Rob Bishop

Rob Bishop
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Utah's 1st district
In office 2003–present
Preceded by	James Hansen
Personal details
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Jeralynn Hansen Bishop
Children	Shule Bishop Jarom Bishop Zenock Bishop Jashon Bishop Maren Bishop
Residence	Brigham City, Utah
Alma mater	University of Utah
Occupation	high school teacher, lobbyist

Robert William "Rob" Bishop (born July 13, 1951) is a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives. He is the representative for 1st district of Utah (map). He served on the Rules Committee until the 2006 elections.

Biography

Bishop was born in Kaysville, Utah and graduated from Davis High School. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Germany from 1970 until 1972. Bishop received a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City in 1974. He taught civics classes at Brigham City's Box Elder High School from 1974 to 1980, and later took a job teaching German in Ogden, Utah at Ben Lomond High School.

Bishop was a member of the Utah State House of Representatives from 1979 until 1995. He was House Majority Leader and later served as Speaker of the House from 1992 until 1994. In 1997 he was elected chairman of the Utah Republican Party, and served for two terms in this position. He has also worked as a legislative lobbyist in Washington. After his retirement from the state legislature, Bishop returned to Box Elder High School and taught advanced placement courses while chairing the history department.

Bishop was first elected to Congress in 2002 and reelected in 2004 and 2006. He has never received less than 60% of the vote in any of his election bids. Bishop is the co-founder of the Western State Coalition, a states' rights organization. As a teacher, he has made education related issues his top priority, advocating local control of schools. He voted against No Child Left Behind but supports school vouchers. He was also a co-sponsor of a proposed amendment to guarantee a balanced federal budget.

Bishop is married to Jeralynn Hansen, a former Miss Peach Queen for Brigham City, Utah. They have five children — four sons, each of whom is named after a person in the Book of Mormon (Shule, Jarom, Zenock, and Jashon) and one daughter (Maren). Shule works in Washington DC. Jarom works as an attorney for a law firm in Kaysville, UT, and attended Creighton University School of Law. Zenock studies at Utah State University. Maren is also attending Utah State University and will shortly be leaving to serve an LDS mission in Wisconsin, and the youngest Jashon, graduated from Box Elder High School in 2007.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Armed Services
  • Subcommittee on Readiness
  • Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces
• Committee on Natural Resources
  • Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands (Ranking Member)
• Committee on Education and Labor
  • Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education

Party leadership and caucus membership

• House GOP Policy Committee (Vice Chair)
• Outreach and Communications Chair for the Congressional Western Caucus

Electoral history

Utah's 1st congressional district: Results 2002–2008

Year		Democrat	Votes	Pct		Republican	Votes	Pct		3rd Party	Party	Votes	Pct		3rd Party	Party	Votes	Pct
2002		Dave Thomas	66,104	37%		Rob Bishop	109,265	61%		Craig Axford	Green	4,027	2%	*
2004		Steven Thompson	85,630	29%		Rob Bishop	199,615	68%		Charles Johnston	Constitution	4,510	2%		Richard W. Soderberg	Personal Choice	4,206	1%
2006		Steven Olsen	57,922	32%		Rob Bishop	112,546	63%		Mark Hudson	Constitution	5,539	3%		Lynn Badler	Libertarian	2,467	1%
2008		Morgan Bowen	87,139	30.4%		Rob Bishop	186,031	65.0%		Kirk D. Pearson	Constitution	6,861	2.4%		Joseph G. Buchman	Libertarian	6,287	2.2%

*Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 2002, Cody Judy received 8 votes; Charles Johnston received 7 votes; and Susan Howard received 1 votes.

External links

• U.S. Congressman Rob Bishop official U.S. House site
• Congressman Rob Bishop official campaign site

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia