Eric Eidsness

Frederic A. "Eric" Eidsness, Jr. (born December 1, 1944), is an American political figure. He was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and was later a Reform Party candidate for the 4th Congressional district in Colorado. He lost to Republican Marilyn Musgrave, in the 2006 U.S. House elections.

Biography

A veteran of the United States Navy, Eidsness served in the Vietnam War before coming to work for the federal Water Pollution Control Administration in 1970. In 1975, Eidsness moved to Colorado, where he served with the Larimer-Weld Regional Council of Governments. http://www.eric4congress.org/About/Bio.aspx]

Reagan Administration career

In 1981, then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan appointed Eidsness to the post of Assistant Administrator for Water Programs within the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a post he held until 1987. Eidsness later returned to Colorado in 1991 and in 1999 settled in Fort Collins.

2006 Reform Party candidacy

In late 2005, then-Republican Eidsness launched an exploratory committee to examine the prospect of challenging incumbent Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave in Colorado's 4th congressional district in the 2006 Republican Primary. [ [http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050831/NEWS01/508310303/1002 The Coloradoan - www.coloradoan.com - Ft. Collins, CO ] ] Eidsness instead left the Republican Party and announced his candidacy for U.S. Congress from the 4th District on March 31, 2006, as a member of the Reform Party. Eidsness opposed both Musgrave and Democratic candidate Angie Paccione in the November 2006 General Election.

The campaign raised just under of $27,000. [ [http://opensecrets.org/races/summary.asp?ID=CO04&Cycle=2006 Congressional Races ] ] Eidsness garnered multiple newspaper endorsements, including the endorsements of the hometown newspapers of both his major-party opponents. [http://www.eric4congress.org/Endorse/Endorsments.aspx] In final returns, he netted over 27,000 votes, or 11.28% of ballots cast. [http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/electionresults2006G/]

2007 switch to Democratic Party

In March 2007, Eidsness declared that he was joining the Democratic Party, declaring: "I am a new Democrat who can bring business savvy and fiscal restraint to the Democratic Party's proposals should I run for Congress in 2008 and win." [ [http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070306/UPDATES01/70306002 The Coloradoan - www.coloradoan.com - Ft. Collins, CO ] ] Media and political observers speculated that this party switch was a prelude to a second run for Congress in 2008.

Eidsness announced another run for Congress, this time running for the Democratic nomination. He withdrew from the race in October, 2007.

Political ideology

A self-described "fiscal conservative" and "social moderate," [ [http://coloradopols.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=73BE11F9A795D8411A48558551C597A0?diaryId=802 ColoradoPols.com:: Another Challenger From the Right for Musgrave ] ] Eidsness has been critical of the U.S. War in Iraq, and has called for a concrete timetable for troop withdrawal. [http://www.eric4congress.org/Issues/Issue3.aspx] Breaking ranks with many Republicans, Eidsness has also expressed opposition to the Federal Marriage Amendment proposed by Marilyn Musgrave, and opposes federal regulation of abortion. [http://www.eric4congress.org/Press/Press44.aspx]

As a Republican, Eidsness supported Democratic nominee John Kerry during the 2004 presidential election. [http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:tKapurFnqoIJ:www.collegian.com/home/index.cfm%3Fevent%3DdisplayArticleComments%26ustory_id%3De960f101-ac2f-4a14-ab23-473354ba8a8b%26format%3Drss+%22eric+eidsness%22+%22republicans+for+kerry%22+%22daffy+duck%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&client=firefox-a] Eidsness holds more traditionally conservative positions with regard to stricter enforcement of U.S. immigration policy and control of government spending.

References

External links

* [http://www.eric4congress.org/ Eric Eidsness for Congress]
* [http://lib.colostate.edu/archives/findingaids/water/weid.html Guide to the Papers of Eric Eidsness] at Colorado State University
* [http://musgravewatch.blogspot.com/2006/07/rap-eric-eidsness-reform-party.html July 2006 Musgrave Watch interview with Eric Eidsness]
* [http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060401/NEWS01/604010319&SearchID=73240246596349 Paccione, Musgrave officially have competition] , "Fort Collins Coloradoan", 1 April 2006.
* [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Eric_Eidsness SourceWatch Congresspedia - Eric Eidsness] profile