John Shimkus

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John Shimkus
Rep. John Shimkus.jpg
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 15th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2013
Preceded by Tim Johnson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from 's 19th district
In office
January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by David D. Phelps
Succeeded by District Eliminated
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from 's 20th district
In office
January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by Richard J. Durbin
Succeeded by District Eliminated
Personal details
Born John Mondy Shimkus
(1958-02-21) February 21, 1958 (age 55)
Collinsville, Illinois
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Karen Shimkus
Residence Collinsville, Illinois
Alma mater US Military Academy, Concordia University Irvine, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Occupation High school teacher
Religion Lutheran - LCMS
Military service
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service active 1980-1986, reserves 1986-2008
Rank Lieutenant Colonel

John Mondy Shimkus (born February 21, 1958) is the U.S. Representative for Illinois's 15th congressional district (numbered as the 20th from 1997 to 2003 and 19th from 2003 to 2013), serving since 1997. He is a member of the Republican Party.

The district includes much of the southern portion of the state, taking in part of Springfield and a portion of the Metro-East area (the Illinois side of the St. Louis area).

Contents

Early life, education and career[edit]

Shimkus is a lifelong resident of Collinsville, a suburb of St. Louis. He is the son of Kathleen N. (née Mondy) and Gene L. Shimkus. His paternal grandfather was of Lithuanian descent.[1] Shimkus earned his bachelor's degree at the United States Military Academy. After serving his five-year Army commitment, he entered the reserves, retiring in 2008 as a lieutenant colonel. While in the Army, Shimkus earned the Expert Infantry Badge, Ranger tab, and Parachutist Badge as well as served overseas with the 54th Infantry Regiment in West Germany.[2]

Shimkus earned a teaching certificate from Christ College Irvine (now Concordia University Irvine) and began teaching at Metro East Lutheran High School in Edwardsville. He earned an MBA from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 1987.

Shimkus first ran for office in 1989, when he was elected a Collinsville Township trustee. A year later, he was elected as Madison County treasurer, becoming the first Republican county officeholder in 10 years. He was reelected in 1994, becoming the first Republican reelected countywide in Madison County in 50 years.

U.S. House of Representatives[edit]

Committee assignments[edit]

Political positions[edit]

Food safety[edit]

Shimkus has recently[when?] been a proponent of legislation to increase the ability of the Food and Drug Administration to institute recalls of tainted foods. He has served as one of the chief Republican negotiators on the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, which was recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. Of the bill, Shimkus said: ""When you're talking about the health and safety of folks, if the FDA has enough evidence to make a declaration of recall, I think that most Americans would support the government having that authority."[3]

Climate Change[edit]

Shimkus rejects the human-induced theory of climate change and opposes emissions trading legislation. On March 25, 2009, in introductory remarks made to Christopher Monckton, 3rd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley, during a United States House Energy Subcommittee on Energy and Environment hearing, Shimkus made the following statement regarding the role of carbon dioxide in global warming:

"It's plant food ... So if we decrease the use of carbon dioxide, are we not taking away plant food from the atmosphere? ... So all our good intentions could be for naught. In fact, we could be doing just the opposite of what the people who want to save the world are saying."[4]

Shimkus then quoted the Bible in attempting to allay concerns of global warming induced rise in sea levels, stating that God had promised mankind through Noah that the earth would never again be destroyed by a flood.[5] He acknowledged that climate change is real, but questioned the benefit of spending taxpayer money on something that cannot be changed versus the changes that have been occurring forever.[6]

2006 Mark Foley scandal[edit]

Earlier official photo of Shimkus
Main article: Mark Foley scandal

Shimkus said "that in late-2005 he learned—through information passed along by Alexander's office—about an e-mail exchange in which Foley asked about the youngster's well-being after Hurricane Katrina and requested a photograph."[37] Shimkus advised Foley not to contact the boy again, and Foley assured him he would not. Shimkus did not share the information with Reps. Kildee or Capito, the other members of the Page Board.

Shimkus later described Foley as a "slimeball", and regretted not pressing further.

Political campaigns[edit]

In 1992, while still serving as Madison County treasurer, Shimkus won the Republican nomination in what was then the 20th District. He was soundly defeated by 10-year Democratic incumbent Dick Durbin.

Four years later, Durbin gave up the seat to make what would be a successful run for the United States Senate. Shimkus handily won a crowded six-way primary, and faced State Representative Jay C. Hoffman in the general election. Despite Durbin's presence atop the ballot, the election was one of the closest in the nation, with Shimkus prevailing by only 1,200 votes out of 240,000 cast—a margin of 0.5 percent. However, Shimkus has never faced another contest nearly that close, and has been reelected six times.

Shimkus has only faced one credible opponent since his initial reelection, in 2002. That year, Illinois lost a district as a result of the 2000 census, and Shimkus' district was merged with the 19th District of two-term Democrat David D. Phelps. The new district retained Phelps' district number, but geographically and demographically was more Shimkus' district; Shimkus retained 60 percent of his former territory. The campaign was very bitter; both men accused the other's staffers of stalking their families.[7] Despite a Democratic wave that swept through most of the state, Shimkus was convincingly reelected, with 55 percent of the vote.

Shimkus announced in September 2005 that he would run for reelection in 2008, despite making a pledge[8] when first elected in 1996 not to stay in office for more than 12 years. "It was a mistake at the time", he said about his 1996 campaign promises. "Unless everyone plays by the same rules, term limits don't make sense."

FEC records show that the John S. Fund, the PAC for John Shimkus, contributed to former Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay in 2005. The fund also made contributions to Peter Roskam, a Republican candidate for the House from Illinois's 6th district, from 2005 to 2008 and to David McSweeney, a Republican candidate for the House from Illinois's 8th district, in 2006.[9][10][11] Recently the funds treasurer, lobbyist Mark Valente, resigned. Shimkus earlier said he was considering removing Valente, but he didn't want to act too quickly because it might suggest there was something improper about their relationship.[12]

Electoral history[edit]

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 2010#District 19

The 20th district was disbanded after the 2000 census, which is why Shimkus faced David D. Phelps, incumbent of the 19th district, in the 2002 election.

Illinois's 20th congressional district: Results 1992, 1996–2000[13]
Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct
1992 Richard J. Durbin 154,869 57% John Shimkus 119,219 43%
1996 Jay C. Hoffman 119,688 50% John Shimkus 120,926 50% *
1998 Rick Verticchio 76,475 39% John Shimkus 121,103 61%
2000 Jeffrey S. Cooper 94,382 37% John Shimkus 161,393 63%
*Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 1996, write-ins received 4 votes.
Illinois's 19th congressional district: Results 2002–2008[13]
Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct
2002 David D. Phelps 110,517 45% John Shimkus 133,956 55%
2004 Tim Bagwell 94,303 31% John Shimkus 213,451 69%
2006 Danny L. Stover 92,861 39% John Shimkus 143,491 61%
2008 Daniel Davis 104,908 33% John Shimkus 202,373 64% Troy Dennis Green 6,654 2%
2010 Tim Bagwell 67,132 29% John Shimkus 166,166 71%

Personal life[edit]

Shimkus has been married to the former Karen Muth since 1987. They have three children. They are members of Holy Cross Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Collinsville.

References[edit]

  1. ^ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/reps/shimkus.htm
  2. ^ "Once a Soldier... Always a Soldier". Legislative Agenda. Association of the United States Army. 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2013. 
  3. ^ Lambrecht, Bill (2010-08-13). "Durbin-led food safety agreement winning bipartisan support". STLToday.com. Retrieved 2010-12-13. 
  4. ^ Doster, Adam (2009-03-27). "Shimkus: Capping C02 Emissions Will "Take Away Plant Food"". Progress Illinois. Retrieved 2009-04-16. 
  5. ^ http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1110/44958.html
  6. ^ "'The planet won't be destroyed by global warming because God promised Noah,' says politician bidding to chair U.S. energy committee". Daily Mail. 
  7. ^ Phelps, Shimkus Stay Close, Perhaps too Close. NewsHour, 2002-10-04.
  8. ^ News from The Associated Press[dead link]
  9. ^ FEC Disclosure Report Search Results
  10. ^ FEC Disclosure Report Search Results
  11. ^ FEC Disclosure Report Search Results
  12. ^ Meinert, Dori. Lobbyist who raised funds for Shimkus resigns, The State Journal-Register, March 9, 2006
  13. ^ a b "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Retrieved 2008-01-10. 

External links[edit]

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Richard J. Durbin		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 20th congressional district
1997–2003		 District eliminated
Preceded by
David D. Phelps		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 19th congressional district
2003–present		 Incumbent
United States order of precedence
Preceded by
Brad Sherman
D-California		 United States Representatives by seniority
104th		 Succeeded by
Adam Smith
D-Washington
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Other states'
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