Robert Aderholt
| Robert Aderholt | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 4th district |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Tom Bevill |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 22, 1965 Haleyville, Alabama |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Caroline Aderholt |
| Residence | Haleyville, Alabama |
| Alma mater | Birmingham-Southern College, Samford University |
| Profession | attorney |
| Religion | United Methodist (convert from Congregationalist) |
Robert Brown Aderholt[1] (born July 22, 1965) is the U.S. Representative for Alabama's 4th congressional district, serving since 1997. He is a member of the Republican Party.
The district includes most of the far northern suburbs of Birmingham, as well as the southern suburbs of Huntsville and Decatur.
Contents |
[edit] Early life, education and career
Aderholt was born in Haleyville, where he still lives, to Mary Frances Brown and Bobby Ray Aderholt.[2] Aderholt's father, a part-time minister for a small group of Congregational churches in northwest Alabama, was a circuit judge for more than 30 years, and his wife's father was a state commissioner and senator. He attended the University of North Alabama and then Birmingham-Southern College where he graduated. During college, Aderholt was a member of Kappa Alpha Order. Aderholt received his law degree from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University and practiced law after graduation. In 1992, Aderholt was appointed Haleyville municipal judge, and in 1995 become the top aide to Governor Fob James. With that experience, he won the Republican primary in the race to succeed 15-term Democratic incumbent Tom Bevill, who retired from Congress in 1996. Aderholt also endorsed a candidate for circuit judgeship in Blount County, Steven King. Though the move was controversial, King won the judgeship. Aderholt was subsequently criticized by many for endorsing someone that was not from his own district.
[edit] Political positions
Aderholt is a signer of Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge.[3]
[edit] U.S. House of Representatives
[edit] Committee assignments
[edit] Caucuses
Aderholt's voting record is generally conservative, however his vote on economic issues has been generally based on the concerns of his district rather than an overarching ideology[according to whom?]. He has been notable in his support of quotas on steel imports and sponsored a bill assessing additional antidumping duties on foreign steel in 1999. He reached out further to industrial unions with his vote against PNTR with China. Aderholt's most notable success has been the continued protection of the sock industry, based out of Fort Payne, Alabama. He voted against the free trade agreements with Chile, Morocco, and Singapore, but supported the US-Australia FTA. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Aderholt has secured a significant amount of highway and sewer funding for the 4th District. Aderholt voted in favor of a joint resolution to withdraw the United States from the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2000 and 2005.[4][5]
Aderholt is a staunch supporter and confidant of "Ten Commandments Judge" Roy Moore, whose home is in Gadsden, the longtime political center of the district. Moore joined Aderholt when Aderholt introduced the Constitution Restoration Act, controversial legislation which would remove issues regarding the First Amendment to the Constitution from the reach of the Federal Courts.
Aderholt has become very popular in his district, even though it still has a sizable majority of registered Democrats. However, most of the district's voters are very conservative on social issues.
Aderholt voted in favor of CAFTA, but has since stated that he relied on promises by the Bush White House that were not kept.
On November 4, 1999, Aderholt voted in favor of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act,[6] which some economists, including Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz, believe helped create the 2007 financial crisis.[7][8]
[edit] Bills sponsored
Sponsor HR 3808: Interstate Recognition of Notarizations Act of 2010 111th Congress
The bill was cosponsored by Reps. Bruce Braley (D., Iowa), Michael Castle (R., Del.), and Artur Davis (D., Ala.).
H.R. 3808 Interstate Recognition of Notarizations Act of 2010 - To require any Federal or State court to recognize any notarization made by a notary public licensed by a State other than the State where the court is located when such notarization occurs in or affects interstate commerce.
Apr 27, 2010: This bill passed in the House of Representatives by voice vote. A record of each representative’s position was not kept.
Sep 27, 2010: This bill passed in the Senate by Unanimous Consent. A record of each senator’s position was not
Oct 8, 2010: Vetoed by President.
[edit] Political campaigns
As the Republican nominee, Aderholt faced a considerable challenge against State Senator Bob Wilson Jr., who called himself a Democrat "in the Tom Bevill tradition". In a culturally conservative district, Aderholt didn't hedge on cultural issues. This was a seriously contested district, receiving a deal of national coverage and significant support from the Republican Party. Newt Gingrich personally visited the district during the campaign. Aderholt won narrowly, 50%-48%, and hasn't faced serious opposition since.
[edit] 2010
Aderholt was re-elected unopposed.[citation needed]
[edit] 2012
Aderholt will seek re-election. State representative Daniel Boman, and Rick Neighbors, a former plant supervisor, will seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Aderholt.[9]
[edit] Electoral history
| Alabama's 4th Congressional District House Election, 1996 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Republican | Robert B. Aderholt | 102,741 | 49.89% | ||
| Democratic | Robert T. Wilson, Jr. | 99,250 | 48.20% | ||
| Libertarian | Alan F. Barksdale | 3,718 | 1.81% | ||
| Alabama's 4th Congressional District House Election, 1998 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Republican | Robert B. Aderholt | 106,297 | 56.40% | +6.51% | |
| Democratic | Donald H. Bevill | 82,065 | 43.54% | -4.66% | |
| Alabama's 4th Congressional District House Election, 2000 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Republican | Robert B. Aderholt | 140,009 | 60.58% | +4.18% | |
| Democratic | Marsha Folsom | 86,400 | 37.39% | -6.15% | |
| Libertarian | Craig Goodrich | 3,519 | 1.52% | +1.52% | |
| Alabama's 4th Congressional District House Election, 2002 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Republican | Robert B. Aderholt | 139,705 | 86.72% | +26.14% | |
| Libertarian | Tony H. McLendon | 20,858 | 1.42% | +11.43% | |
| Alabama's 4th Congressional District House Election, 2004 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Republican | Robert B. Aderholt | 191,110 | 74.73% | -11.99% | |
| Democratic | Carol Cole | 64,278 | 25.14% | +25.14% | |
| Alabama's 4th Congressional District House Election, 2006 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Republican | Robert B. Aderholt | 130,385 | 70.17% | -4.56% | |
| Democratic | Barbara Bobo | 54,382 | 29.71% | +4.57% | |
| Alabama's 4th Congressional District House Election, 2008 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Republican | Robert B. Aderholt | 196,741 | 74.76% | +4.59% | |
| Democratic | Nicholas B. Sparks | 66,077 | 25.11% | -4.60% | |
| Alabama's 4th Congressional District House Election, 2010 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Republican | Robert B. Aderholt | 167,714 | 98.82% | +24.06% | |
[edit] Personal life
Aderholt is married to the former Caroline McDonald. They have two children. The Aderholts live in Arlington, Virginia.
[edit] References
- ^ U.S. House of Representatives
- ^ 1
- ^ "The Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers 112th Congressional List". Americans for Tax Reform. http://s3.amazonaws.com/atrfiles/files/files/091411-federalpledgesigners.pdf. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
- ^ http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2000/roll310.xml
- ^ http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll239.xml
- ^ "GovTrack: House Vote on Conference Report: S. 900 [106th]: Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act". Govtrack.us. 1999-11-04. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h1999-570. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
- ^ "Who's Whining Now? Economists Hit Gramm". Abcnews.go.com. 2008-09-19. http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=5835269. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
- ^ Paletta, Damian (2009-03-10). "Ten Questions for Those Fixing the Financial Mess - WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123665023774979341.html. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
- ^ Doyle, Steve (January 14, 2012). "Congressman Robert Aderholt draws two last-minute Democratic challengers". The Huntsville Times. http://blog.al.com/breaking/2012/01/us_rep_robert_aderholt_draws_t.html. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
[edit] External links
- U.S. Congressman Robert B. Aderholt official House site
- Robert Aderholt for Congress official campaign site
- Biography at WhoRunsGov.com at The Washington Post
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
- Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Congressional profile at GovTrack
- Congressional profile at OpenCongress
- Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
- Current Bills Sponsored at StateSurge.com
- Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
- Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
- Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
- Appearances on C-SPAN programs
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Tom Bevill |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 4th congressional district 1997–Present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| United States order of precedence | ||
| Preceded by Dan Lungren R-California |
United States Representatives by seniority 117th |
Succeeded by Leonard Boswell D-Iowa |
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- 1965 births
- Living people
- People from Haleyville, Alabama
- American Methodists
- Alabama Republicans
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Alabama
- Alabama state court judges
- Alabama lawyers
- Converts to Methodism
- University of North Alabama alumni
- Birmingham–Southern College alumni
- Politics of Alabama
