Scott Tipton

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Scott Tipton
Scott Tipton, Official Portrait, 112th Congress.JPG
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Colorado's 3rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2011
Preceded by John Salazar
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives
from the 58th district
In office
January 9, 2009 – January 2, 2011
Preceded by Ray Rose
Succeeded by Don Coram[1]
Personal details
Born (1956-11-09) November 9, 1956 (age 56)[2]
Española, New Mexico[2]
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Jean Tipton
Children Liesl; Elizabeth
Residence Cortez, Colorado
Alma mater Fort Lewis College
(B.A., 1978)[2]
Occupation Politician; Small Businessman
Religion Anglican[3]
Website Scott Tipton for Congress

Scott R. Tipton (born November 9, 1956) is the U.S. Representative for Colorado's 3rd congressional district. In November 2010, he defeated three-term incumbent Democrat John Salazar, whom he lost to in 2006 by a wide margin. He was a member of the Colorado House of Representatives and a co-owner of a pottery company in Cortez, Colorado. Prior to being elected to public office, he was the Chairman of the Colorado Republican Party from 1997 to 2008.

Contents

Early life [edit]

Scott Tipton was raised in Cortez, where he attended public schools with his brother Joe and graduated from Montezuma-Cortez High School. He went on to Ft. Lewis College in Durango where he studied Political Science. He graduated in 1978, becoming the first person in his family to graduate from college. After Ft. Lewis, Scott returned to Cortez and founded Mesa Verde Indian Pottery, which he co-owns with his brother Joe. After 31 years in business, Mesa Verde Trading has developed an international client base.

Early political career [edit]

A lifelong Republican, Tipton became involved in the Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign in 1976 and was a delegate to the Republican Convention that year. He also assisted and ran local campaigns for Reagan in 1980 and 1984 across Montezuma County, Colorado and the 3rd Congressional District.

Over the years, he has served in various roles for the campaigns of Scott McInnis, Ben Campbell, Bill Owens and George W. Bush. A former Montezuma County GOP Chairman, Scott served as the Republican Chairman of the 3rd Congressional District for eight years.[citation needed]

Colorado legislature [edit]

2008 election [edit]

Scott Tipton announced his candidacy for Colorado House District 58 on February 5, 2008. This announcement came shortly after the incumbent Ray Rose announced he was retiring in 2008 and several key leaders asked Tipton to run.[citation needed] Tipton had no opposition in the August Republican primary,[4] but faced Democrat Noelle Hagan in the November 2008 general election. Hagan's candidacy was endorsed by the Denver Post[5] and the Montrose Daily Press, [6] but Tipton won the race with 59 percent of the popular vote.[7]

Tenure [edit]

With Representatives Laura Bradford and Frank McNulty, Tipton plans on re-introducing a version of Jessica's Law to establish minimum sentences for child sex offenders,[8] and sponsoring bills to create a full-time judge position in Montrose,[9][10] and to simplify water rights filing.[11]

Committee assignments [edit]

For the 2009 legislative session, Tipton was named to seats on the House Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Resources Committee and the House Local Government Committee.[12]

U.S. House of Representatives [edit]

Elections [edit]

2006
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado, 2006#District 3

Tipton challenged the then Freshman Democratic U.S. Congressman John Salazar. Tipton lost 38% to 62% for Salazar.[13]

2010
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado, 2010#District 3

Tipton challenged Democratic incumbent John Salazar in Colorado's 3rd congressional district. Libertarian Gregory Gilman and Independent Jake Segrest were also on the ballot, with Independents John W. Hargis, Sr. and James Fritz qualified as write-in candidates.

Tipton decided to retire from the Colorado House of Representatives to run for Congress in 2010, again challenging Salazar.[14] In the Republican primary, Tipton defeated Bob McConnell 56% to 44%.[15]

Larry Sabato, Stuart Rothenberg, CQ Politics, New York Times, and Charlie Cook rated the race as a "Toss-up",[16][17] with FiveThirtyEight giving Tipton a 77.9% of winning,[16] while Real Clear Politics rated the race "Leans GOP".[18] Colorado's 3rd has a Cook PVI of R+5. Tipton defeated Salazar 50.10% to 45.76%.

2012
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado, 2012#District 3

In 2012, Tipton is being challenged by Sal Pace, a state representative from Pueblo. The race is considered a toss up, [19] with both candidates statistically tied in recent polling. [20]

Tipton's campaign against his challenger has been aided by $1.3 million in advertising support from Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform.[21] SG Interests, a Texas oil and gas company seeking to drill in the Thompson Divide area, has also run a campaign against Tipton's opponent.[22]

Tenure [edit]

Tipton is a signer of Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge.[23] Americans for Tax Reform has bought $1.3 million in advertisements on behalf of Tipton.[24] Tipton is an ardent supporter of the Ryan Budget, having voted for it twice.[25]

Committee assignments [edit]

Controversies [edit]

Tipton has faced several ethics complaints during his time in office. As Congressman, he steered taxpayer dollars and government contracts to a company owned by his nephew.[26] Tipton used taxpayer dollars to promote a campaign event, and also wrote an apology letter to the House Ethics Committee after it became known that his daughter was using his name in an effort to secure government contracts from other Congressional offices.[27]

Additionally, a Super PAC funded by oil and gas driller SG Interests is registered at the address of Tipton’s campaign attorney and run by a law clerk in his office.[28] It is illegal for Super PACs and campaigns to coordinate in any way.

Personal life [edit]

Tipton and his wife Jean have been married for 30 years and have two daughters, Liesl and Elizabeth.[citation needed]

References [edit]

  1. ^ Denver Post http://data.denverpost.com/election/results/state-house/2010/ |url= missing title (help). 
  2. ^ a b c "Guide To The New Congress". CQ Roll Call. 2010-11-03. Retrieved 2010-11-05. 
  3. ^ Young, Kerry (November 6, 2010). "112th Congress: Scott Tipton, R-Colo. (3rd District)". Congressional Quarterly. Retrieved November 7, 2010. 
  4. ^ "Colorado Statewide Cumulative Report - 2008 Primary Election". Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved 2008-11-08. 
  5. ^ Editorial Board (17 October 2008). "Post's picks in Colorado's House of Representatives". Denver Post. Retrieved 2008-11-09. 
  6. ^ Norris, Wendy; Bob Spencer (3 November 2008). "State candidate endorsement watch". Colorado Independent. Retrieved 2008-11-09. 
  7. ^ "Colorado Statewide Cumulative Report - 2008 General Election". Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved 2008-12-04. 
  8. ^ Anderson, Emily (25 November 2008). "Jessica's Law bill gets state sponsors". Grand Junction Free Press. Retrieved 2008-11-25. 
  9. ^ Hanel, Joe (24 December 2008). "Rep. Tipton's issues include roads, sexual assault, education". Cortez Journal. Retrieved 2008-12-27. 
  10. ^ Mason, K.C. (7 January 2009). "Budget Woes Will Handcuff Colorado Legislature". Telluride Watch. Retrieved 2009-01-10. 
  11. ^ Capps, Reilly (12 January 2009). "Ahern may give it another go". Telluride Daily Planet. Retrieved 2009-02-04. 
  12. ^ "House Republican Committee Assignments Announced" (Press release). Colorado House Democrats. 18 November 2008. 
  13. ^ Harmon, Gary (2010-08-03). "Salazar-Tipton rematch a different contest". Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. Retrieved 2010-10-28. 
  14. ^ Greg Giroux (2009-11-09). "Tipton Joins Race Against Salazar". Roll Call. Retrieved 2009-11-25. 
  15. ^ Lawrence, Mike (2010-08-10). "Steamboat’s McConnell defeated in District 3, Scott Tipton wins GOP congressional primary, goes on to face Rep. John Salazar". Steamboat Pilot. Retrieved 2010-10-28. "With 70 percent of precincts reporting results Tuesday night, Tipton, a state representative from Cortez, had received 56 percent of votes across the 3rd Congressional District, compared with about 44 percent for McConnell." 
  16. ^ a b "FiveThirtyEight Forecasts Colorado 3rd District", Oct. 15 model, New York Times
  17. ^ CO-03, Cook Political Report, October 15, 2010.
  18. ^ Colorado 3rd District - Tipton vs. Salazar, Real Clear Politics, October 15, 2010.
  19. ^ "Poll shows Pace, Tipton in statistical dead heat". Real Aspen. 3 Oct 2012. Retrieved 27 Oct 2012. 
  20. ^ Livingston, Abby (8 Oct 2012). "Montana Senate Race Is Key to GOP Gaining Control of Chamber". Roll Call. Retrieved 28 October 2012. 
  21. ^ "ATR Announces 1.3 Million Dollar Ad Buy in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District". 12 Oct 2012. Retrieved 30 Oct 2012. 
  22. ^ "Driller starts super PAC to support Tipton". 29 Oct 2012. Retrieved 30 Oct 2012. 
  23. ^ "The Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers 112th Congressional List". Americans for Tax Reform. Retrieved November 30, 2011. 
  24. ^ Joe Hanel (2012-10-17). "Pace dogged by $1.3 million ad buy". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2012-10-30. 
  25. ^ Peter Roper (2011-4-9). "Tipton defends GOP approach". Pueblo Chieftain. Retrieved 2012-10-30. 
  26. ^ "Colo. Rep. Tipton Facing Second Ethics Issue". TheDenverChannel.com. 2011-6-9. Retrieved 2012-10-30. 
  27. ^ Allison Sherry (2012-3-2). "Rep. Tipton violates House rules in promoting campaign event". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2012-10-30. 
  28. ^ "Driller starts super PAC to support Tipton". Durango Herald. 2012-10-29. Retrieved 2012-10-30. 

External links [edit]

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
John Salazar		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Colorado's 3rd congressional district
January 3, 2011 – present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
United States order of precedence
Preceded by
Steve Stivers
R-Ohio		 United States Representatives by seniority
342nd		 Succeeded by
Daniel Webster
R-Florida
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