Steve Pearce

Infobox_Congressman
name =Steve Pearce


state2 = New Mexico
district2 = 2nd
term_start2 =January 3, 2003
preceded2 = Joe Skeen
succeeded2 = Incumbent
party = Republican
date of birth= birth date and age|1947|08|24
place of birth= Lamesa, Texas
death_date =
death_place =
alma_mater = New Mexico State University,
Eastern New Mexico University
occupation = pilot, business owner
religion = Baptist
spouse = Cynthia Pearce
residence= Hobbs, New Mexico
branch=United States Air Force
serviceyears=1970-1976
battles=Vietnam War

Stevan Edward Pearce (born August 24, 1947) is an American politician from the U.S. state of New Mexico. He has represented ushr|New Mexico|2| as a Republican in the United States House of Representatives since 2003. He is an Assistant Minority Whip.

On June 3, 2008, he won the Republican nomination for the United States Senate.

Early and family life

Pearce was born in Lamesa, Texas but resides in Hobbs, New Mexico. He attended college at New Mexico State University, earning a degree in economics. Afterward, he received an MBA from Eastern New Mexico University. Steve has been married to his wife Cynthia for over 20 years, and together they operate a small oilfield services company called Lea Fishing Tools. Pearce also served in Vietnam as a pilot for the Air Force, and is still an avid pilot today.

New Mexico House of Representatives

Pearce was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives in 1996 and re-elected in 1998. In 2000, he ran for the United States Senate but lost by a wide margin in the Republican primary to former ushr|New Mexico|3|third district Congressman Bill Redmond.

U.S. House of Representatives

Pearce was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2002, following 11-term Representative Joe Skeen's retirement.

In 2005, Pearce was found to have plagiarized several articles from think tanks like the Heritage Foundation. [ [http://socorronews.com/node/27 socorronews.com] ] The articles were published under Pearce's name in small papers throughout New Mexico. His press secretary resigned shortly after the story broke. [ [http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/nov/02/new-mexicos-pearce-quest-build-reputation-consiste/ abqtrib.com] ]

Committee Assignments

*Financial Services Committee
** Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit
** Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity (Deputy Ranking Member)
*Natural Resources Committee
** Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources (Ranking Member)
** Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands

Caucuses

*Co-Chair of the Border Security Caucus
*Vice-Chairman of the Native American Caucus
*Vice-Chairman of the Sportsman Caucus

United States Senate campaign, 2008

On October 16, 2007, Pearce announced he would run for the Republican nomination to replace Pete Domenici in the U. S. Senate.

Primary election

Fellow Republican Representative Heather Wilson had previously declared her candidacy in that race. [cite news | url=http://www.abqjournal.com/abqnews/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5197&Itemid=40 | title=Pearce Will Run for Senate | publisher=Albuquerque Journal |date=16 October 2007 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2007-11-18] In late October 2007, Pearce made 130,000 automated phone calls to justify his opposition to the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) bill that would have provided health benefit to children, which the Wilson campaign claimed "Pearce violated House ethics by urging those he called to contact him through his official, non-campaign phone number or check out his official, non-campaign Web site." [cite news | url=http://kob.com/article/stories/S232572.shtml?cat=504 | title=Pearce calls voters, Wilson cries foul | publisher=KOB |date=2007-10-22 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2007-11-18] [cite news | url=http://www.alamogordonews.com/opinion/ci_7325103 | title=Senate hopefuls don't inspire | publisher=Alamogordo Daily News |date=October 31, 2007 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2007-11-18]

In March 2008, Pearce garnered 54.51% of the vote at the Republican pre-primary nominating convention. [ [http://www.gopnm.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=439%3Astate-republican-pre-primary-convention-results&Itemid=105 State Republican Pre-Primary Convention Results ] ] He won the June 3 2008 Republican primary.

General election

Pearce is endorsed by the Campaign for Working Families, the National Right to Life Organization, the Susan B. Anthony List, the Club for Growth, and the Albuquerque Police Officer's Association. [Campaign web site.]

Pearce is running against U.S. Congressman Tom Udall who represents New Mexico's 3rd congressional district.

References

External links

* [http://pearce.house.gov/ U.S. Congressman Steve Pearce] , U.S. House website
* [http://www.peopleforpearce.com/ People for Pearce] , Senate campaign website
* [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Stevan_Pearce Profile] at SourceWatch Congresspedia