André Carson

Infobox_Congressman
name = André Carson


imagesize =
caption = Carson in 2008
state = Indiana
district = 7th
term_start = March 13, 2008
term_end =
predecessor = Julia Carson
successor =
order2 = Member of the
Indianapolis City-County Council
from the 15th district
term_start2 = October 2007
term_end2 = March 13, 2008
predecessor2 = Patrice Abduallah
successor2 = Doris Minton-McNeill
birth_date = birth date and age|1974|10|16
birth_place = Indianapolis, Indiana
death_date =
death_place =
party = Democratic
spouse = Mariama Shaheed
children = Salimah Carson
profession = Marketing specialist
religion = Islam
alma_mater = Concordia University, Indiana Wesleyan University
residence = Indianapolis, Indiana
website = [http://carson.house.gov/ Congressman André Carson]
footnotes =

André D. Carson (born October 16, 1974) is the United States Representative for Indiana's 7th congressional district and the grandson of his predecessor, former U.S. Representative Julia Carson (1938–2007). [http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080313/LOCAL19/80313071 Indystar.com: Carson sworn in as congressman for 7th District] ] [ [http://clerk.house.gov/new.html Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representative: 03/13/2008 Official lists were updated to reflect the addition of Rep. Carson, IN-07, to the rolls.] ] Carson, who is African American, describes himself as "an Orthodox, universal, secular Muslim."cite web | url=http://ruthholladay.com/index.php?blog=1&title=andre_carson_on_identity_and_belief&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 | title=Andre Carson on identity and belief | author=Ruth Holladay | publisher=RuthHolladay.com | date=2008-01-06] He is the second Muslim to serve in the U.S. Congress, after Keith Ellison (D-MN), and is the first Muslim elected to federal office from Indiana. He is currently the youngest Democratic Member of Congress.

Biography

Carson is a native of Indianapolis, Indiana. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice Management from Concordia University Wisconsin and a Master of Business Management from Indiana Wesleyan University. He was a local board officer and investigator for the Indiana State Excise Police for nine years. He also served in the Indiana Department of Homeland Security at the Intelligence Fusion Center, supervising an anti-terrorism unit. He was a marketing specialist for Cripe Architects + Engineers.cite web | url=http://www.andrecarsonforcongress.com/biography.shtml | title=Biography | publisher=André Carson for Congress | accessdate=2008-01-13] He is also a Democratic Party committeeperson in Center Township of Marion County, Indiana.

He, his wife Mariama, and daughter Salimah live in the Fall Creek Place neighborhood of Indianapolis.

Political career

Carson was elected to the Indianapolis City-County Council in 2007 to replace Councillor Patrice Abduallah in the 15th Council district of Indianapolis. Abduallah resigned his seat before completing his term.cite web | url=http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2007/11/patrice-abduallah-never-lived-in.html | title=Patrice Abduallah Never Lived In District 15 | publisher=Advance Indiana | date=2007-11-02]

U.S. House of Representatives campaign

André Carson won the Nominating Caucus of the Marion County Democratic Party for the Democratic nomination for the special election in Indiana's 7th congressional district, with 223 of 439 votes cast in his favor; the seat became vacant after the death of his grandmother Julia Carson. Carson won the special election on March 11, 2008, to complete the term of his grandmother, winning 53% of the vote.

He was endorsed by U.S. Senator Evan Bayhcite web |url=http://www.howeypolitics.com/2008/02/11/sen-bayh-lends-support-to-andre-carson/ |title= Sen. Bayh lends support to Andre Carson |accessdate=2008-02-18 |date= 2008-01-24 |publisher= Howey Politics Indiana,] former Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, Marion County Sheriff Frank J. Anderson,cite web |url=http://www.wthr.com/global/story.asp?s=7922766 |title= Carson gets two endorsements
accessdate=2008-02-25 |author= WTHR|date= |work= 2008-02-25|publisher= WTHR.com] current Representative from Indiana's 8th district, Brad Ellsworth, retired U.S. Congressman Andy Jacobs, Jr and Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. Carson is not a member of the Nation of Islam and denies any specific link to Farrakhan. According to the Jewish Daily Forward, "André Carson is fighting claims about his family’s connection with Farrakhan".cite web | url=http://www.forward.com/articles/12804/|title=Farrakhan Casts Long Shadow on Campaign Trail |accessdate=2008-03-10 |date= 2008-02-28 |publisher= Howey Politics Indiana] U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) contributed $4,000 each from their own campaign funds and $10,000 each from their political action committees to the Carson campaign. [ [http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080301/NEWS05/803010474/1304/LOCAL Carson Leading Elrod in Cash] ]

Carson ran a grassroots campaign that included on-foot canvassing by the Neighbors for Carson campaign.Fact|date=March 2008

Carson defeated Republican State Representative Jon Elrod and Libertarian Sean Shepard in the special election on March 11, 2008. [ [http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080311/LOCAL18/803110367 Indystar.com: Carson wins seat in 7th District race] ] Despite speculation to the contrary, [ [http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2008/01/andre-carson-wins-caucus-slating-on.html andre-carson wins caucus slating on first vote] ] Carson took his oath of office while holding a bound copy of the United States Constitution, not on the Koran.. This was during a mock swearing-in ceremony as there is no official ceremony for interim Congressmen.

Carson endorsed U.S. Presidential Candidate Barack Obama in April 2008, and later won Obama's endorsement for his own May 2008 Democratic primary battle. Carson was the first of Indiana's five U.S. House Democrats to announce support for a presidential candidate. [ [http://www.wishtv.com/global/story.asp?s=8174450Wishtv.com: Carson endorses Obama] ]

Carson is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. In June 2008, he announced he was joining the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Equality Caucus of the U.S. House, chaired by U.S. Representative Barney Frank (D-MA).

Committees and subcommittees

In the 110th Congress;
*Committee on Financial Services
**United States House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit
**United States House Financial Services Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology
**United States House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

Election history

ee also

*Indiana's 7th congressional district special election, 2008

References

External links

* [http://carson.house.gov Congressman André Carson] official U.S. House site
* [http://www.andrecarsonforcongress.com André Carson for Congress] official campaign website
* [http://www.indygov.org/eGov/Council/Councillors/Biography/district_15.htm Indianapolis City-County Council, District 15]
* [http://www.cripe.biz Cripe Architects + Engineers]