerter
Party shading/Independent |Independent American
Party shading/Independent align="right" |4,704
Party shading/Independent align="right" |2%|
Party shading/Libertarian |Peter Pixton
Party shading/Libertarian |Libertarian
Party shading/Libertarian align="right" |2,165
Party shading/Libertarian align="right" |1%
|*
-
2002|
Party shading/Democratic |Jim Matheson
Party shading/Democratic align="right" |110,764
Party shading/Democratic |49%|
Party shading/Republican |John Swallow
Party shading/Republican align="right" |109,123
Party shading/Republican |49%|
Party shading/Green |Patrick Diehl
Party shading/Green |Green
Party shading/Green align="right" |2,589
Party shading/Green align="right" |1%|
Party shading/Libertarian |Ron Copier
Party shading/Libertarian |Libertarian
Party shading/Libertarian align="right" |1,622
Party shading/Libertarian align="right" |1%|
-
2004|
Party shading/Democratic |Jim Matheson
Party shading/Democratic align="right" |187,250
Party shading/Democratic |55%|
Party shading/Republican |John Swallow
Party shading/Republican align="right" |147,778
Party shading/Republican |43%|
Party shading/ConstitutionUSA |nowrap|Jeremy P. Petersen
Party shading/ConstitutionUSA |Constitution
Party shading/ConstitutionUSA align="right" |3,541
Party shading/ConstitutionUSA align="right" |1%|
Party shading/Green |Patrick Diehl
Party shading/Green |Green
Party shading/Green align="right" |2,189
Party shading/Green align="right" |1%
|*
-
2006|
Party shading/Democratic |Jim Matheson
Party shading/Democratic align="right" |133,231
Party shading/Democratic |59%|
Party shading/Republican |nowrap|LaVar Christensen
Party shading/Republican align="right" |84,234
Party shading/Republican |37%|
Party shading/ConstitutionUSA |W. David Perry
Party shading/ConstitutionUSA |Constitution
Party shading/ConstitutionUSA align="right" |3,395
Party shading/ConstitutionUSA align="right" |2%|
Party shading/Green |Bob Brister
Party shading/Green |Green
Party shading/Green align="right" |3,338
Party shading/Green align="right" |1%
|*
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

*Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 2000, Steven Alberts Voris received 597 votes. In 2004, Personal Choice Party candidate Ronald R. Amos received 1,210 votes. In 2006, Libertarian Party candidate Austin Sherwood Lett received 1,620 votes.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.house.gov/matheson/ U.S. Congressman Jim Matheson] official House site
* [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Jim_Matheson Profile] at SourceWatch Congresspedia
* [http://www.mathesonforcongress.com/ Jim Matheson for U.S. Congress] official campaign site
* [http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650198848,00.html Questionnaire responses from Jim Matheson] "Deseret Morning News", October 15, 2006
* [http://www.house.gov/matheson/press2006/060613.html Respond to Congress issuing a pay raise] "House.gov", June 13 , 2006